Manhattan Institute

New York, United States

The Manhattan Institute is a think tank based in New York City that focuses on public policy research and analysis, often associated with conservative viewpoints. It engages in a range of topics including economic policy, urban affairs, and education reforms, providing innovative ideas and solutions to governmental challenges.

CCI Score

-29.87

0.01% April 18

Latest Event

Manhattan Institute Scholar Endorses Authoritarian Funding Freeze

Christopher Rufo, a resident scholar at the Manhattan Institute, publicly supported the Trump administration's decision to freeze federal funds for Harvard University, citing the institution's DEI policies and segregated practices as justification. This statement aligns with authoritarian interventions in higher education and ideological conformity.

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ACCOMPLICE

Manhattan Institute is currently rated as an Accomplice.

-20 to -29 CCI Score

These companies profit from authoritarian practices through their business dealings. Although they may not be directly enforcing oppressive policies, their actions contribute to the economic and operational sustenance of authoritarian regimes.

Latest Events

APR

15

2025

Manhattan Institute Scholar Endorses Authoritarian Funding Freeze
-80.00

Christopher Rufo, a resident scholar at the Manhattan Institute, publicly supported the Trump administration's decision to freeze federal funds for Harvard University, citing the institution's DEI policies and segregated practices as justification. This statement aligns with authoritarian interventions in higher education and ideological conformity.
JUN

15

2024

Funding Scrutiny and Potential Donor Influence at Manhattan Institute
-41.78

An investigation into the Manhattan Institute's funding reveals a heavy reliance on foundation grants, notably from the Charles Koch Foundation, along with corporate and individual donations. These funding sources have raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest, lack of transparency, and the influence on the institute’s research and advocacy in public policy debates.
-50

Public and Political Behavior

April 15

The institute's funding structure, heavily influenced by politically active foundations and corporate donors, raises concerns regarding its impact on public policy debates and independent research. This lack of transparency and potential bias in political influence is viewed negatively.

Who funds the manhattan institute?
-40

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

April 15

The article criticizes the Manhattan Institute’s business practices regarding financial disclosure and transparency. The significant role of corporate and foundation funding, particularly from donors with clear ideological agendas, suggests potential ethical conflicts in the institute’s research and advocacy, reflecting negatively on its ethical responsibility.

Who funds the manhattan institute?
DEC

31

2023

Donation Fuels Right-Wing Agenda at Manhattan Institute
-52.68

A 2023 annual report by the Bradley Foundation disclosed that the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research received a $250,000 donation to support efforts to combat identity politics, reinforcing its ties with a network of conservative and far‐right donors.
-60

Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts

April 15

The donation of $250,000 from the Bradley Impact Fund—as part of a broader network that supports far‐right and authoritarian legal and cultural initiatives—illustrates political contributions that further conservative, anti-DEI agendas. Such funding, aimed at combating identity politics, bolsters an infrastructure aligned with authoritarian impulses, reflecting negative public and political behavior.

How a Few Secret Donors Are Fueling the New Right-Wing Infrastructure
JAN

01

2023

Publication on Transit Surveillance Concerns
31.79

The Manhattan Institute published an article discussing how contactless fare systems, like New York's OMNY, might be exploited as tools for police surveillance. The piece highlights the potential misuse of transit data by law enforcement agencies, raising public awareness and prompting a discussion on privacy and data protection in transit systems.
+40

Public and Political Behavior

April 15

By publishing an investigative article that questions the use of transit fare data for surveillance by police and federal agencies, the Manhattan Institute contributes to public oversight of potential authoritarian practices. This action promotes civic awareness and transparency regarding state surveillance tools, aligning with anti-fascist values.

Are 'Touchless' Fares the Newest Police Spy Tool?
APR

27

2016

Manhattan Institute’s Conservative Funding and Policy Influence Exposed
-26.88

An investigative report by Media Matters details the Manhattan Institute’s deep ties to major conservative donors such as the Bradley Foundation, Charles Koch Foundation, and Sarah Scaife Foundation. The think tank is shown to drive policy research that promotes education privatization and weakened public school systems—efforts that undermine labor rights and favor authoritarian-aligned practices.
-70

Public and Political Behavior

April 15

The report exposes Manhattan Institute’s role within a network of conservative funding that supports policies potentially aligned with authoritarian and corporatist ideologies. Its substantial donor backing from organizations known for advancing right-wing agendas undermines public institutions and labor rights.

Here Are The Corporations And Right-Wing Funders Backing The Education Reform Movement
-60

Economic and Structural Influence

April 15

The Manhattan Institute leverages significant financial contributions from conservative donors to influence structural reforms in education policy. These economic and regulatory shifts favor privatization, thereby weakening public institutions and the rights of workers.

Here Are The Corporations And Right-Wing Funders Backing The Education Reform Movement
JAN

01

2016

Publication of Predictive Policing Analysis
-9.68

Manhattan Institute published an article on its website detailing the trial of predictive policing technology in New York City. The piece discusses the potential crime reduction benefits of this data-driven policing approach while also raising civil rights concerns. By framing algorithmic crime prediction in a favorable light, the publication contributes to a narrative that can legitimize aggressive law enforcement practices with authoritarian overtones.
-20

Executive Political Engagement

April 15

The institute’s publication serves as an influential platform that shapes public discourse in favor of tough-on-crime policies. By promoting a narrative supportive of predictive policing—even while noting civil rights concerns—the Manhattan Institute indirectly bolsters political narratives that can underpin authoritarian law enforcement tactics.

Predictive Policing: The Next Wave of Crimefighting Technology Is Being Tested in NYC
-30

Media Influence and Propaganda

April 15

By disseminating an analysis that normalizes the use of data-driven predictive policing, the Manhattan Institute reinforces a media narrative that can facilitate the acceptance of surveillance technologies. This normalization risks marginalizing civil rights and disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities, aligning with repressive, authoritarian practices.

Predictive Policing: The Next Wave of Crimefighting Technology Is Being Tested in NYC