Why Think Tanks are a Billion Dollar Business

This Bloomberg original explores the business and influence of think tanks, focusing on organizations like the Aspen Institute and Heritage Foundation. It examines how these non-profits generate billions in funding, measure success beyond financial returns, and shape policy and public discourse. Leaders from Aspen and the Walton Family Foundation discuss challenges in quantifying human flourishing, convening power, and intergenerational change. - The top 5 US think tanks collect around $1.3 billion annually. - Aspen Institute positions itself as a 'do tank' that convenes diverse voices rather than lobbying. - Heritage Foundation pioneered explicitly partisan policy impact, like Project 2025. - Measuring the ROI of ideas remains a central challenge; metrics include convening power and societal influence. - Philanthropic foundations increasingly demand clear outcome measures for their donations. - Younger generations and technology like AI are changing how think tanks must operate. - Funding from major donors like Bezos Family Foundation signals confidence in Aspen's model.