About Goldwater

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About the Goldwater Institute

The Goldwater Institute is an independent government watchdog supported by people who are committed to expanding free enterprise and liberty. The Institute develops innovative, principled solutions to pressing issues facing the states and enforces constitutionally limited government through litigation. The Institute focuses its work on expanding economic freedom and educational opportunity, bringing transparency to government, and protecting the rights guaranteed to Americans by the U.S. and state constitutions. The Goldwater Institute was founded in 1988 with Barry Goldwater’s blessing.

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Informing Policymakers and the Community

The Goldwater Institute does not retain lobbyists, engage in partisan political activity, or support or oppose specific legislation, but adheres to its educational mission to help policymakers and citizens better understand the consequences of government policies. The Institute informs policymakers and citizens through policy research, data, and expert commentary. Among these is Arizona’s most comprehensive legislative watchdog report examining more than 200 votes annually on education, fiscal, taxation, and regulatory issues.

Senior Fellows

Goldwater Institute Senior Fellows are selected for their exceptional knowledge, commitment to the principles of limited government and economic liberty, and personal integrity. Fellows support the Goldwater Institute by sharing their experiences and expertise with resident scholars, assisting with research design and projects, reviewing research, writing reports, and participating in Institute roundtables, forums and conferences.

Impact

Goldwater Institute research has informed several bi-partisan school choice reforms, making Arizona a national leader in giving parents greater choice and authority in their child’s education. In 2010, the Arizona Legislature adopted more education policies proposed by the Goldwater Institute including limits on social promotion in the third grade, better labeling of public school performance and an easier path for nonteachers to enter the field and teach their specialty. Goldwater Institute research has also been the basis of initiatives to protect private property rights, lower corporate and personal income taxes, and limit state spending. The Institute’s litigation center has successfully vindicated taxpayers’ rights in the courts. A January 2010 ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court said the state constitution doesn't allow government to give away tax dollars to recruit shopping malls and other types of economic development. Another 2010 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court suspended the matching funds portion of Arizona’s Clean Elections campaign finance system until the justices act on the appeal of a trial court's decision that found matching funds to be 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. The Goldwater Institute was the recipient of the Arizona Capitol Times “Best Capitol Watchdog” award in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and also was named by the Capitol Times as "Leader of the Year" for Policy Development in 2009.

How the Goldwater Institute is Funded

Consistent with a belief in limited government, the Goldwater Institute is supported entirely by the generosity of 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 5 percent of its revenue. The Goldwater Institute is a tax-exempt educational foundation under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.