About Atlas NetworkOur overarching strategy is to accelerate ... achievements [in support of our mission] by providing competitive opportunities for training, support, and international recognition... We believe in the dedication of our team, the ideas of our partners, and the commitment from our donors to have a tremendous impact on the worldwide freedom movement.Atlas Network's "Coach, Compete, Celebrate" model -- coaching through training programs, fostering friendly competition via grants and awards, and then celebrating partners’ achievements at our world-class events -- inspires higher levels of innovation and effectiveness throughout the freedom movement. This approach seeks to strengthen the worldwide freedom movement by expanding and energizing the global network of think tank leaders and staff to continually inspire and redefine excellence in advancing the cause of liberty.Atlas NetworkATN_45fe054c-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d54719Atlas Network is not endowed and it does not accept government funding. It does not support political candidates or parties, or otherwise involve itself in partisan politics. In the most widely cited and influential index of think tanks in the world, the University of Pennsylvania’s 2016 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report ranked Atlas Network among the top 1 percent of organizations in the world in the following ranking categories: "Best Managed Think Tank," "Best Think Tank Network," "Best Think Tank Conference," "Think Tanks with the Best Use of the Internet," and seven other categories.Antony FisherA firm believer in the impact of independent think tanks, Antony Fisher founded the Atlas Economic Research Foundation in 1981. Antony Fisher never knew his father. He was killed by a sniper’s bullet in Gaza during World War I when Antony was two-years old. Antony and his brother Basil served as pilots in the Royal Air Force in World War II, part of "the few" in Winston Churchill's memorable phrase about the Battle of Britain: "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few." After victory came at last in the war against Germany’s National Socialism, Fisher was distraught to see the British people elect a Labor Party government that set the country on a socialist course: nationalizing industries and using central planning to run the economy. He came across an abridged edition of F.A. Hayek's The Road to Serfdom, which posits that central planning inevitably erodes individual liberty and enables tyranny. Fisher was motivated to seek out Hayek, who was then teaching at the London School of Economics. Fisher told Hayek that he agreed with every word in the book, and was going to go into politics to save Britain from socialism. Several years later, after achieving success as an entrepreneur (creating the first factory-style chicken farm in Britain), Fisher decided the most effective way to act on Hayek’s advice would be by establishing an independent research institute that would bring innovative, market-based perspectives to issues of public policy. In 1955, he founded the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in London, which gradually gained credibility and laid the intellectual groundwork for what later became the Thatcher Revolution. Fisher lived in San Francisco in 1981 when, with the help of his second wife Dorian, he founded the Atlas Economic Research Foundation to institutionalize this process of helping start up new think tanks. Friends like Milton Friedman, Friedrich Hayek, and Margaret Thatcher applauded the idea of replicating the IEA model far and wide. Fisher died in 1988, just weeks after being honored with knighthood by Queen Elizabeth. British MP, Oliver Letwin later commented on the incredible influence of this RAF pilot turned chicken farming entrepreneur turned think tank pioneer: "Without Fisher, no IEA; without the IEA and its clones, no Thatcher and quite possibly no Reagan; without Reagan, no Star Wars; without Star Wars, no economic collapse of the Soviet Union. Quite a chain of consequences for a chicken farmer!"Atlas Network OrganizationsIn its first three decades, Atlas Network has played a role in the work of numerous market-oriented public policy organizations all over the world: the Manhattan Institute in New York, the National Center for Policy Analysis in Texas, Instituto Libertad y Democracia in Peru, the Acton Institute in Michigan, Fundación Libertad in Argentina, the Lithuanian Free Market Institute, Instituto Libertad y Desarrollo in Chile, the Centre for Civil Society in India, Istituto Bruno Leoni in Italy, and the Association for Liberal Thinking in Turkey, among others. Each of these organizations has a remarkable story to tell about changing public opinion on key topics among its target audience.Manhattan Institutein New YorkNational Center for Policy Analysisin TexasInstituto Libertad y Democraciain PeruActon Institutein MichiganFundación Libertadin ArgentinaLithuanian Free Market InstituteInstituto Libertad y Desarrolloin ChileCentre for Civil Societyin IndiaIstituto Bruno Leoniin ItalyAssociation for Liberal Thinkingin TurkeyThink TanksToday, Atlas Network connects more than 450 think tanks in nearly 100 countries. Each is writing its own story of how principled work to affect public opinion, on behalf of the ideas of a free society, can better individuals' lives. While the think tank movement has grown significantly over recent years, the spirit of Atlas Network’s work stays true to Antony Fisher’s vision.Freedom ChampionsTo win the long-term policy battles that will shape history, we need freedom champions to create credible institutes -- well-managed and independent of vested interests -- that use sound business practices to advance sound public policy ideas.PhilanthropistsWe are grateful to those generous individuals, philanthropies, and businesses that entrust us with financial resources to build a greater public consensus around the ideas of a free society by advancing the Atlas Network mission.Atlas Network PeopleDaniel AnthonyVice President of Marketing and CommunicationsElisa BishopDirector of Institute Relations and ProgramsJim CardilloVice President of FinanceCindy CerquitellaAtlas Leadership Academy DirectorAlejandro A. Chafuen (Alex), Ph.D.PresidentErwin ChaloupkaEconomic Policy Associate for Central and Eastern EuropeBrittany GunklerDevelopment and Events ManagerKristina CraneOperations ManagerEric D. DixonEditorGrace (Courter) HayesMarketing and Communications ManagerStephanie Giovanetti LipsDirector of OutreachBrad LipsChief Executive OfficerLaura LiuEconomic and Trade Policy AdvisorRómulo LópezDirector of AdministrationMatthew MeyerDevelopment AssociateNicholas MillerDevelopment AssociateDr. Tom G. PalmerGeorge M. Yeager Chair for Advancing Liberty; Executive Vice President for International ProgramsAustin Pickrell Digital ManagerCasey PiferInstitute Relations and Programs ManagerKatherine PriceManager of Special Projects & Assistant to the CEOLisa RobertsMajor Gifts OfficerClark RuperDirector of DevelopmentChelsea SchickAssociate Director of EventsJeremy SchofieldIT ManagerAlexander SkourasDirector of External RelationsVale SloaneInstitute Relations and Programs AssociateTarun VatsProgram Manager - Atlas Leadership AcademyMatt WarnerChief Operating OfficerMariana ZepedaResearch Associate and Assistant to the President... a free, prosperous and peaceful world where limited governments defend the rule of law, private property and free markets._45fe0718-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d54719To strengthen the worldwide freedom movement ..._45fe07e0-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d54719FreedomProsperityPeaceLimited GovernmentRule of LawPrivate PropertyFree MarketsNonpartisanshipNetworkCultivate a highly effective and expansive network that inspires and incentivizes all committed individuals and organizations to achieve lasting impact._45fe0894-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d54719TrainingProvide training in management, communications, and fundraising._45fe098e-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d547191Atlas Leadership AcademyThe Atlas Leadership Academy (ALA) provides a robust series of credit-based training opportunities that allow you to sharpen your skills in management, communications, and fundraising while building your free-market organization. Our flexible course catalog allows you to practice what you’re learning as you learn it, with opportunities ranging from online courses and in-person workshops to one-on-one mentoring relationships.SupportMake grants._45fe0a4c-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d547192Atlas Network offers a variety of grant opportunities throughout the year. Prospective grantees should carefully review all opportunities and deadlines below to identify the best fit. For most opportunities, we invite your organization to first apply to become a partner if you are not already. We also highly favor organizations who participate in Atlas Leadership Academy ... and, in particular, those who have completed Think Tank Navigator, a free online course offered throughout the year within the Academy. Requests for general support or for purposes other than those listed should be submitted under the General Grants category. While Atlas Network is committed to championing all worthy efforts to advance liberty, grants are awarded on a highly competitive basis and in strict compliance with donor intent.RecognitionMake awards recognizing outstanding achievements by grantees and training participants._45fe0b0a-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d547193In addition to the annual Templeton Freedom Award, Atlas Network offers several special topic awards recognizing outstanding achievements by grantees and training participants.Free EnterpriseRecognizing the most exceptional and innovative contributions to the understanding of free enterprise._45fe0bd2-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d547193.1Templeton Religion TrustTHE TEMPLETON FREEDOM AWARD -- Named for the late investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton, the Templeton Freedom Award annually honors his legacy by identifying and recognizing the most exceptional and innovative contributions to the understanding of free enterprise, and the public policies that encourage prosperity, innovation and human fulfillment via free competition. Awarded since 2004, the Templeton Freedom Award beginning in 2013 is generously supported by Templeton Religion Trust.Elevator PitchesRecognize outstanding value propositions._45fe0c9a-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d547193.2ELEVATOR PITCH COMPETITION AWARD -- Think Tank MBA participants sell their value proposition to a live international audience of Liberty Forum attendees who vote on the winners.VideosRecognize videos promoting the ideas of liberty._45fe0d58-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d547193.3LIGHTS, CAMERA, LIBERTY! FILM FESTIVAL AWARD -- Online video communications grantees compete annually for the best and most effective video promoting the ideas of liberty.Enterprise & EntrepreneurshipRecognize think tanks that have made important contributions to improving the landscape for enterprise and entrepreneurship._45fe0e34-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d547193.4Think TanksREGIONAL LIBERTY AWARDS -- The Regional Liberty Awards annually recognize think tanks that have made important contributions to improving the landscape for enterprise and entrepreneurship in their regions.Student-Focused ProjectsRecognize student-focused projects for liberty._45fe0f06-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d547193.5SMITH STUDENT OUTREACH AWARD -- International grantees compete for an annual award recognizing the best student-focused project for liberty.Shark TanksRecognize outstanding think tank projects._45fe0fce-3457-11e7-90d6-0b38d1d547193.6THINK TANK SHARK TANK AWARD COMPETITION -- Do you have what it takes to stand before an audience of over 500 and pitch your next big think tank project? How about before a panel of potential supporters who will quiz you on the intricacies of your plan? In only 6 minutes?2017-05-08https://www.atlasnetwork.org/aboutOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net