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Non-profit

Show-Me Institute

Website:

showmeinstitute.org%20
Location:

St. Louis, MO
Tax ID:

20-1957878
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2017):

Revenue: $1,777,870
Expenses: $1,428,232
Assets: $2,044,735
Formation:

2005
Type:

Non-profit
CEO:

Brenda Talent
CEO's Salary:

$215,0001

References

  1. Show-Me Institute, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2018, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.

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The Show-Me Institute is a nonpartisan public policy think tank promoting free-market policy and limited government in Missouri. The Institute’s research areas include education, healthcare, tax reform, and local and state government. The Institute has published work in support of school choice programs, tax reform, and increased government transparency. 1

The Show-Me Institute is an affiliate member of the State Policy Network, a coalition of free market state-level policy organizations. 2 While the Institute is nonpartisan, members of its board have affiliations with the Republican Party.

Activity

The Show-Me Institute is a nonpartisan, public policy think tank that promotes free market policy and individual liberty in Missouri. The Institute supports school choice programs, tax reform, and increased government transparency, while also researching healthcare reform. 3

The Show-Me Institute advocates for reforming Missouri’s education policies to support school choice programs. The Institute claims that problems in the state’s education system are rooted in a lack of transparency and accountability and suggests reforms that include the creation of individual education savings accounts (ESAs), removing restrictions on charter schools, and requiring the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to hold school districts accountable for poor student performance. The Institute has also claimed that school choice reforms, such as the Missouri Course Access (MOCAP) program, are already law but have not been properly implemented. 4

The Show-Me Institute advocates for health care reform that supports choice in health care, with options for direct primary care and short-term medical insurance, while opposing Medicaid expansion and government-controlled healthcare programs such as Medicare-for-All. The Institute supports implementing healthcare licensure reform, repealing Missouri’s certificate of need (CON) laws, and relaxing telemedicine regulations. 5 Due to COVID-19, Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) removed licensing barriers for out-of-state health care professionals in 2020 and relaxed regulations for telemedicine, steps that the Institute has encouraged the Missouri government to make permanent after the pandemic has ended. 6

The Show-Me Institute advocates for a number of right-of-center tax reforms that include repealing dining taxes, capping sales taxes, and reforming Missouri’s special taxing districts. The Institute claims that requiring sales tax on out-of-state purchases would increase the tax burden of Missouri residents. 7 Instead of increasing income or sales taxes, the Institute has argued that increasing property taxes would promote Missouri’s economic growth and make it competitive with other states. 8 The Institute has also recommended the implementation of toll roads to fund the Missouri Department of Transportation’s road and bridge maintenance projects, rather than raising the state’s gasoline tax. 9

The Show-Me Institute advocates for government transparency. In 2019, the Institute filed a suit against Missouri’s Office of Administration, claiming it violated the state’s transparency laws by selectively redacting information from public documents. 10 In 2018, the Institute rolled out its Municipal Checkbook Project, an interactive tool for Missourians to research their city’s spending in an effort to increase transparency in government expenditures. 11 In 2019, the Institute began advocating for a mandatory statewide municipal spending database. In 2020, legislation made it to the Missouri Senate that supported reporting, but only on a voluntary basis. 12

Funding

The Show-Me Institute is funded by donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. 13 While the Institute does not disclose its donors, tax filings indicate notable donations from Donors Capital Fund, 14 the State Policy Network (SPN), 15 and the Cato Institute. 16

People

Staff

Susan Pendergrass works as director of research and education policy at the Show-Me Institute. Pendergrass formerly worked as vice president of research and evaluation for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, as a senior policy advisor for the Department of Education during the George W. Bush administration, and as a senior research scientist at the National Center for Education Statistics during the Obama administration. 17

Elias Tsapelas works as a senior analyst for the Institute and formerly worked as a budget and planning analyst for the State of Missouri’s Office of Administration. 18

Jakob Puckett works as a policy analyst for the Institute and formerly worked as a research associate for the Cascade Policy Institute. 19

Scott Tanner works as associate editor for the Institute. Tanner previously worked as a volunteer coordinator for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s (R) 2012 presidential campaign and as a clerk in the Iowa State House of Representatives. 20

Beverly Gossage works as a research fellow at the Institute and formerly worked as a health policy advisor for organizations including Physicians for Reform, Job Creators Network, and Independent Women’s Voice. 21

Aaron Hedlund works as a research fellow at the Institute and as a senior economist in the Council of Economic Advisers at the White House. Hedlund formerly worked as acting director of academic outreach at the Center for Growth and Opportunity and as a researcher at the Heritage Foundation and the International Trade Commission. 22

Senior fellow Michael McShane works as director of national research for EdChoice (formerly the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice). McShane formerly worked as director of education policy at the Show-Me Institute and as a research fellow for the American Enterprise Institute. 23

Research fellow Howard Wall works as director of the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise and the Center for Economics and the Environment at Lindenwood University. 24

Board of Directors

Rex Sinquefield is a co-founder of the Show-Me Institute and sits as president of the board. 25

Board secretary W. Bevis Schock is a member of the Federalist Society and the National Police Accountability Project (NPAP). 26

Show-Me Institute board member Jennifer Bukowsky sits as vice president of the Jefferson City Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society and on criminal justice task force of the Missouri Supreme Court. 27

Gregg Keller formerly worked as executive director of the American Conservative Union, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), and the Faith and Freedom Coalition. 28

John Lamping formerly served as a Republican member of the Missouri State Senate, where he served as Chair of the Families and Pensions Committee and the Joint Committee on Pensions. 29

Kevin Short sits as chair of the Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation and on the finance council of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. 30

References

  1. “Publications.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/publications.
  2. “The Network: Missouri.” State Policy Network, 2021. Accessed January 21, 2021. https://spn.org/directory/#MO.
  3. “Publications.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/publications.
  4. Talent, Brenda and Ishmael, Patrick. “2021 Show-Me Institute State of the State.” Show-Me Institute, January 25, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/state-and-local-government/2021-show-me-institute-state-of-the-state.
  5. “Health Care.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/topics/health-care/.
  6. Talent, Brenda and Ishmael, Patrick. “2021 Show-Me Institute State of the State.” Show-Me Institute, January 25, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/state-and-local-government/2021-show-me-institute-state-of-the-state.
  7. Talent, Brenda and Ishmael, Patrick. “2021 Show-Me Institute State of the State.” Show-Me Institute, January 25, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/state-and-local-government/2021-show-me-institute-state-of-the-state.
  8. Baier, Corianna. “Missouri Doesn’t Rely on Property Taxes as Much as Other States. Is That a Problem?” Show-Me Institute, June 19, 2020. Accessed January 30, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/taxes/missouri-doesnt-rely-on-property-taxes-as-much-as-other-states-is-that-a-problem.
  9. Talent, Brenda and Ishmael, Patrick. “2021 Show-Me Institute State of the State.” Show-Me Institute, January 25, 2021. Accessed January 30, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/publication/state-and-local-government/2021-show-me-institute-state-of-the-state.
  10. Ishmael, Patrick. “Missouri applies its Sunshine Law selectively. That must end.” The Kansas City Star, August 28, 2019. Accessed January 30, 2021. https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article234393402.html.
  11. Oehlerking, Philip. “Show-Me Institute Rolls out Municipal Checkbook Project.” Show-Me Institute, January 31, 2018. Accessed January 30, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/transparency/show-me-institute-rolls-out-municipal-checkbook-project.
  12. Ishmael, Patrick. “Now in the Senate, Local Transparency Initiative Moves Closer to Becoming Law.” Show-Me Institute, February 28, 2020. Accessed January 30, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/transparency/now-in-the-senate-local-transparency-initiative-moves-closer-to-becoming-law.
  13. “About the Show-Me Institute.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/about-show-me-institute.
  14. Donors Capital Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2010-2013, Schedule I, Part II.
  15. State Policy Network, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2013-2014, Schedule I, Part II.
  16. Cato Institute, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2006, Schedule I, Part II.
  17. “Susan Pendergrass.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/author/susan-pendergrass/.
  18. “Elias Tsapelas.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/author/elias-tsapelas/.
  19. “Jakob Puckett.” LinkedIn, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakob-puckett-ab33a7a6/.
  20. “Scott Tanner.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/author/scott-tanner/.
  21. “Beverly Gossage.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/author/beverly-gossage/.
  22. “Aaron Hedlund.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/author/aaron-hedlund/.
  23. “Michael McShane.” LinkedIn, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mcshane-88231073/.
  24. “Howard Wall.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/author/howard-wall/.
  25. “Rex Sinquefield.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/author/rex-sinquefield/.
  26. “Credentials.” Schock Law, 2020. Accessed January 25, 2021. http://schocklaw.com/credentials.php.
  27. “Jennifer Bukowsky.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/author/jennifer-bukowsky/.
  28. “Gregg Keller.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/author/gregg-keller/.
  29. “John Lamping.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/author/john-lamping2/.
  30. “Kevin Short.” Show-Me Institute, 2021. Accessed January 25, 2021. https://showmeinstitute.org/author/kevin-short/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: March 1, 2005

    • 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
    2017 Dec Form 990 $1,777,870 $1,428,232 $2,044,735 $107,977 N $1,767,882 $3,279 $0 $200,849
    2016 Dec Form 990 $1,683,889 $1,387,285 $1,639,511 $52,391 N $1,683,055 $1,635 $0 $190,550 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $1,733,597 $1,419,361 $1,372,853 $73,538 N $1,732,513 $880 $0 $185,400 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $1,768,351 $1,362,011 $1,038,082 $53,003 N $1,767,207 $970 $0 $174,793 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $1,572,668 $1,476,503 $657,609 $78,870 N $1,570,391 $992 $0 $152,938 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $1,458,096 $1,443,711 $536,177 $53,603 N $1,454,973 $1,509 $0 $161,750 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,434,730 $1,383,822 $474,651 $6,462 N $1,423,714 $0 $0 $139,050 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Show-Me Institute

    5297 WASHINGTON PL
    St. Louis, MO 63108-1116