Intellectual Takeout is a nonprofit commentary website that intends to restore and improve America by educating readers about the foundations, traditions, and principles of Western Civilization. Citing growing cultural division in America, Intellectual Takeout seeks to provide a space for civil discussions, where differing viewpoints can be shared. ¹

Intellectual Takeout is a program of Charlemagne Institute, a nonprofit educational organization that seeks to defend and advance the foundations of Western Civilization, both philosophically and spiritually. ²

Intellectual Takeout is a former associate member of the State Policy Network, a coalition of free-market state-level policy organizations. ³

Activities

Intellectual Takeout claims that the growing cultural division in America is caused by the breakdowns of the American education system, which no longer ensures an accurate historical and cultural education, and key social structures like family, community, and faith. It further claims that these divides, along with the isolating effects of online culture, allow for propagandists to push  political agendas. ⁴

Intellectual Takeout publishes commentaries covering a range of topics, linking metaphysics with culture, politics, and daily life. The group examines cultural and secular orthodoxies and how the Judeo-Christian tradition shaped the values, principles, and traditions of Western Civilization. ⁵

Intellectual Takeout has become increasing geared towards a younger American audience, and claims to have over 8 million unique readers each year along with tens of millions of views on its social media. ITO intends to foster discussion about past and modern ideologies and further intellectual discovery about the history of America and the principles of Western Civilization. ⁶

Financials

Intellectual Takeout operated as its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit through tax year 2017. ⁷ Starting in tax year 2018, filings were made under the name Charlemagne Institute (doing business as Chronicles Magazine), which lists its projects as Intellectual Takeout, Chronicles Magazine, and the Alcuin Internship. ⁸ The Charlemagne Institute, Intellectual Takeout, and Chronicles Magazine each have their own websites. ⁹

Intellectual Takeout is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While Intellectual Takeout does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the Sarah Scaife Foundation ($120,000 in 2017), ¹⁰ the Minneapolis Foundation ($50,750 in 2015), ¹¹ and the Adolph Coors Foundation ($50,000 in 2015). ¹²

People

Devin Foley is a co-founder and former CEO of Intellectual Takeout and the current CEO of the Charlemagne Institute. Foley is a former director of development at the Center of the American Experiment. ¹³

Board of Directors

Dwight Tostenson is the former CFO of Intellectual Takeout ¹⁴ and currently sits on the board of the Charlemagne Institute. ¹⁵ Tostenson is the CEO of the Redemption Project and a former CFO at the Center of the American Experiment. ¹⁶

Other former members of the board of Intellectual Takeout ¹⁷ who currently sit on the board of the Charlemagne Institute include Sharon Hawkins, Alan Lanners, Frank Russomanno, and Mark Larson. ¹⁸

1. “About.” Intellectual Takeout. Accessed March 20, 2023. https://intellectualtakeout.org/about/.
2. “About.” Intellectual Takeout. Accessed March 20, 2023. https://intellectualtakeout.org/about/.
3. “Directory: Minnesota.” State Policy Network. Archived from the original February 23, 2017. Accessed March 20, 2023. http://web.archive.org/web/20170223133711/https://spn.org/directory/#MN.
4. “About.” Intellectual Takeout. Accessed March 20, 2023. https://intellectualtakeout.org/about/.
5. “Intellectual Takeout.” Charlemagne Institute. Accessed March 20, 2023. https://charlemagneinstitute.org/intellectual-takeout/.
6. The Charlemagne Institute, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Part III, Lines 4a, 4b, 4c.
7. Intellectual Takeout, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Part I, Line 12.
8. The Charlemagne Institute, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018, Part III, Line 4b.
9. “Home.” Chronicles Magazine. Accessed March 20, 2023. https://chroniclesmagazine.org/.
10.  Sarah Scaife Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017, Part XV, Line 3.
11. Minneapolis Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2015, Schedule I, Part II.
12. The Adolph Coors Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2015, Part XV, Line 3.
13. “Editorial Staff.” Chronicles. Accessed March 20, 2023. https://chronicles-old.ae-admin.com/about/editorial-staff/.
14. Intellectual Takeout, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.
15. The Charlemagne Institute, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.
16. “Dwight Tostenson.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 20, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwight-tostenson-0336378/
17. Intellectual Takeout, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.
18. The Charlemagne Institute, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.