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Non-profit

Middle East Institute (MEI)

Website:

www.mei.edu/
Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

53-0204608
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $7,193,589
Expenses: $7,224,195
Assets: $35,038,211
Type:

Think Tank
Formation:

1946
Interim President and CEO:

Susan E. Saxton
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $7,537,295
Expenses: $7,570,231
Net Assets: $27,741,038

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The Middle East Institute (MEI) is a think tank that advocates greater United States involvement in the Middle East. It produces educational materials and policy analysis to advance a pro-Palestinian perspective on Middle East politics, art, and culture. 1

MEI has been criticized as anti-Israel and paid a settlement for using governmental COVID-19 relief loans to advocate against Israel. 2

History

The Middle East Institute was founded by architect George Camp Keiser in 1946 to spread knowledge of Middle Eastern affairs in the United States. MEI became a central piece in the Washington, D.C. foreign policy sector, as it played a role in establishing the post-World War II understanding of international law. In 1948, its scholars published a pamphlet arguing that the concepts of global strategy, global justice, security, and national interest would need “much reconsideration” in the post-war era They argued the Middle East would be a vital region for this reconsideration. MEI has publicly committed to political neutrality since its inception, although it has been accused of using government loans to promote anti-Zionism. 3 4

After a period of financial uncertainty in the 1950s and 1960s, the Middle East Institute’s scholarship increased during the 1967 and 1973 Arab-Isareli wars and following the Islamic Revolution in Iran. It has remained a prominent source of scholarship and resources related to the Middle East. 5 As an example, National Public Radio interviewed one of its scholars in July 2024 about how Syria’s relations with other countries “are beginning to thaw,” and what it means for the Middle East’s geopolitics. 6

Initiatives

The Middle East Institute publishes the Middle East Journal, its flagship publication dating back to 1947. The Middle East Journal is a compilation of articles that provide left-of-center research and analysis regarding Middle East affairs.

MEI also operated a policy institute that employs policy experts to conduct research on defense and security affairs, including counter-terrorism and extremism, as well as regional affairs, particularly Palestinian and Palestinian-Israeli Affairs. An MEI blog post in summer 2024 from Khaled Elgindy, director of Program on Palestine and Palestinian-Israeli Affairs, argued that Israel’s “deadly… attack” on a “Gaza ‘safe zone’” at the al-Mawasi camp had derailed “fragile cease-fire talks.” 7

The Middle East Institute also manages an education center that offers classes in leadership development through its internship and fellowship programs. 8 MEI formerly offered courses in Middle East languages, including Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. 9 MEI also manages the Oman Library at the Middle East Institute, which is the largest English language collection of literature on the Middle East outside of the Library of Congress. 10

MEI maintains an arts and culture center that includes its art gallery devoted to modern Middle Eastern artwork. Its 2024 exhibit was entitled, “Louder Than Hearts: Women Photographers from the Arab World and Iran.” 11

Federal Loan Controversy

In June 2024, the Middle East Institute settled a lawsuit with the Zionist Advocacy Center, which is led by pro-Israel lawyer David Abrams. The Center sued under the False Claims Act, alleging that the Middle East Institute improperly received $359,000 in Paycheck Protection Program loans from the federal government because it used the federal loans to support work that “[attacks] Israel unfairly.” MEI paid $718,558 to settle the allegations, claiming that any misuse of public funds was unintentional. 12 13

The Washington, D.C. U.S. Attorney’s office described the alleged offense as a violation of loan terms because MEI claimed it was not involved in policy, lobbying, or similar work. Had the organization fought the accusations in court, it could have been found liable for $359,000 above settlement amount. Pursuant to the settlement, MEI did not admit legal liability. 14

Leadership

Susan E. Saxton is the interim president and CEO at the Middle East Institute. She holds several advanced degrees, including a Ph.D. in Organization and Management and a Ph.D. in Human Services, both from Capella University, as well as a Master of Law in International Business from the University of Liverpool. 15 Previously, Saxton worked in education and corporate business in both developed and emerging parts of the world, most recently in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. She has sat on several boards, including the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce (Bahrain) and the Climate Action Committee for MENA 2050. 16

John P. Abizaid is chairman of the board of governors of the Middle East Institute. He is a retired U.S. Army four-star General, who most recently served as the United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Trump administration. He served as the Distinguished Chair (Emeritus) of the Combating Terrorism Center at the United States Military Academy at West Point and was the first Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is a director of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. From 2016 through 2018 he served as the senior advisor for the Secretary of Defense to the Ukrainian Minister of Defense. 17

Financials

The Middle East Institute receives funding through grants and donations from various foreign nations (especially those in the Middle East), corporations, and major left-of-center foundations. In 2022, MEI reported $7,537,295 in revenue, $7,570,231 in expenses, and $27,741,038 in net assets. 18

Funding from Governments

In 2022, the Middle East Institute received $5,000 in funding from Saudi Arabia for the first time since 2018, after its board of directors reversed a decision to not accept money from the kingdom following the apparent assassination of Washington Post reporter and critic of the Saudi regime Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi. 19 20

In 2023, the Middle East Institute received $1,775,000 from the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, $375,000 from the Embassy of the State of Qatar, and $118,473 from the United States State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research. 21

A 2017 Intercept article criticized MEI for taking a cumulative $20,000,000 between 2016-2017 from the United Arab Emirates, which was under scrutiny at the time for its alleged use of torture against Yemeni detainees. 22

Funding from Businesses

In 2023, the Middle East Institute received $150,000 from DC Capital Partners, $60,000 from the Chevron Corporation, and $50,000 each from the Paladin Capital Group and Silver Lake Capital Management LLC. 23

Foundations

In 2019, the Middle East Institute received $75,000 from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and another payment of $150,000 in 2022. 24

The Carnegie Corporation has given several grants to the Middle East Institute, including $500,000 in 2014, $800,000 in 2016, $400,000 in 2018, and $400,000 in 2020. 25

In 2023, MEI received $833,455 from Think Research and Advisory/SRMG, $442,600 from the Smith Richardson Foundation, $157,781 from the International Development Research Centre, $100,000 from the Chrest Foundation, and $100,000 from the Foundation to Promote Open Society. 26

References

  1. About. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/about
  2. Schaffer, Michael. “He’s Waging ‘Lawfare’ Against Israel’s Critics — And Pocketing a Lot of Money.” Politico. July 10, 2024. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/07/10/pro-israel-lawfare-00166457
  3. History. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/history
  4. Oprysko, Caitlin. “Second think tank targeted by pro-Israel legal group to settle claim of improperly receiving PPP loan.” Politico. January 29, 2024. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2024/01/29/politico-influence-israel-00138432
  5. History. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/history
  6. Ali Rogan, et al. “What to know about the growing normalization of Syria’s dictator in the Middle East,” National Public Radio. July 20, 2024. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-to-know-about-the-growing-normalization-of-syrias-dictator-in-the-middle-east
  7. “Deadly Israeli attack on Gaza “safe zone” derails fragile cease-fire talks.” Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/blog/monday-briefing-biden-keeps-spotlighting-middle-east-diplomatic-efforts-strategic
  8. Internships. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/get-involved/internships
  9. Language Classes. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/education/language-classes
  10. Oman Library. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/education/oman-library
  11. Arts and Culture Center. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/arts-and-culture-center
  12. Oprysko, Caitlin. “Second think tank targeted by pro-Israel legal group to settle claim of improperly receiving PPP loan.” Politico. January 29, 2024. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2024/01/29/politico-influence-israel-00138432
  13. Schaffer, Michael. “He’s Waging ‘Lawfare’ Against Israel’s Critics — And Pocketing a Lot of Money.” Politico. July 10, 2024. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/07/10/pro-israel-lawfare-00166457
  14. U.S. District Attorney’s office, “Non-profit Middle East Institute to pay $718,558 to resolve PPP fraud allegations.” Department of Justice. June 18, 2024. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/non-profit-middle-east-institute-pay-718558-resolve-ppp-fraud-allegations
  15. Education | Susan E. Saxton, PhD. LinkedIn. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-e-saxton/details/education/
  16. Susan E. Saxton. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/profile/susan-e-saxton
  17. Gen. (ret.) John Abizaid. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/profile/gen-ret-john-abizaid
  18. Middle East Institute – 2022 990 Form. ProPublica. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530204608/202333199349323218/full
  19. 2022 Contributors. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/sites/default/files/2023-04/2022%20Contributors%20ammended%204-18.pdf
  20. Looking back on 2022. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/looking-back-2022
  21. 2023 Contributors. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/sites/default/files/2024-03/Total%202023%20Contributions.pdf
  22. Grim, Ryan. “Gulf Government Gave Secret $20 Million Gift To D.C. Think Tank.” The Intercept. August 9, 2017. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://theintercept.com/2017/08/09/gulf-government-gave-secret-20-million-gift-to-d-c-think-tank/
  23. 2023 Contributors. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/sites/default/files/2024-03/Total%202023%20Contributions.pdf
  24. Middle East Institute. Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.rbf.org/grantees/middle-east-institute
  25. Middle East Institute. Carnegie Corporation of New York. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.carnegie.org/grants/grants-database/grantee/middle-east-institute/#!/grants/grants-database/grant/750399157.0/
  26. 2023 Contributors. Middle East Institute. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.mei.edu/sites/default/files/2024-03/Total%202023%20Contributions.pdf
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: December 1, 1949

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Dec Form 990 $7,193,589 $7,224,195 $35,038,211 $2,540,278 N $4,948,643 $521,089 $409,703 $976,879
    2020 Dec Form 990 $5,723,487 $6,213,840 $33,862,595 $1,560,260 Y $4,561,226 $661,636 $315,660 $1,004,933
    2019 Dec Form 990 $4,616,349 $5,529,822 $32,735,340 $1,570,759 Y $3,108,532 $917,294 $495,015 $947,570 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $4,201,501 $5,473,713 $31,517,676 $1,390,195 Y $2,702,810 $901,398 $556,313 $966,904 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $5,816,689 $5,814,897 $33,434,947 $966,989 Y $3,400,139 $920,285 $368,486 $927,613 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $26,432,760 $4,159,395 $33,050,310 $529,323 Y $22,903,112 $3,162,432 $228,069 $896,852 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $4,077,745 $4,086,019 $10,458,240 $398,682 Y $2,954,806 $971,221 $217,848 $749,120 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $4,678,223 $3,717,293 $10,736,514 $471,858 Y $3,386,178 $993,670 $133,103 $665,153 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $4,841,353 $3,496,171 $9,916,907 $640,455 Y $3,629,316 $1,036,133 $127,544 $458,734 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $4,100,156 $2,963,522 $7,998,650 $204,414 Y $2,620,164 $1,030,835 $168,848 $180,674 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $5,245,351 $2,751,626 $6,719,814 $185,200 Y $3,962,697 $1,036,588 $108,705 $175,401 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Middle East Institute (MEI)

    1763 N St. NW
    Washington, DC