About the Goldwater Institute
The Goldwater Institute was founded in 1988 by a small group of entrepreneurial Arizonans with the blessing of Sen. Barry Goldwater. Like our namesake, the Goldwater Institute board and staff share a belief in the innate dignity of individual human beings, that America is a nation that grew great through the initiative and ambition of regular men and women, and, that while the legitimate functions of government are conducive to freedom, unrestrained government has proved to be a chief instrument in history for thwarting individual liberty. Through research, education, and litigation, the Goldwater Institute works to protect the rights that Americans recognize as fundamental. In keeping with the principles advanced by Senator Barry Goldwater, the Goldwater Institute is dedicated to protecting and expanding economic freedom, constitutional liberty and educational opportunity.
Watch a video highlighting the work of the Goldwater Institute.
Read our 2007 Annual Report.
Research and Information
The Goldwater Institute adheres strictly to its educational mission and does not retain lobbyists or engage in partisan political activity. The Goldwater Institute undertakes an extensive research program, publishing frequent analyses and recommendations on fiscal, education, and constitutional policy issues. Among these is Arizona's most comprehensive legislative watchdog report examining more than 200 votes annually on education, fiscal, property, and regulatory issues. Through extensive research, the Goldwater Institute also provides analysis on transportation policy, unemployment insurance reform, and interstate commerce issues. The Goldwater Institute shares its research through news releases and articles, radio and television appearances, testifying by invitation before legislators and commissions, speaking before community organizations, and hosting policy roundtables, debates, and conferences.
Senior Fellows
The Goldwater Institute works with dozens of scholars across the country and brings internationally respected thinkers from a variety of fields to Phoenix and Tucson. Goldwater Institute Senior Fellows are selected for their exceptional knowledge, respected research, commitment to principle, and personal integrity. Fellows support the Goldwater resident scholars, assisting with research projects by building research designs, conducting background research, reviewing papers, and writing reports. Senior Fellows also participate in Goldwater Institute roundtables, forums and conferences. Senior Fellows and respected guests have included William F. Buckley, Robert Novak, Governor Bill Owens, Hernando de Soto, John Stossel, Ben Stein, and the late Bob Bartley.
Impact
Goldwater Institute research has informed several bi-partisan school choice reforms, making Arizona the number one state in the nation for giving parents greater choice and authority in education decisions. Goldwater Institute research has also been the basis of initiatives to restrain government and Goldwater has provided the policy framework to lower corporate and personal income taxes and limit state spending. The Institute's litigation arm has several cases going through the courts, including the City North subsidy case which is in appeals, and a recent ruling by a federal judge declaring the matching funds portion of the Clean Elections campaign finance system unconstitutional. The Goldwater Institute is Arizona's most frequently cited research organization, with research and analysis appearing on average three times each day in state and national media outlets. Goldwater was the recipient of the Arizona Capitol Times "Best Capitol Watchdog" award in 2008.
How the Goldwater Institute is Funded
The Goldwater Institute is supported by thousands of members in Arizona and states across the country. To ensure its independence, the Goldwater Institute neither seeks nor accepts government funds, and no single contributor provides more than five percent of its revenue. The Goldwater Institute is a tax-exempt educational foundation under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
