Skip to main content

Donor Guidelines

Since Brookings’s founding in 1916, philanthropy has been the engine that drives our work. The generosity of our donors sustains our commitment to quality, independence, and impact and makes possible our experts’ efforts to provide practical, effective solutions to the major policy challenges facing the world today. By instituting strong procedures to review potential gifts and acknowledge financial support, Brookings maintains the independence that is our principal asset and the cornerstone of what we do.

Brookings actively seeks support from a diverse group of donors to ensure that no single person, entity, or industry can be perceived to have influence on the research or recommendations produced by our scholars. All potential sources and terms of support undergo a thorough internal review that ensures our absolute commitment to scholarly independence and our full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations regarding lobbying, foreign agency, and disclosure.

As a matter of policy, Brookings accepts gifts only from donors who do not seek to undermine or compromise the independence of our scholars’ research or to otherwise attempt to predetermine or influence recommendations. The Institution does not accept support for proprietary research. Brookings discloses the support of donors who fund specific publications in writing and those who fund specific events at that event.

Brookings is committed to transparency in our funding relationships. In each year’s Annual Report, we publish a full list of donors, grouped into ranges of gift amount, in the “Honor Roll of Contributors.” The Brookings Annual Report (including this list) is available on the Brookings website or by calling the Brookings development office at (202) 797-6220. In addition, Brookings has installed two donor recognition walls in the lobby of our Washington, DC headquarters: one for contributors to the Second Century Campaign and one for contributors to Brookings’s endowment.

Brookings provides a number of ways for donors to get involved in the intellectual life of the Institution.

These include exclusive invitations to private events and conference calls on pressing policy topics, private issue briefings from scholars, complimentary publications, and reserved seating at public events. Donors also can choose to receive periodic communications from the Institution that highlight recent research and impact.


Make a gift to Brookings


 Brookings Institution Annual Report

Setting, and meeting, the highest standard of nonpartisanship, independent thinking and civil discourse is the overarching all-Brookings priority.

View the Report and Financials

Get daily updates from Brookings