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. 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 at least $30,033,549 from Koch foundation grants from 1997-2015. [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 plus additional information from publicy-avaialble 990 tax forms. See the attached spreadsheet for details on the Institute for Humane Studies's funding by year (.xlsx). [9]

IHS as Recipient

IHS as Donor

Koch Funding

According to data collected by Greenpeace USA, the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) has received $34,242,531 in combined donations from Koch-related foundations between 1986 and 2015. Note that original tax forms are only available for data from 1997 onwards. Verifiable Koch funding from 1997 to 2015 totals $30,033,549: [11]

Year Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation David H. Koch Charitable Foundation Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation Charles Koch Institute Grand Total 1986* $200,000 $45,000 $245,000 1987* $8,308 $250,000 $150,000 $408,308 1988* $250,000 $150,000 $400,000 1989* $115,000 $250,000 $365,000 1990* $253,000 $253,000 1991* $353,000 $353,000 1992* $50,000 $443,074 $493,074 1993* $45,600 $536,000 $581,600 1995* $350,000 $350,000 1996* $350,000 $410,000 $760,000 1997 $350,000 $350,000 1999 $200,000 $250,000 $450,000 2000 $200,000 $200,000 2001 $600,000 $600,000 2002 $334,000 $334,000 2003 $22,457 $22,457 2006 $1,082,000 $1,082,000 2007 $885,000 $885,000 2008 $1,169,000 $1,169,000 2009 $2,461,091 $2,461,091 2010 $2,159,500 $2,159,500 2011 $3,671,500 $3,671,500 2012 $2,978,770 $2,978,770 2013 $4,050,000 $4,050,000 2014 $4,930,169 $42,680 $4,972,849 2015 $4,572,182 $75,200 $4,647,382 2016 $5,836,462 $84,720 $5,921,182 2017 $458,803 $400,000 $73,200 $932,003 Grand Total $35,029,842 $3,450,000 $2,340,074 $275,800 $41,095,716

*Original tax forms for data prior to 1997 are not available for verification.

990 Forms

Key People

Leadership

Marty Zupan — President & CEO

— President 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

As of June 2014: [1],[6]

Charles G. Koch (Chair), Koch Industries, Wichita, KS

(Chair), Koch Industries, Wichita, Donald Boudreax , George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

, George Mason University, Fairfax, John Blundell , Institute of Economic Affairs, London, UK

, Institute of Economic Affairs, London, Timothy Browne , Autana Vineyards, Healdsburg, CA

, Autana Vineyards, Healdsburg, Tyler Cowen , George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

, George Mason University, Fairfax, Richard Fink , Koch Industries, Washington, DC

, Koch Industries, Washington, Jerry Fullinwider , Hillwood International Energy, Dallas, TX

, Hillwood International Energy, Dallas, David Humphreys , Tamko Asphalt Products, Joplin, MO

, Tamko Asphalt Products, Joplin, Eric O'Keefe , OKE Associates, Spring Green, WI

, Associates, Spring Green, James Pope , Variety Wholesalers, Raleigh, NC

, Variety Wholesalers, Raleigh, 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]

Institute for Humane Studies Contact & Location

As of June 2016, the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) listed the following contact information on its website: [10]

Institute for Humane Studies

at George Mason University

3434 Washington Blvd.,

MS 1C5

Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 703.993.4880

Toll Free: 800.697.8799

Fax: 703.993.4890

Related Organizations

​Source: [1]

Resources

Additional Research