Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University
Background
The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) at George Mason University is a non-profit organization hosted by George Mason University. [1] The IHS was founded by Dr. F. A.'Baldy' Harper, a former economics professor at Cornell University. [2] According to the institute's website, Harper is described as setting up an institution “devoted to research and education with the conviction that a greater understanding of human affairs and freedom would foster peace, prosperity, and social harmony.” [2]
The Institute For Humane Studies at George Mason University seeks to “inspire students and professors to engage with the ideas of freedom” and “connect them to a community of individuals committed to the power of freedom and of ideas.”[2]
The Institute for Humane Studies has been referred to as “a haven for climate change deniers that receives funding from the Koch family foundations.” [3] Charles Koch is the Chairman of the Institute for Humane Studies' board of directors, and according to a Greenpeace analysis, the Institute for Humane Studies has received over $13,000,000 from Koch foundation grants from 1997-2011. [4],[5]
The Institute for Humane Studies formerly offered undergraduate students, graduate students, law students, and recent graduates “The Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program,” which was founded in 1992 by the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation and was run by IHS“with the generous support of the foundation and CEO of Koch Industries, Inc.“ [4] According to the IHS' archived “FAQ” page, “ideal candidates” of The Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program “will have a demonstrated interest in public policy issues and in learning how a market-based approach might help solve social and economic problems.” [4]
Stance on Climate Change
A search query for the terms “global warming” and “climate change” on the Institute for Humane Studies' website yields no results. However, Greenpeace reported that “several prominent climate change deniers have prominent positions at IHS,” including S. Fred Singer and Robert Bradley. [5]
Funding
The following data has been compiled from records at the Conservative Transparency project. Note that not all funding data has been reviewed by DeSmogBlog for accuracy. See the attached spreadsheet for details on the Institute for Humane Studies's funding by year.
| Donor | Contribution |
| Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation | $19,013,318 |
| Donors Capital Fund | $3,409,636 |
| Dunn's Foundation for the Advancement of Right Thinking | $2,618,700 |
| Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation | $2,537,074 |
| Searle Freedom Trust | $2,522,532 |
| David H. Koch Charitable Foundation | $2,100,000 |
| John William Pope Foundation | $1,295,000 |
| John M. Olin Foundation | $1,198,000 |
| Sarah Scaife Foundation | $1,050,000 |
| Ed Uihlein Family Foundation | $985,000 |
| DonorsTrust | $975,000 |
| Earhart Foundation | $970,650 |
| Walton Family Foundation | $520,000 |
| The Carthage Foundation | $480,000 |
| Jaquelin Hume Foundation | $435,000 |
| Pierre F. and Enid Goodrich Foundation | $385,000 |
| Charlotte and Walter Kohler Charitable Trust | $375,000 |
| Dorothy D. and Joseph A. Moller Foundation | $365,625 |
| The Rodney Fund | $346,800 |
| The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation | $340,000 |
| Philanthropy Roundtable | $250,000 |
| F.M. Kirby Foundation | $195,000 |
| Lowndes Foundation | $186,577 |
| JM Foundation | $165,000 |
| The Roe Foundation | $159,500 |
| Philip M. McKenna Foundation | $142,000 |
| The Randolph Foundation | $135,000 |
| Chase Foundation of Virginia | $123,760 |
| Lovett and Ruth Peters Foundation | $110,000 |
| Armstrong Foundation | $76,000 |
| Claws Foundation | $60,000 |
| Barbara and Barre Seid Foundation | $40,000 |
| Robert and Marie Hansen Foundation | $37,500 |
| The Challenge Foundation | $35,000 |
| Foundation for Economic Education | $32,838 |
| Aequus Institute | $25,000 |
| Ruth & Lovett Peters Foundation | $20,000 |
| Atlas Economic Research Foundation | $10,000 |
| Center for Independent Thought | $6,000 |
| John Templeton Foundation | $5,000 |
| Tepper Family Foundation | $4,000 |
| Cato Institute | $2,000 |
| Hickory Foundation | $1,500 |
| Gilder Foundation | $750 |
| Grand Total | $43,744,760 |
Key People
Leadership
- Marty Zupan— President &CEO
- Chad Thevenot — Executive Director
- Laura Bernett Cheplak — Senior Director of Operations
- Jennifer Thompson — Senior Director of Programs
- Daniel Butler — Director of Development
- Gary Leff — Chief Financial Officer
- Todd Noebel — Senior Director of Hiring and Professional Development
- Todd Hathaway — Senior Director of Information Technology
Source: [2]
Board of Directors
- Charles G. Koch (Chair), Koch Industries, Wichita, KS
- Donald Boudreax, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
- John Blundell, Institute of Economic Affairs, London, UK
- Timothy Browne, Autana Vineyards, Healdsburg, CA
- Tyler Cowen, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
- Richard Fink, Koch Industries, Washington, DC
- Jerry Fullinwider, Hillwood International Energy, Dallas, TX
- David Humphreys, Tamko Asphalt Products, Joplin, MO
- Eric O'Keefe, OKE Associates, Spring Green, WI
- James Pope, Variety Wholesalers, Raleigh, NC
- William Sumner, Scottsdale, AZ
Actions
2009
The Institute for Humane Studies was involved in creating material for the 2009 edition of ABC News' Stossel in the Classroom, which is owned and operated by The Center for Independent Thought. A segment of Stossel in the Classroom explicitly told students that there is still a debate “about whether or not human activity is the cause” of climate change. The program featured several speakers with known ties to front groups and fossil fuel companies, including: Alex Epstein, Roy Spencer, Tim Ball, and John Christy. [7]
1992
The Institute for Humane Studies launched the “Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program,” funded by Charles Koch himself, “which mentors young, self-described libertarians.” [8]
Related Organizations
- Carthage Foundation
- CATO Institute
- Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation
- Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation
- David H. Koch Foundation
- Donors Capital Fund
- DonorsTrust
- Dunn's Foundation for the Advancement of Right Thinking
- George Mason University
- John M. Olin Foundation
- John William Pope Foundation
- Koch Family Foundations
- Mercatus Center
- Sarah Scaife Foundation
- Searle Freedom Trust
- Walton Family Foundation
Source: [1]
Resources
“Institute for Humane Studies,” Sourcewatch. Archived September 16, 2015.
“Who We Are,” Institute For Humane Studies at George Mason University. Archived September 9, 2015. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6biLHR1Gh
“Climate Change Deniers Without Borders,” Mother Jones, December 22, 2009. Archived September 16, 2015. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6biLQS56z
“FAQ,” Institute For Humane Studies at George Mason University. Archived June 13, 2010. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmogBlog.
“Institute for Humane Studies (IHS),” Greenpeace. Archived September 16, 2015. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6biLeUKgg
“Institute for Humane Studies,” GuideStar.
“Center for Independent Thought: Stossel in the Classroom,” Greenpeace. Archived September 16, 2015. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6biNraiGO
“Political Activities of the Koch Brothers,” Wikipedia. Archived September 16, 2015.
Additional Research
- John R. Mashey. “Fakery 2: Fake science, fakexperts, funny finances, free of tax” (PDF), DeSMogBlog, October 23, 2012.
- “George Mason University,” DeSmogBlog profile.
- “Mercatus Center,” DeSmogBlog profile.
- Brendan Montague. “Blundell: The Missing Link Between Oil Baron Charles Koch and British Climate Denial,” DeSmog UK, November 29, 2014.
