The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) is a non-partisan organization that promotes classical liberalism. IHS maintains a network of scholars and partners with professors to ensure that the principles of the classical liberal tradition, like individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, are taught and researched in higher education. ¹

IHS was founded in 1961 and in 1985 became affiliated with George Mason University. ²

IHS is an associate member of the State Policy Network, a coalition of free-market state-level policy organizations. ³ While IHS is non-partisan, a member of its board of directors has an affiliation with the Republican Party.

Activity

The Institute for Humane Studies provides funding to graduate students and faculty that supports research on classical liberal ideas, including topics related to free speech and open inquiry, civil exchange, liberty, equality, market dynamism, and social stability. Additionally, IHS provides financial and logistical support for faculty to host extracurricular events that explore the ideas of a free and open society. ⁴

IHS hosts a variety of academic events, including conferences, discussion colloquiums, and research workshops. Topics covered at these events include the effects of immigration on the political economy, the abolition movement as an example of radical liberalism, and ways that political polarization affects a free society. ⁵ IHS also hosts career support events for graduate students, including reviews of papers and dossiers, workshops for research success and productivity in the job market, and a free online graduate conference. ⁶

Funding

The Institute for Humane Studies is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. While IHS does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the Charles Koch Foundation ($5.8 million in 2016), ⁷ the John Templeton Foundation ($2.24 million in 2016), ⁸ and the John William Pope Foundation ($375,000 in 2019). ⁹

People

Emily Chamlee-Wright is the president and CEO of the Institute for Humane Studies. She was previously provost and dean of Washington College. ¹⁰

Chad Thevenot is the executive director of IHS. Thevenot was director of grants and outreach for the Marijuana Policy Project and former director of communications at the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation. ¹¹

Board of Directors

David Humphreys is the executive committee chair of the Institute for Humane Studies, the chair of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty and a member of the board of the Cato Institute. Humphreys is a former member of the American Civil Liberties Union. ¹²

Charles Koch is an emeritus chair of IHS and the CEO and chair of the board of Koch Industries. Koch is the founder of the Charles Koch Foundation and the Charles Koch Institute. ¹³

Brian Hooks is the CEO and chair of the board of Stand Together, the president of both the Charles Koch Foundation and the Charles Koch Institute, and the former executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. ¹⁴

James Arthur Pope is the chair of the board of the John William Pope Foundation and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. Pope served four non-consecutive terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives as a Republican. ¹⁵

Chris J. Rufer is the chair of the board of the Free To Choose Network. ¹⁶

Ryan Stowers is the executive director of the Charles Koch Foundation, former program manager at the American Enterprise Institute, and former research assistant at the Institute for Political Economy. ¹⁷

Todd Zywicki is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and serves on the boards of the the Bill of Rights Institute, the Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment (FREE), the Center for Excellence in Higher Education, and the Competitive Enterprise Institute. ¹⁸

1. “Who We Are.” Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University, 2021. Accessed October 29, 2021. https://theihs.org/who-we-are/.
2.  “Who We Are.” Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University, 2021. Accessed October 29, 2021. https://theihs.org/who-we-are/.
3. “The Network: Virginia.” State Policy Network, 2021. Accessed October 29, 2021. https://spn.org/directory/#VA.
4. “Funding for Faculty.” Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University, 2021. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://theihs.org/funding-career-resources/funding-for-faculty/.
5. “Academic Events.” Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University, 2021. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://theihs.org/academic-events/.
6. “Career Support Events.” Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University, 2021. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://theihs.org/academic-events/career-development-seminars/.
7. Charles Koch Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2019, Part XV, Line 3a.
8. John Templeton Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2016, Part XV, Line 3a.
9.  John William Pope Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2019, Part XV, Line 3a.
10. “Emily Chamlee-Wright.” Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University, 2021. Accessed October 29, 2021. https://theihs.org/people/emily-chamlee-wright/.
11. ^[1] “Chad Thevenot.” Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University, 2021. Accessed October 29, 2021. https://theihs.org/people/chad-thevenot/.
12. “About.” David C. Humphreys, 2021. Accessed October 29, 2021. https://davidchumphreys.com/about/.
13. “Charles G. Koch.” Kock Industries, 2021. Accessed October 29, 2021. https://news.kochind.com/media-resources/leadership-bios/charles-g-koch.
14. “Brian Hooks.” LinkedIn, 2021. Accessed October 29, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-hooks/.
15. “James Arthur Pope.” The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, 2021. Accessed October 29, 2021https://www.bradleyfdn.org/our-people/james-arthur-pope.
16. “Chris J. Rufer.” Free To Choose Network, 2021. Accessed October 29, 2021. https://www.freetochoosenetwork.org/about/board/rufer.php.
17. Institute for Humane Studies, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Part II, Line 20.
18. “Todd J. Zywicki.” George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School. Accessed October 29, 2021. https://www.law.gmu.edu/faculty/directory/fulltime/zywicki_todd.