Atlas Network (Atlas Economic Research Foundation)
Background
The Atlas Network is a Washington DC-based non-profit organization that works to support and grow a network of more than 450 “free market” organizations in more than 90 countries promoting individual liberty and free market ideals.
Many of the member think tanks of the Atlas Network have supported climate science denial and have campaigned against legislation to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
The Atlas Economic Research Foundation (AERF) was founded by Antony Fisher in 1981 with the goal of bringing “innovative, market-based perspectives to issues of public policy.” Fisher had previously founded the Institute of Economic Affairs, an influential London-based think tank promoting neoliberal ideas of small governments and low regulation. [1]
Atlas Network is the trading name of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. Previous names have been the Atlas Foundation and the Atlas Research Foundation. The International Policy Network (IPN) in the UK, also founded by Fisher, is effectively a UK variant of the Atlas Network.
According to UK Charity Commission filings (PDF), The Atlas Economic Research Foundation (UK) was working as the International Policy Network, and is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, number 262982. In April 2001, with the consent of the Charity Commission, it adopted the working name of The International Policy Network, 'IPN', and in December 2004, 'UK' was added to the name. The UK Atlas Economic Research Foundation and the IPN UK are no longer listed among UK Charities. and the UK branch was most recently operating with a new name, “Network for a Free Society.” The U.S. Atlas Network appears to be a separate entity from the International Policy Network US Inc., although Atlas Network's 2010 financial records reveal that they continued to provide support to IPN. [2]
The stated vision of the Atlas Network is to “win the long-term policy battles that will shape history, we need freedom champions to create credible institutes – well-managed and independent of vested interests – that use sound business practices to advance sound public policy ideas.”
SourceWatch describes the Atlas Economic Research Foundation as “The Johnny Appleseed of antiregulation groups […] on a mission to populate the world with new 'free market' voices.” The mission of Atlas, according to John Blundell (president from 1987 to 1990), “is to litter the world with free-market think-tanks.” [3]
The Atlas Network has played a role in the work of a varity of conservative think tanks including the Manhattan Institute in New York, the National Center for Policy Analysis in Texas, Instituto Libertad y Democracia in Peru, the Acton Institute in Michigan, Fundación Libertad in Argentina, the Lithuanian Free Market Institute, Instituto Libertad y Desarrollo in Chile, the Centre for Civil Society in India, Istituto Bruno Leoni in Italy, and the Association for Liberal Thinking in Turkey, among others. [1]
Atlas identifies, screens, and offers initial support to individuals and groups who want to create local think tanks. Atlas “strives to provide personal assistance to individuals who are starting a free-market institute” and offers online training programs “that will walk you through the early stages of starting a think-tank.” [4]
Stance on Climate Change
Atlas has cosponsored numerous Heartland Institute events dedicated to the proposition that climate change is not a crisis.
In a November 2014 commentary, Atlas CEO Brad Lips wrote: “The Kyoto Protocol – signed by President Clinton in 1998 (but never ratified by the U.S. Senate) – now appears to have been the high-water mark for the Global Warming movement (since coincidentally that was that last year of measured “warming”). Even those who believe global warming is a catastrophic, man-made problem now struggle to make a case that global energy austerity is a practical or cost-effective course of action.” [18]
Funding
According to the Atlas Economic Research Foundation Website, [1]
“Atlas Network is not endowed and it does not accept government funding. It does not support political candidates or parties, or otherwise involve itself in partisan politics.We are grateful to those generous individuals, philanthropies, and businesses that entrust us with financial resources to build a greater public consensus around the ideas of a free society by advancing the Atlas Network mission.”
According to their financials page, “Atlas Network is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Atlas Network is not endowed and does not accept government funding. All of its programs depend upon the generosity of foundations, individuals, and corporations.” [5]
Atlas Network as Recipient
| Donor | Total Contributions |
| John Templeton Foundation | $8,666,524 |
| Earhart Foundation | $3,429,240 |
| Sarah Scaife Foundation | $1,820,000 |
| DonorsTrust | $1,243,200 |
| Exxon Mobil | $1,082,500 |
| The Carthage Foundation | $710,000 |
| Chiaroscuro Foundation | $600,000 |
| Claws Foundation | $600,000 |
| Chase Foundation of Virginia | $548,820 |
| Donors Capital Fund | $459,000 |
| George Edward Durell Foundation | $395,000 |
| William H. Donner Foundation | $390,000 |
| The Roe Foundation | $362,500 |
| Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation | $343,460 |
| Lovett and Ruth Peters Foundation | $328,000 |
| Pierre F. and Enid Goodrich Foundation | $325,000 |
| Lowndes Foundation | $322,000 |
| The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation | $268,890 |
| The Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation | $265,000 |
| John William Pope Foundation | $255,000 |
| Searle Freedom Trust | $235,000 |
| Ravenel and Elizabeth Curry Foundation | $200,000 |
| JM Foundation | $115,000 |
| Center for Independent Thought | $94,125 |
| Jaqueline Hume Foundation | $93,000 |
| Diana Davis Spencer Foundation | $92,000 |
| Smith Richardson Foundation | $88,000 |
| The Randolph Foundation | $73,700 |
| The Vernon K. Krieble Foundation | $72,000 |
| Robert P. Rotella Foundation | $50,000 |
| Paul E. Singer Foundation | $50,000 |
| Aequus Institute | $45,000 |
| Dunn's Foundation for the Advancement of Right Thinking | $40,000 |
| International Policy Network | $37,596 |
| Charles Koch Institute | $36,600 |
| Same Line Foundation | $33,700 |
| Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation | $28,500 |
| Cato Institute | $20,000 |
| State Policy Network | $17,894 |
| Mercatus Center | $15,000 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | $12,460 |
| Philip M. McKenna Foundation | $10,000 |
| The Rodney Fund | $8,000 |
| Armstrong Foundation | $5,000 |
| The Opportunity Foundation | $2,000 |
| Friedman Foundation For Educational Choice | $1,000 |
| Joyce and Donald Rumsfeld Foundation | $1,000 |
| Heritage Foundation | $450 |
| Grand Total | $23,891,159 |
Atlas Network as Donor
| Donor | Total Contributions |
| Students for Liberty | $449,905 |
| George Mason University | $235,960 |
| Prague Security Studies Institute Washington | $224,750 |
| International Freedom Educational Foundation | $179,844 |
| Hispanic American Center for Economic Research | $132,198 |
| Show-Me Institute | $120,100 |
| Taliesin Nexus | $117,668 |
| Cato Institute | $110,000 |
| Bluegrass Institute | $105,000 |
| Acton Institute | $100,000 |
| Education Intelligence Agency | $95,000 |
| George Mason University School of Law | $86,000 |
| Foundation for Government Accountability | $84,394 |
| Free Africa Foundation | $53,000 |
| The Prometheus Institute (Irvine CA) | $50,850 |
| Foundation for Democracy in Russia | $50,000 |
| National Review Institute | $35,000 |
| Illinois Policy Institute | $34,000 |
| Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty | $30,000 |
| Mercatus Center | $30,000 |
| University of Richmond | $27,500 |
| Free To Choose Network | $26,350 |
| John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy | $25,800 |
| American Slovenian Education Foundation | $25,000 |
| George Mason University Foundation | $25,000 |
| PSSI Washington | $25,000 |
| State Policy Network | $25,000 |
| The Bastiat Society | $24,000 |
| The Americas Forum | $23,000 |
| Goldwater Institute | $20,500 |
| Northwood University (Michigan) | $20,500 |
| Intellectual Takeout | $20,500 |
| Pelican Institute for Public Policy | $20,250 |
| Foundation for Individual Rights in Education | $20,200 |
| Reason Foundation | $20,000 |
| Association of Private Enterprise Education | $20,000 |
| The Independent Institute | $19,425 |
| Rockford College | $18,300 |
| North Dakota Policy Council | $17,500 |
| Public Policy Foundation of West Virginia | $16,056 |
| The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College | $16,000 |
| Idaho Freedom Foundation | $15,500 |
| Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs | $15,000 |
| National Center for Policy Analysis | $15,000 |
| American Traditional Institute | $15,000 |
| Liberty Foundation | $15,000 |
| The Ryan Foundation | $12,000 |
| Mackinac Center for Public Policy | $12,000 |
| American Center for Civic Character | $10,500 |
| Deep Springs International | $10,500 |
| Brown University | $10,500 |
| Ocean State Policy Research Institute | $10,450 |
| Samasource | $10,200 |
| Competitive Governance Institute (Formerly Sam Adams Alliance) | $10,200 |
| Common Sense Institute of New Jersey | $10,000 |
| College of Charleston Foundation | $10,000 |
| Rio Grande Foundation | $10,000 |
| Beloit College | $10,000 |
| Moving Picture Institute | $10,000 |
| Institute to Reduce Spending | $10,000 |
| Human Rights Foundation | $10,000 |
| International Policy Network US | $10,000 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | $10,000 |
| Advance Arkansas Institute | $10,000 |
| Cardinal Institute for West Virginia | $10,000 |
| Mises Institute | $10,000 |
| Institute for Justice | $10,000 |
| Peak Freedom Forum | $10,000 |
| Institute for Humane Studies | $10,000 |
| Bastiat Society | $10,000 |
| Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise | $10,000 |
| Mercatus | $10,000 |
| Texas Public Policy Foundation | $9,500 |
| The Fund for American Studies | $9,000 |
| James Madison Institute | $9,000 |
| Becket Fund for Religious Liberty | $9,000 |
| Platte Institute for Economic Research | $8,197 |
| East Carolina University | $8,000 |
| Interamerican Institute for Democracy | $8,000 |
| American Friends of the Institute of Economic Affairs | $7,500 |
| Pacific Legal Foundation | $7,000 |
| Alaska Policy Forum | $6,580 |
| Swaniti Initiative | $6,500 |
| Washington Policy Center | $6,100 |
| Saint Vincent College | $6,000 |
| Rhodes College | $6,000 |
| American Principles in Action | $5,800 |
| Polish-American Foundation for Economic Research and Education | $5,600 |
| Just Facts Inc. | $5,500 |
| Liberty Fund | $5,164 |
| Grand Total | $3,249,841 |
Tobacco Industry Funding
According to PR Watch, Philip Morris contributed over $475,000 to Atlas in 1995 alone. [7]
ExxonMobil Funding
According to ExxonSecrets, Atlas has received a total of $1,082,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998. [8]
Koch Funding
According to data collected by Greenpeace USA, the Atlas Economic Research Foundation has received $348,560 in combined donations from Koch-related foundations between 1998 and 2015. [25]
*Original tax forms prior to 1997 are no longer available for verification. If you include these values, the grand total jumps to $408,560 in Koch funding from 1987 to 2015. [25]
| Year | Charles Koch Foundation | Charles Koch Institute | Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation | Grand Total |
| *1987 | $2,500 | $2,500 | ||
| *1988 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
| *1989 | $20,000 | $20,000 | ||
| *1991 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
| *1992 | $2,500 | $25,000 | $27,500 | |
| 1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | ||
| 2001 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
| 2006 | $3,800 | $3,800 | ||
| 2007 | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
| 2008 | $35,000 | $35,000 | ||
| 2009 | $38,800 | $38,800 | ||
| 2012 | $28,522 | $28,522 | ||
| 2013 | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
| 2014 | $64,912 | $14,900 | $79,812 | |
| 2015 | $82,426 | $21,700 | $104,126 | |
| Grand Total | $343,460 | $36,600 | $28,500 | $408,560 |
990 Forms
Key People
Board of Directors
| Name | 2001 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011[10] | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015[9] | 2017 | 2018 | Description |
| Linda Whetstone | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Chair. Chairman, Network for a Free Society. Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs. Previous chairman of International Policy Network and a director of the Mont Pelerin Society. Daughter of the late Sir Anthony Fisher. |
| René Scull | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Worked in Asia as vice president of Philip Morris, South America. Mont Pelerin Society member. |
| Timothy Browne | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Private investor and independent consultant. Director of the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University, a member of the Mont Pelerin Society. |
| William Sumner | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Board Member Emeritus as of 2013. Former Atlas treasurer and chairman. Director emeritus, Institute for Humane Studies. Mont Pelerin Society and Philadelphia Society member. | |
| Dan Grossman | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Chairman, Atlas Network, 2008-2016. Former Chairman of the Foundation for Economic Education. | |||
| Andrea Millen Rich | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Oresident of Center for Independent Thought, a nonprofit organization with current projects that include Stossel in the Classroom. | ||||
| Gerry Ohrstrom | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Former chairman of the Ohrstrom Foundation. A director the Reason Foundation, PERC, Africa Fighting Malaria, International Policy Network, Intelligence Squared debate series, and others | ||||||||||
| Debbi Gibbs | Y | Y | Y | Y | Vice Chair. Owner of Just Managing, a music agency, and has worked as an executive director in the broadcasting and entertainment industry for many years. | |||||||||||
| Luis Henrique Ball | Y | Y | Y | Chairman and CEO of GrupoCiencia and Allegheny Medical Systems LLC. Founder, publisher, and owner of PanAm Post. | ||||||||||||
| Nikolaos Monoyios | Y | Y | Y | Co-owner of Eagle Valley Ranch LLC. Retired as senior VP of Main Street Team of mutual funds at OppenheimerFunds in June 2008. Former VP at Guardian Investor Services. | ||||||||||||
| Kathryn Washburn | Y | Y | Director, the Niskanen Center. Former director of international affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. | |||||||||||||
| Lawson Bader | Y | Y | President and CEO of DonorsTrust. Has led the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, among other groups. | |||||||||||||
| Robert Boyd | Y | Y | Private investor. Has been a board member of various think tanks for more than twenty-five years. | |||||||||||||
| Scott Barbee | Y | Y | Treasurer. Owner and president of Aegis Financial Corporation. Director of the Donald & Paula Smith Family Foundation. | |||||||||||||
| George Pearson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Manager of various Koch foundations. Worked for Koch Industries as director of public affairs among other positions. Principal in Industrial Development Investors, LLC. Director, Institute for Humane Studies, the Cato Institute, and the Kansas Policy Institute. | |
| Curtin Winsor, Jr. | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica under President Ronald Reagan (1983 - 1985). Former owner, American Chemical Services Co. Trustee of the W. H. Donner Foundation, Africare, and the Hudson Institute. | ||
| Alejandro Chafuen | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | President of Atlas Network. Mont Pelerin Society member since 1980. Board member of the Chase Foundation, the Acton Institute, and Fraser Institute. Member of the founding committee of Donors Trust. | ||||||||
| Charles Albers | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Former security analyst and equity mutual fund portfolio manager at the Guardian Park Avenue Fund and the Oppenheimer Main Street Fund. | ||||||||
| Peter Goettler | Y | Y | Former managing director at Barclays Capital. Former Chief Executive at Latin America for Barclays PLC. | |||||||||||||
| John Blundell | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Distinguished Senior Fellow, Institute of Economic Affairs. Visiting Fellow at The Heritage Foundation. President and CEO of Atlas from 1987 to 1991. President, the Institute for Humane Studies and the Charles G. Koch Foundation. | |||
| Abby Moffat | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Trustee, VP, and COO, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation. Former Managing Trustee, Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation. Director, Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Media Research Center, and Heritage Foundation. Member, Philanthropy Roundtable. | ||||||||||
| Alejandro Garza Lagüera | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||
| James Arthur Pope | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Vice Chairman | ||||||||||
| Sarah Atkins | Y | |||||||||||||||
| Walter Grinder | Y |
Advisory Council
| Name | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | Description |
| Bob Jefferies | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Founder, Jefferies & Associates |
| Dan Gressel | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Board of Directors, Yankee Institute for Public Policy |
| Derwood Chase | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Founder, Chase Investment Council |
| John Cerasuolo | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | President & COO, ADS Security |
| Jon Basil Utley | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Freda Utley Foundation |
| Lauren Templeton | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Templeton & Phillips Capital Management |
| Leo Kayser Iii | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Senior Partner, Kayser & Redfern |
| Luis Perez | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | San Franciso, CA, United States |
| Mariela Vicini | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | President, Fundación de Corazón a Corazón |
| Nadine Prah | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Vida M Ridnikar Trust |
| Nicolas Ibanez | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Owner, Inversiones Miramar Tres Limitada |
| Ron Manners | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Founder, Croesus Mining |
| Stuart Chase | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Chairman, Chase Investment Council |
| Warren Lammert III | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Founder & CIO, Granite Point Capital |
| Oscar Garcia Mendoza | Y | Y | Y | Y | Chairman, Novopayment | |
| Sam Corcos | Y | Y | Y | Y | Founder / Head of Technology, CarDash | |
| Shari Williams | Y | Y | Y | Y | President, Vernon K. Krieble Foundation | |
| Charles Albers | Y | Y | Y | Former security analyst and equity mutual fund portfolio manager at the Guardian Park Avenue Fund and the Oppenheimer Main Street Fund. | ||
| Peter Goettler | Y | Y | Y | Former managing director at Barclays Capital. Former Chief Executive at Latin America for Barclays PLC. | ||
| Vann Walke | Y | Y | Y | COO, Nanotronics Imaging | ||
| Dale Bottoms | Y | Y | Blue Oak Charitable Trust | |||
| Dan Peters | Y | Y | Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation | |||
| John Kayser | Y | Y | Kayser Family Foundation | |||
| Maralene Martin | Y | Y | Reno, NV, United States | |||
| Wayne Olson | Y | Y | Executive Director, Foundation for Economic Education | |||
| Arturo Brillembourg | Y | AEB Capital | ||||
| George Mosher | Y | Milwaukee, WI, United States | ||||
| George Pearson | Y | Manager of various Koch foundations. Worked for Koch Industries as director of public affairs among other positions. Principal in Industrial Development Investors, LLC. Director, Institute for Humane Studies, the Cato Institute, and the Kansas Policy Institute. | ||||
| Jean-Claude Gruffat | Y | Managing Director, Galileo Advisors | ||||
| John Kunze | Y | Independent Investor | ||||
| John S Lillard | Y | Red Bird Hollow Foundation | ||||
| Linda Edwards | Y | London, United Kingdom | ||||
| Luis Miranda | Y | Fmr Chairman, IDFC Private Equity | ||||
| Montgomery Brown | Y | Vice President, Sarah Scaife Foundation. Former Communications Director at the American Enterprise Institute. | ||||
| Rajesh Jain | Y | Founder-Managing Director of Netcore Solutions | ||||
| Alberto Mestre | Y | Y | ||||
| Barry Conner | Y | Y | Y | |||
| Jed Sunden | Y | Y | Y | |||
| John Dalsheim | Y | Y | Y | |||
| Pamela Hoiles | Y | Y | Y | |||
| Sean Fieler | Y | Y | Y | |||
| Robert Boyd | Y | Y | Private investor. Has been a board member of various think tanks for more than twenty-five years. | |||
| Borut Prah | Y | Y | ||||
| Kathryn Washburn | Y | Y | Director, the Niskanen Center. Former director of international affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. | |||
| Scott Barbee | Y | Y | Treasurer. Owner and president of Aegis Financial Corporation. Director of the Donald & Paula Smith Family Foundation. | |||
| Jeffrey Kofsky | Y | |||||
| Abby Moffat | Y | Trustee, VP, and COO, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation. Former Managing Trustee, Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation. Director, Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Media Research Center, and Heritage Foundation. Member, Philanthropy Roundtable. | ||||
| Luis Henrique Ball | Y | Chairman and CEO of GrupoCiencia and Allegheny Medical Systems LLC. Founder, publisher, and owner of PanAm Post. | ||||
| Nikolaos Monoyios | Y | Co-owner of Eagle Valley Ranch LLC. Retired as senior VP of Main Street Team of mutual funds at OppenheimerFunds in June 2008. Former VP at Guardian Investor Services. |
Fellows
| Name | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2013 | 2014 | 2017 | Description |
| Deroy Murdock | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Senior Fellow, Media Programs |
| William Dennis | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Academic Initiatives, Fund for the Study of Spontaneous Orders |
| Rainer Heufers | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Senior Fellow, Think Tank MBA | |
| Judy Shelton | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Sound Money Project Co-Director & Atlas Network Senior Fellow | ||
| Mario Vargas Llosa | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Atlas’s Templeton Leadership Fellow, 2010 | ||
| Casey Lartigue, Jr. | Y | Y | Jr., Asia Outreach Fellow | |||||
| George Ayittey | Y | Y | Atlas Fellow, African Studies | |||||
| Michel Kelly-Gagnon | Y | Y | Dobson-Lengvari Fellow | |||||
| Alexander William Salter | Y | Sound Money Project Fellow | ||||||
| Charles Murray | Y | 2015 Templeton Leadership Fellow | ||||||
| Garry Kasparov | Y | 2014 Templeton Leadership Fellow | ||||||
| Jerry L. Jordan | Y | Sound Money Project Senior Fellow | ||||||
| Nicolás Cachanosky | Y | Sound Money Project Fellow | ||||||
| William J. Luther | Y | Sound Money Project Fellow | ||||||
| Ted Phalan | Y | Y | Sound Money Fellow | |||||
| Laura Liu | Y | Fellow, Freedom to Trade Global Initiative | ||||||
| Bettina Horst | Y | Senior Fellow, Latin American Programs | ||||||
| Tanja Štumberger | Y | Senior Fellow, European Programs | ||||||
| Tom Duncan | Y | Atlas Fellow, Sound Money Project | ||||||
| Gabriel Zinny | Y | Y | Atlas Fellow, Latin American Programs | |||||
| Gabriel Sanchez-Zinny | Y | Latin America | ||||||
| Jason Talley | Y | Web-Media Fellow |
Council of Mentors (2018)
| Name | Description |
| Jerry L. Jordan | Sound Money Project Senior Fellow |
| Judy Shelton | Sound Money Project Co-Director & Atlas Network Senior Fellow |
| Michel Kelly-Gagnon | Dobson-Lengvari Fellow |
| Rainer Heufers | Think Tank MBA Senior Fellow |
| Leszek Balcerowicz | Chairman of the Council of Civil Development Forum |
| Scott Barton | Director of Communications and Outreach, Pacific Legal Foundation |
| Gerardo Bongiovanni | President, Fundacion Libertad |
| Arthur C. Brooks | President, American Enterprise Institute |
| Frans Cronje | Chief Executive Officer, South African Institute of Race Relations |
| Juan José Daboub | Chairman and CEO of Daboub Partnerships |
| Simeon Djankov | Nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics |
| Matthew Elliott | Founder of Business for Britain |
| Ann Fitzgerald | President of A.C. Fitzgerald & Associates |
| Troy Lanigan | President and CEO, Canadian Taxpayers Federation |
| Cristián Larroulet V. | Executive Director, Libertad y Desarrollo |
| Casey Lartigue | Co-founder and International Director, Teach North Korean Refugees |
| Joe Lehman | President, Mackinac Center for Public Policy |
| Kris Mauren | Co-Founder and Executive Director, Acton Institute |
| Darcy Olsen | Founder and President of Generation Justice |
| Roger Ream | President, The Fund for American Studies |
| Lawrence W. Reed | President, Foundation for Economic Education |
| John Tillman | CEO, Illinois Policy Institute |
| Bridgett G. Wagner | Senior Vice President, Heritage Foundation |
Actions
June 13, 2016
The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD/PRWatch) reports that the Atlas Economic Research Foundation was named as a creditor in Peabody Energy's bankruptcy filings. [20]
While the available bankruptcy documents do not list the scale or dates of funding, they outline Peabody Energy's financial ties to a large network of groups promoting climate change denial. [21]
Prominent individuals appearing in the documents include climate deniers Willie Soon, Richard Lindzen, Roy Spencer and Richard Berman. The long list of organizations also includes groups such as Americans for Prosperity, American Legislative Exchange Council, CFACT, Institute for Energy Research, State Policy Network, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and dozens more. [22]
The Guardian also analysed and reported on the Peabody bankruptcy findings: [23]
“These groups collectively are the heart and soul of climate denial,” said Kert Davies, founder of the Climate Investigation Center, who has spent 20 years tracking funding for climate denial. “It’s the broadest list I have seen of one company funding so many nodes in the denial machine.”
The company’s filings reveal funding for a range of organisations which have fought Barack Obama’s plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and denied the very existence of climate change. […]
Among Peabody’s beneficiaries, the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change has insisted – wrongly – that carbon emissions are not a threat but “the elixir of life” while the American Legislative Exchange Council is trying to overturn Environmental Protection Agency rules cutting emissions from power plants. Meanwhile, Americans for Prosperity campaigns against carbon pricing. The Oklahoma chapter was on the list. […]
“The breadth of the groups with financial ties to Peabody is extraordinary. Thinktanks, litigation groups, climate scientists, political organisations, dozens of organisations blocking action on climate all receiving funding from the coal industry,” said Nick Surgey, director of research for the Center for Media and Democracy.
“We expected to see some denial money, but it looks like Peabody is the treasury for a very substantial part of the climate denial movement.”
Notable organizations listed in the initial documents include:
- 60 Plus Association
- The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity
- American Energy Alliance
- Alliance For Energy And Economic Growth
- American Energy Alliance
- American Legislative Exchange Council
- Americans For Prosperity Oklahoma
- Atlas Economic Research Foundation
- Berman And Company, Inc
- Consumer Energy Alliance
- Center For Clean Air Policy
- Center for Energy and Economic Development
- Center For The Study Of Carbon Dioxide And Global Change
- Coalition for Responsible Regulation
- Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow
- Council on State Taxation
- DCI Group AZ, LLC
- Ducks Unlimited
- Energy & Environment Legal Institute
- Edison Electric Institute
- Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity
- Free Market Environmental Law Clinic
- Frontiers Of Freedom Institute
- George C. Marshall Institute
- Hill Knowlton Strategies
- Hill Knowlton, Inc
- Hudson Institute
- Hunton & Williams
- Independence Institute
- Institute For Energy Research
- Institute for Liberty
- National Association of Manufacturers
- National Black Chamber of Commerce
- National Conference of State Legislatures
- National Mining Association
- National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
- NextGen Energy Council
- PACE (May refer to Partnership for Affordable Clean Energy)
- Science & Public Policy Institute
- Sidley Austin LLP
- State Policy Network
- Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute
- Texas Public Policy Foundation
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Western Business Roundtable
Notable individuals named in the initial documents include the following:
August 2015
Atlas announced that Australian think tank the Institute of Public Affairs was a finalist in its flagship Templeton Freedom Awards for a campaign against the country's laws that had put a price on greenhouse gas emissions.
IPA executive director John Roskam described the laws as “the greatest threat to the free market in Australia since bank nationalisation in 1947.” The laws, introduced despite a toxic anti-science campaign promoted by the IPA, were repealed in July 2014.
The IPA's campaign included organising and funding speaking tours and promotions for climate science deniers, including former Czech Republic president Vaclav Klaus, mining industry figure and geologist Professor Ian Plimer and writer and anti-wind farm activist James Delingpole.
May 16 - 18, 2010
June 2, 2009
April, 2009
Greenpeace reports that Atlas gave over $100,000 (among other donations) to fund a “Danish study,” prepared by Danish think-tank CEPOS, that “provides clean energy opponents a means of raising questions about the viability of renewable energy and a means of directly criticizing President Obama for his statement that Denmark produces almost 20% of its electricity through wind power.” [14]
“[T]he study contains factual errors, its conclusions have been misrepresented and to boot, its findings are not particularly relevant to the US,” Greenpeace concluded. [15]
March 8-10, 2009
November, 2003
Paul Driessen, a senior fellow at Atlas, published his book Eco-Imperialism: Green Power, Black Death.
February 5 – 8, 1998
The Atlas Economic Research Foundation hosted a conference in Orlando Florida on “Poverty and the Environment.” [27]
According to the conference event description, “This Atlas Economic Research Foundation conference will bring together scholars and government officials from the Americas, to discuss the interrelationships between poverty, human health and environmental quality. For two days, speakers, panelists and commentators will examine deep-rooted problems … evaluate how nations have sought to solve them with central planning and governmental mandates … explore market-oriented alternatives to command-and-control approaches … and address the pros and cons of international treaties and protocols that often involve one-size-fits- all 'solutions' to narrowly defined environmental problems and concerns.” [27]
The event included a tour of Disney World's waste management facility, followed by speaker discussions on “global treaties and local solutions in the areas of packaging, solid wastes, wastewater treatment, air quality and related issues.” Speakers included the following: [27]
| Name | Affiliation | Country |
| Alejandro Chafuen | Atlas Economic Research Foundation | USA |
| Hernan Büchi | Instituto Libertad y Desarrollo | Chile |
| Lynn Scarlett | Reason Foundation | USA |
| Sally Pipes | Pacific Research Institute | USA |
| Calvin Beisner | Covenant College | USA |
| Jo Kwong | Atlas Economic Research Foundation | |
| Terry Anderson | PERC | USA |
| Harry Teasley | Former President, Coca Cola Nestle Refreshments Company | USA |
| Roy Mecklenburg | Walt Disney World | USA |
| Monica Ozores-Hampton | University of Florida | USA |
| Moderator: Deroy Murdock | Atlas Economic Research Foundation | USA |
| Fred Smith | Competitive Enterprise Institute | USA |
| Harvey Alter | Chamber of Commerce | USA |
| Henry Miller | Hoover Institute | USA |
| Roger Bate | Institute of Economic Affairs | United Kingdom |
| Enrique Ghersi | CITEL | Peru |
| Roberto Fendt | Instituto Liberal | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Patricia Vasquez | Fundacion Republica | Argentina |
| Harvey Alter | Chamber of Commerce | USA |
| Charles Stitt | Former Deputy Mayor, City of Indianapolis | USA |
| Luis Diaz | CalRecovery, Inc. | USA |
| Doug Reichlan | United Water Services | USA |
| Maria Isabel Di Mare | Universidad Autonoma de Centro America | Costa Rica |
| Fernando Von Zuben | CEMPRE | Brazil |
| Arturo Davila | Procesa | Mexico |
| Ana Maria Garmendia | SUSTENTA | Mexico |
| Hon. Armando Ribas | Former Member of Congress, Argentina | Argentina |
Atlas Network Contact & Location
As of June 2016, the Atlas Network listed the following contact information on its website: [24]
Atlas Network
1201 L Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
T+ 202.449.8449
F+ 202.280.1259Giving Opportunities
Chelsea Schick, 202-449-8434Press Inquiries
Daniel Anthony, 202-449-8441
Related Organizations
- International Policy Network UK (IPN) — Same entity as Atlas Economic Research Foundation (UK). The U.S. organization does not appear to be directly affiliated.
- Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)
- Network for a Free Society — New name for International Policy Network (UK)
The Atlas network had 454 members as of April, 2016, up to a total of 479 as of July 2017. View a complete membership list online, or see the attached spreadsheet for a complete listing of Atlas Network members by location and year over year (.xlsx). [19], [26]
Resources
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“Our Story,” Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Archived August 11, 2015.
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“Network for a Free Society (previously Atlas Economic Research Foundation (UK) working as The International Policy Network UK) Annual Report and Financial Statements” (PDF), Year ended 31 December 2010. Charity no: 262982. Retrieved from UK Charity Commission.
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“Atlas Economic Research Foundation,” SourceWatch profile.
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“FAQ,” Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Archived August 11, 2015.
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“Annual Reports & Financials,” Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Archived August 11, 2015.
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“Atlas Economic Research Foundation,” Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 11, 2015.
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“Atlas Economic Research Foundation: the think-tank breeders,” PR Watch, Third Quarter 2004, Volume 11, No. 3. Archived February 13, 2006.
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ExxonSecrets Factsheet: Atlas Economic Research Foundation, Atlas; AERF
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“People: Atlas Network,” Archived August 11, 2015.
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“Board Members,” Atlas Network. Archived December 23, 2011.
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4th International Conference on Climate Change Conference Program (PDF), The Heartland Institute.
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Brendan DeMelle. “Denial-a-palooza Round 4: 'International Conference on Climate Change' Groups Funded by Exxon, Koch Industries,” DeSmogBlog, May 13, 2010.
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“Co-Sponsors,” Third International Conference on Climate Change. Archived July 14, 2010.
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“Recipients of 2009 Fisher Venture Grants,” (Press Release), Atlas Network, April 15, 2009.
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“Koch Industries Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine” (PDF), Greenpeace Report, March, 2010.
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“Co-Sponsors,” The 2009 International Conference on Climate Change. Archived April 28, 2011.
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“Heartland Institute's 2009 Climate Conference in New York: funding history of the sponsors,” DeSmogBlog.
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Brad Lips. “Defeating Piketty's Charge - A working paper” (PDF), Atlas Network, November, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmogBlog.
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“Global Directory,” Atlas Network. Accessed April 5, 2016. Archived .pdf (2016-05-10) on file at DeSmogBlog
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Nick Surgey. “Peabody Coal Bankruptcy Reveals Climate Denial Network Funding,” PRWatch, June 13, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6iPmXjc4W
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“In re: Peabody Energy Corporation, et al. Debtors,” United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division, Case 16-42529, May 27, 2016. Retrieved from DocumentCloud.
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Farron Cousins. “Court Documents Show Coal Giant Peabody Energy Funded Dozens Of Climate Denial Groups,” DeSmogBlog, June 13, 2016.
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Suzanne Goldenberg and Helena Bengtsson. “Biggest US coal company funded dozens of groups questioning climate change,” The Guardian, June 13, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6iPnEUG1o
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“Contact,” Atlas Network. Archived June 29, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6icFjvIfv
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“Atlas Network: Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group,” Greenpeace USA. Archived March 14, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Uw3F4
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“Global Directory,” Atlas Network. Accessed July 8, 2017. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmogBlog.
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“Poverty and the Environment: Global Lessons – Local Solutions,” Atlas-fdn.org. Archived February 4, 1998. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Ckbbb
Other Resources
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“Atlas Economic Research Foundation - Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group,” Greenpeace. Archived May 5, 2012.
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Greenpeace research documents for the Atlas Economic Research Foundation.
