The Century Foundation, founded in 1919 by the progressive businessman Edward A. Filene, is a nonprofit public policy research institution committed to the belief that a mix of effective government, open democracy, and free markets is the most effective solution to the major challenges facing the United States. Our staff, fellows, and contract authors produce publications and participate in events that (1) explain and analyze public issues in plain language, (2) provide facts and opinions about the strengths and weaknesses of different policy strategies, and (3) develop and call attention to distinctive ideas that can work.

Our efforts cut across many areas of policy, but focus particularly on four basic challenges facing the United States:

• persistent economic inequality combined with the shift to American households of financial risks previously borne by employers and government;
• the aging of the population;
• preventing and responding to terrorism while preserving civil liberties; and
• restoring America’s international credibility as an effective and cooperative leader in responding to global security and economic dangers.

Those themes lead us to produce work on issues such as Social Security and pensions, health care, education, tax and budget policy, homeland security, immigration, election reform, international terrorism, our relationship with the United Nations and other multilateral institutions, and policies toward regions like the Middle East and East Asia.
In recent years, the ascendance of conservative ideology has obscured the value of progressive ideas and delayed a much needed correction to failed policies. Much of our recent work, therefore, of necessity has attempted to demonstrate why radical approaches to these issues have been counterproductive.

The Century Foundation’s long history of providing reliable and insightful analysis, as well as our decades of experience in convening bipartisan, diverse task forces and working groups, particularly distinguishes us from other think tanks. Political forces have swung dramatically during the passing decades and surely will again in the future. But our commitment to offering reason and facts in the pursuit of national progress endures.

Letter from President Richard C. Leone (PDF)
Proposal Submissions (PDF)

To contact Century Foundation experts, call or e-mail:

Christy DeBoe Hicks
Vice President, Public Affairs
Phone: 212-452-7723 Fax: 212-535-7534 E-mail: hicks@tcf.org

For inquiries regarding our publications and events, contact:

Loretta Ahlrich
Manager, Special Events
Phone: 212-452-7722 Fax: 212-535-7534 E-mail: ahlrich@tcf.org