Past Partner Success Stories
The Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy has a rich history rooted in a deep commitment to promoting free-market policies and principles. Established in 2014, this Charleston-based think tank has been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for West Virginians, who often face economic challenges. The institute’s founders believe in minimal government intervention, advocating for the freedom of citizens to shape their own future without unnecessary governmental intrusion.
In 2020, the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy received a prestigious accolade: the Pitch Competition Award worth $75,000. This recognition was a testament to their impactful work at the 2019 US Investors Summit for Liberty, where they spearheaded the development of 70 bills aimed at reforming occupational licensing. Remarkably, their efforts resulted in the passage of six of these bills, showcasing their commitment to tangible policy change. Furthermore, the institute’s executive director’s appearance on a statewide television show and the center’s research being cited in a Forbes piece by Adam Millsap at CKI underscored the institute’s growing influence.
Founded in the 1980s in Bozeman, Montana, the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) emerged during the Cold War era as a pioneering institute. Its inception was driven by a group of forward-thinking economists with a shared passion for conservation. They sought to explore novel approaches to environmental stewardship, leading to the development of the concept of “free-market environmentalism.” Since its establishment, PERC has evolved into a leading research institute, renowned for its groundbreaking work in environmental economics and policy.
In 2020, PERC received a $75,000 Pitch Competition Award for its pioneering work in conserving land, water, and wildlife through market-based approaches. Notable achievements include contributions to the Great American Outdoor Act, reducing maintenance on public lands, and a program incentivizing wild horse adoption, resulting in a 91% increase in adoptions and $170 million in taxpayer savings. PERC also testified before the California Senate on wildlife trading during COVID-19, showcasing its commitment to conservation and innovative policy solutions. Their work has been widely recognized in the media, from National Review to Fox News.
The Lebanese Institute for Market Studies (LIMS) is a think tank based in Amchit, Lebanon, established in 2015 amidst economic challenges and decreasing freedoms in the country. Founded with the aim of revitalizing economic freedom, LIMS began its advocacy efforts in 2014 by drafting a reform agenda focused on reducing government expenditures and introducing private competition to replace the public electricity monopoly. LIMS strives to enact market-oriented policy reforms through collaboration with policymakers and the media, conducting research and analysis on economic and public policy issues. Advocating for limited government intervention, individual liberty, and free-market competition, LIMS also conducts educational activities, seminars, and events to raise awareness and facilitate discussions on economic matters.
In 2022, LIMS received both a Pitch Competition Award and an Impact Award totaling $75,000 for its impactful work in promoting market-oriented policy reforms. Achieving significant policy wins, LIMS influenced changes such as allowing supermarkets to price imported items in US dollars, protecting money exchangers from arrest for trading the local currency at market exchange rates, and permitting tourism-related businesses to price their services in dollars. These policy changes are aimed at fostering a more market-oriented economy in Lebanon.
Students For Liberty Brasil (SFLB) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2016, headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil. It focuses on educating and empowering the next generation of liberty leaders, emphasizing principles such as free speech, individual liberty, and free markets. SFLB actively engages students in discussions and activities centered around these core values, aiming to challenge prevailing collectivist and statist narratives in schools and universities.
SFLB has been recognized for its impactful work, winning the Pitch Competition Award in 2020 and receiving $50,000. The organization has launched initiatives like Brasil Empreende, providing entrepreneurship courses to at-risk youth, and has advocated for property law reforms to protect the property rights of low-income Brazilians. Collaborating with Atlas Network, SFLB has worked on various projects, including producing a documentary about the entrepreneurial spirit of favela residents and advocating for property rights in Brazil. SFL Brasil’s LibertyLab initiative focuses on reaching students in public schools and universities to instill values of liberty and entrepreneurship, aiming to create pro-liberty leaders for the next generation.
The Lithuania Free Market Institute (LFMI) was founded in 1990 in Vilnius, Lithuania, as an independent non-profit think tank. It advocates for individual freedom and responsibility, free markets, and limited government through policy analysis, advocacy, and educational activities. Inspired by the Austrian School of Economics, LFMI’s mission is to foster a free-market environment in Lithuania that encourages individuals to pursue their objectives in a way that benefits society’s common interests without relying on government intervention. The institute conducts research, prepares position papers on legislative initiatives, conducts sociological surveys, and organizes educational events to promote free market ideas in Lithuanian society.
LFMI’s work has been recognized for its impact, including receiving the Pitch Competition Runner Up award in 2023. This award secured $25,000 for their project “Economics, Civics, and Liberty for Early Teenage Learners,” which aims to provide value-based economic and civic education to early teenage learners. LFMI’s interdisciplinary course integrates concepts of citizenship with economic reasoning and ethics, reaching six out of ten high school students in Lithuania. The institute has also achieved significant policy changes, such as reducing the issuance time for temporary residence permits, simplifying the hiring process for migrant workers, and allowing migrants arriving under the visa-free regime to start working immediately.
The Centre for Development and Enterprises Great Lakes is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan think tank founded in 2017. It aims to reduce barriers to prosperity and opportunity in Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo through the principles of a free society and free market. Their mission is to advance individual freedom and responsibility, free markets, and limited government through policy research, advocacy, and educational initiatives. One of their programs, the Birashoboka initiative, advocates for policy changes to reduce barriers to entrepreneurship in Burundi. Another program, the Fungua Njia project, seeks to reduce trade restrictions and administrative procedures to make goods more affordable for the people of Burundi. The ProLibertyWriters program aims to raise public awareness about the positive impact of the rule of law in improving the economic freedom index of the Great Lakes Region.
In 2023, the Centre for Development and Enterprises Great Lakes received the Pitch Competition Runner-Up award, securing $25,000 in funding. They introduced “Harageze,” a project addressing challenges faced by Burundian street traders. The project aims to reform street trade laws to promote economic progress in Burundi. Additionally, the grant progress report outlined seven policy victories, including the lifting of a ban on foreign exchange bureaus and the streamlining of import customs clearance procedures. These policy changes are designed to foster economic freedom and development in Burundi.
Testimonials
“Smart Bets is an incredible program that highlights up-and-coming organizations with missions that are critical to the long-term success of the liberty movement. Being a Smart Bets winner allowed ACC to put pro-market environmentalism firmly on the map within the movement, and emphasize the generational importance of winning over young people on this issue. In addition to the prize money, the Smart Bets program opened doors with new and prospective donors, allowing us to scale our success for years to come.”
“Participating in the Smart Bets Program by Atlas Network has been a pivotal experience in my journey as an advocate for liberty-oriented solutions and critical thinking. The program’s blend of strategic networking with leaders in the liberty movement and practical applications has profoundly impacted my professional pursuits and personal growth. One of the most valuable aspects of the program was the opportunity to connect with other leaders in the liberty movement. These interactions have enriched my understanding and fostered collaborative efforts to promote free-market principles globally. Particularly, the insights gained through these connections have been instrumental in my work toward making the Kurdistan region of Iraq more open for business.”
“Participating in Smart Bets was truly an exceptional opportunity for us at Students For Liberty Brasil. The program not only provided valuable resources but also facilitated networking opportunities that have allowed us to scale the results of all our projects significantly. In particular, the mentorship provided by Jennifer Zambone, COO of Mercatus Center, was incredibly enriching. Her guidance was not only beneficial for our organization as a whole but also provided invaluable insights for my personal growth and development.”