Funding
Atlas is not endowed and does not accept government funding. All of its programs depend upon the generosity of foundations, individuals, and corporations that share belief in the importance of independent research. In 2009, foundations represented 74.8% of Atlas's contributions, with individuals and corporations accounting for 21% and 5%, respectively.
Atlas requires its protégé think tanks to be "independent", described by Atlas's president in 1999 as "independent of corporations, independent of governments, independent of political parties and even independent of universities". Atlas stresses that think tanks should be independent, functioning much like corporations in a free economy, in order to be successful.
Atlas has gained financial support from the philanthropist and mutual fund pioneer, Sir John Templeton. The Templeton Foundation contributed $2 million to Atlas in 2003 to establish the Templeton Freedom Prizes for Excellence in Promoting Liberty. Within the program, prizes of $10, 000 for the winner and $5, 000 for the runner up have been given in categories such as "market-oriented poverty programs; ethics and values; social entrepreneurship and student outreach".
Read more about this topic: Atlas Economic Research Foundation