1. What is State Policy Network
State Policy Network is the only organization in the country dedicated to building and mobilizing a Durable Freedom Infrastructure in the states. This means we support leaders and organizations building the necessary capacities – like research, litigation, advocacy, investigative journalism, voter insights, and leadership training – to secure wins that outlast election cycles and help change the culture and policy landscape of the state in favor of freedom. SPN supports a powerful movement of 64 independent state think tank affiliates and over 100 national partners across the 50 states. We do this by:
• Strengthening organizations and accelerating their development through strategic planning, training, and coaching;
• Connecting talented state leaders so they can learn, challenge, and grow together, with the aim of catalyzing state policy reforms that yield national impact;
• Promoting federalism and the authority states have to make decisions without federal government intrusion. This, in turn, protects the hard-fought victories of our 50-state Network; and
• Strategically investing in Durable Freedom Infrastructure to help secure enduring wins on behalf of American citizens.
2. What do state think tanks do?
State think tanks serve important roles in educating citizens about the effects of public policies on their everyday lives and holding governments accountable to the public. Today’s state think tanks are often the hub for deploying Durable Freedom Infrastructure, which is designed to help states secure enduring wins that last beyond an election cycle.
State think tanks foster healthy policy debate by providing technical expertise and practical public policy solutions to help solve some of our country’s greatest challenges at the state and national levels. The free-market policy approach employed by affiliated state think tanks helps to identify policies that are focused on helping all people flourish.
Think tanks also serve the important role of informing the public about the likely consequences of policy recommendations. Government has grown so big and complex over the years that it can be difficult for the average person with a job and family to dig into the details of complex policy, let alone identify all the potential consequences policy proposals can have on their lives and communities. Think tanks help to fill this void through research and analysis.
Think tanks also help to hold government accountable to the public. Government agencies often produce studies and analysis so complimentary to big government that most citizens feel disconnected, as though the system is insulating itself from the transparency and accountability that is essential to maintaining American liberties and prosperity. Thus, think tanks, with their independent research, were created to keep average citizens and policymakers informed so that government is accountable to the public.
3. What is Durable Freedom Infrastructure?
Durable Freedom Infrastructure (DFI) is a battle-tested model that deploys key capacities to not only push policy reforms across the finish line, but withstand legal challenges, win in the court of public opinion, and ensure hard-fought wins last beyond the next election cycle. These key capacities – often anchored by a strong state think tank – could include one or more of the following:
– Political Capacities – Using the necessary advocacy levers to pass policy into law (C4, C6, PAC)
– Litigation Centers – Strategic litigation for liberty
– Media and Investigative Journalism
– Uncovering political corruption, in depth reporting on state and local stories, and circumventing media bias
– Leadership Academies – Training friends of freedom to participate at all levels of state government
– Voter Insights – Understanding voter wants and needs to promote liberty
DFI is the vehicle we use to get to our destination. And where is that destination? It’s an America where all people can flourish because collaborative, entrepreneurial leaders have secured lasting social change, personal freedom, and economic opportunity at the state and local level.
4. What is the Center for Practical Federalism?
SPN’s Center for Practical Federalism aims to educate the American public and policymakers on the benefits of federalism—a system of government where some authority belongs to the national government, and much more resides with states, communities, and the American people. Federalism pushes power where it belongs, to citizens acting through their elected representatives, and it ensures that no one branch of government exerts too much power.
Federalism also enables experimentation with policy solutions tailored to states and communities. When policy is local, it takes into account unique community conditions, is more easily influenced by everyday citizens, and thereby leads to better outcomes for more of the people it governs. What’s more, the diverse array of policies that inevitably result under federalism allow us to learn what works better than a single, top-down approach.
The Center for Practical Federalism is launching a number of initiatives to educate state and local officials, as well as interested citizens, about the need to preserve state and local governing authority against overreach by the federal government. It will also offer training and resources for public officials interested in more effectively overseeing governmental agencies, making them accountable to We the People.
5. Are State Policy Network and the affiliated independent members nonpartisan?
While partisans support political parties, State Policy Network is in the business of advancing state organizations and solutions that transform the lives of citizens in each state, fostering a society where individuals can be healthier, happier, and more prosperous. That is why we and our affiliates maintain independence from any partisan activity or label so we can focus on what matters most to us: making the lives of everyday Americans better. SPN and its affiliates are nonpartisan and will work with any interested policymaker to ensure information is available to make sound decisions for the entire state.
6. How do I get in touch with a specific state member?
Visit the State Policy Network directory for contact information of a specific state think tank.
7. How many members does State Policy Network have?
There are 64 independent, nonpartisan state affiliate members, and more than 100 nonprofit national partners. A listing of all can be found here.
8. How can an organization join State Policy Network?
Affiliation with SPN is by invitation only. All affiliated state groups must be based in a state or US territory and focus primarily on free-market solutions to policy challenges facing states and the nation. State think tank affiliates must be nonpartisan, not accept government funding, and have a 501(c)(3) IRS designation. Please read our full requirements and guidelines.
9. Does State Policy Network direct the work of its members?
Since our founding and by design, each affiliate member is completely independent. SPN is an affiliate-driven operation: our services and training are prioritized and directed from robust affiliate surveys, evaluations, and feedback loops. State Policy Network exists to strengthen, support, and accelerate the success of these organizations. Visit our About page to review the Statement of Network Independence.
10. Do State Policy Network or the state members engage in issue advocacy?
Through training and the sharing of best practices, State Policy Network helps its members leverage communications strategies and tactics so that we can reach wider audiences with our policy research and analysis. When it comes to IRS regulations, the rules state that 501(c)(3) organizations “may take positions on public policy issues, including issues that divide candidates in an election for public office.”
11. Do State Policy Network or its state affiliates engage in lobbying?
Think tanks produce sound nonpartisan analysis and research on public policy and then seek to educate the public and legislators on the findings of their analysis in the broad social and economic context. Their primary role is policy education and not lobbying.
IRS regulations state that 501(c)(3) organizations like SPN, the Sierra Club, and the ACLU are permitted some lobbying, provided it is not a substantial part of the organization’s activities. SPN itself does not regularly or extensively engage in such lobbying, as we are a service organization founded to support public policy nonprofits.
12. How is State Policy Network funded?
State Policy Network is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. SPN partners with thousands of Americans from every corner of the country who invest in our mission to catalyze thriving, durable freedom movements in every state, anchored with high-performing, independent think tanks.
We receive support from individuals, charitable foundations, and businesses. More fundraising information can be found in the latest SPN Annual Report.
All our investors support our mission because they wish to partner with SPN to advance a free society. We support every American’s right to support causes they believe in. We maintain strict fidelity to our mission and vision, as established by the SPN Board of Directors, and we are proud that so many Americans have chosen to partner with us, many loyally renewing their support year after year.