AEI - Frequently Asked Questions

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Friday, November 20, 2009

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What does the American Enterprise Institute do? What are AEI's research areas? When was AEI founded? Is AEI affiliated with the government or a political party? How does AEI get its funding? Why should I make a donation to AEI? Who serves on AEI's Board of Trustees? What is AEI's Council of Academic Advisers? Who are AEI's scholars? Who are AEI's officers? I am an AEI donor. Can I visit the Institute in Washington? I am an AEI donor and my contact information has changed. How can I give you my new contact information? How can I adjust the number of mailings that I receive from AEI? How can I recommend a friend who might be interested in learning more about the Institute's work? I would like to discuss making a donation to AEI with a member of your staff. Whom should I contact? How can I obtain a copy of AEI's annual report? How do I contact a specific scholar? What is AEI's tax identification number? Are donations to AEI tax-exempt? What is AEI's annual budget? How can I make a gift to AEI? Do you accept online contributions? Does AEI publicize the names of its donors and contributors? Can I designate my gift to AEI for a particular program or scholar? Can I make AEI a beneficiary of my will or estate? How can I contribute to AEI's endowment? Can I make a gift in honor of a friend or family member? Where is AEI located? Who works in AEI's development office? For any further questions or additional information, please contact Nicole Ruman Skinner, managing director of marketing, at nskinner@aei.org or 202.862.7189. What is the American Enterprise Institute? What is AEI's mission? The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a private, not-for-profit institution dedicated to research and education on issues of governance, international relations, economics, and social welfare. AEI's mission is to preserve and strengthen the foundations of freedom and democratic capitalism--limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and responsibility, vigilant and effective defense and foreign policies, and political accountability--through scholarly research, open debate, and publications. For more information about AEI, please click here. Return to Top What does the American Enterprise Institute do? AEI sponsors research and conferences and publishes books, monographs, and periodicals. Its website www.aei.org posts its publications, videos and transcripts of its conferences, biographies of its scholars and fellows, and schedules of upcoming events. The Institute publishes dozens of books and hundreds of articles and reports each year; its work is addressed to government officials and legislators, teachers and students, business executives, professionals, journalists, and all citizens interested in a serious understanding of government policy, the economy, and important social and political developments. Return to Top What are AEI's research areas? AEI research covers economics and trade; health care policy; social welfare; government tax, spending, regulatory, and legal policies; education; U.S. politics; international affairs; and U.S. defense and foreign policies. For a complete summary of AEI's upcoming research efforts, please click here. Return to Top When was AEI founded? AEI was founded in New York City in 1943 by a group of prominent business executives, university professors, and intellectuals. Seeking to improve political debate and government performance, they discovered a quintessentially American approach to this age-old challenge. AEI was a private sector innovation that combined rigorous academic research and vigorous political engagement in a way that had never been done before. Since then, the Institute has been home to some of America's most accomplished public policy experts--in economics, law, political science, defense and foreign policy studies, ethics, theology, medicine, and other fields--who have helped mold AEI into one of the nation's most distinct and esteemed academic institutions. For a short essay on AEI's history, click here. Return to Top Is AEI affiliated with the government or a political party? No. The American Enterprise Institute is strictly nonpartisan, does not accept government funding, and relies entirely on the support of private sources. AEI scholars and fellows frequently take positions on pressing policy issues being debated inside and outside the U.S. government. AEI scholars speak for themselves and not for AEI, its trustees, other scholars, or employees. Return to Top How does AEI get its funding? AEI is a public charity, financed solely through donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. For more information on becoming a financial supporter of AEI, please click here. Return to Top Why should I make a donation to AEI? Supporting AEI is an important investment in tangibly improving American politics and government. Over the years, the AEI approach to better government has proven highly productive. Its scholars have originated many critical reforms to tax, regulatory, welfare, and national security policy that have been adopted into law. Yet the problems of government--extravagant spending, counterproductive regulation, poor performance on critical responsibilities, and partiality toward powerful interest groups--are persistent, long-term problems. They require countervailing institutions that are as permanent and powerful as government itself in order to provide informed criticism and intellectual leadership from above the partisan fray. AEI's work is respected across the political spectrum for its high intellectual caliber and reliable analysis. It has been, and will continue to be, a central, valued institution of American political thought and policy reform. Return to Top Who serves on AEI's Board of Trustees? AEI is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of leading business and financial executives. More information on the current composition of the Board can be found here. Return to Top What is AEI's Council of Academic Advisers? A group of distinguished outside scholars, AEI's Council of Academic Advisers reviews the Institute's research agenda, publications, and appointments and selects each year's recipient of the Irving Kristol Award. Additional information on the current composition of the CAA can be found here. Return to Top Who are AEI's scholars? AEI's scholars consist of some of America's leading public policy experts. Coming from the government, universities, and the private sector, they join the ranks of AEI in order to pursue their research in an intellectually independent atmosphere. A list of AEI's current scholars can be found here. Return to Top Who are AEI's officers? A complete listing of AEI's officers and senior management can be found here. Return to Top I am an AEI donor. Can I visit the Institute in Washington? AEI's development staff is always delighted to meet with our donors or others interested in AEI at our headquarters. You are also welcome to attend any of our public conferences. Return to Top I am an AEI donor and my contact information has changed. How can I give you my new contact information? We would greatly appreciate having your most up-to-date contact information on file. You can easily update your information by logging into your My AEI.org account. Individual and foundation donors may also contact Kerri Polce at 202.862.5854 or kpolce@aei.org. Corporate donors, please contact Shelley Stewart at 202.862.7182 or shelley.stewart@aei.org. Return to Top How can I adjust the number of mailings that I receive from AEI? We would be glad to adjust your mailings to ensure you are receiving only things that are of interest to you. You may easily manage what you receive by logging into your My AEI.org account, or you may contact our director of database development, Audrey Thompson, at athompson@aei.org or 202.862.5833, or fill out and return our mailing preferences form. Return to Top How can I recommend a friend who might be interested in learning more about the Institute's work? The American Enterprise Institute is always looking to expand its circle of friends and supporters. If you know someone who would be interested in our work, please contact Toby Stock, managing director of development, at 202.862.5834 or toby.stock@aei.org. Return to Top I would like to discuss making a donation to AEI with a member of your staff. Whom should I contact? We would be delighted to speak with you about supporting AEI. Individuals may contact Toby Stock, managing director of development, at toby.stock@aei.org or 202.862.5834. If you are a foundation representative, please contact Rachel Ayerst, director of marketing communications, at rayerst@aei.org or 202.862.7187. Corporate representatives may contact Shelley Stewart, director of corporate relations at shelley.stewart@aei.org or 202.862.7182. Return to Top How can I obtain a copy of AEI's annual report? AEI's annual report is available in PDF here. If you would like a hard copy sent to you, please contact Kerri Polce at kpolce@aei.org or 202.862.5854. Return to Top How do I contact a specific scholar? Contact information for all of AEI's scholars and their research assistants can be found here. Return to Top What is AEI's tax identification number? AEI's tax identification number is 53-0218495. Return to Top Are donations to AEI tax-exempt? Yes, most gifts to the American Enterprise Institute are fully tax-deductible. You will be sent a receipt for your contribution shortly after it is received. Donations in support of the AEI Annual Dinner and Gauer Lecture are partially tax-deductible. Return to Top What is AEI's annual budget? Please see the financial page in our annual report for information on AEI's budget. Return to Top How can I make a gift to AEI? AEI accepts gifts in a variety of ways, as listed below. For any additional information, please contact Nicole Ruman Skinner, managing director of marketing, at nskinner@aei.org or 202.862.7189. Give Online Cash and Checks Stock or Wire Transfer Planned Giving Return to Top Do you accept online contributions? Yes. In order to support the Institute with a secure online donation, please click here. Return to Top Does AEI publicize the names of its donors and contributors? AEI does not sell or share donor information with the public or any other organization. Our donor information is held in strict confidence to respect the privacy of our donors. Return to Top Can I designate my gift to AEI for a particular program or scholar? Donors may choose to earmark their gift for any of AEI's major research areas or specific research projects. Please contact Nicole Ruman Skinner, managing director of marketing, at nskinner@aei.org or 202.862.7189 to discuss this option further. Return to Top Can I make AEI a beneficiary of my will or estate? Yes. There are a variety of mechanisms for supporting AEI in your estate plans. For more information, please visit the planned giving section of our website or contact Nicole Ruman Skinner, managing director of marketing, at nskinner@aei.org or 202.862.7189. Return to Top How can I contribute to AEI's endowment? A member of AEI's development staff would be pleased to discuss this with you. Please contact Jason Bertsch, vice president of marketing, at jbertsch@aei.org or 202.862.5873. Return to Top Can I make a gift in honor of a friend or family member? Yes. Donating to AEI is an excellent way to honor a friend or family member who shares the Institute's commitment to limited government, private enterprise, vital cultural and political institutions, and a strong foreign policy and national defense. Please contact Nicole Ruman Skinner, managing director of marketing, at nskinner@aei.org or 202.862.7189 to discuss this further. Return to Top Where is AEI located? AEI's address is 1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036. For street directions, please click here. Visitors should go to the reception area on the eleventh floor; conference attendees should go to the Wohlstetter Conference Center, located on the twelfth floor. For general AEI contact information, please click here. To contact the development office, please click here. Return to Top Who works in AEI's development office? AEI has a small development staff and spends less than 5% of the Institute's annual budget on fundraising--far less than other policy organizations. Please do not hesitate to contact any of these individuals with questions you may have about supporting AEI. Rachel Ayerst, Director of Marketing Communications rayerst@aei.org; 202.862.7187 Jason Bertsch, Vice President of Marketing jbertsch@aei.org; 202.862.5873 Robin Currie, Senior Writer and Editor, Marketing Communications rcurrie@aei.org; 202.862.5919 Ellett George, Development Assistant ellett.george@aei.org; 202.862.5832 Erin Hoekstra, Manager, Corporate Relations and Marketing Events ehoekstra@aei.org; 202.862.7172 Lauren Kimaid, Manager, Marketing Communications lkimaid@aei.org; 202.862.5850 Jeanette Lopez, Marketing Assistant, Corporate Relations jeanette.lopez@aei.org; 202.862.5858 Kerri Polce, Marketing Manager kpolce@aei.org; 202.862.5854 Nicole Ruman Skinner, Managing Director of Marketing nskinner@aei.org; 202.862.7189 Shelley Stewart, Director of Corporate Relations shelley.stewart@aei.org; 202.862.7182 Toby Stock, Managing Director of Development toby.stock@aei.org; 202.862.5834 Return to Top		Give Online Supporting AEI is an important investment in tangibly improving American politics and government. AEI is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions to AEI are tax-deductible. AEI's tax identification number is 53-0218495. Contact Information For more information on making an individual donation, please contact Toby Stock, Managing Director of Development (800.862.5801, ext. 5834; toby.stock@aei.org) or Kerri Polce, Marketing Manager (800.862.5801, ext. 5854; kpolce@aei.org). To find the contact information for a particular individual in AEI's marketing team, please click here.