McCain Institute

The McCain Institute is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., and affiliated with Arizona State University. Established in 2012, it was created to extend Senator John McCain’s public-service legacy through work on democracy, human rights, international security, leadership, and civic resilience. The organization operates as a policy and program institution rather than as a commercial brand, combining research, convening, leadership development, advocacy, and grant-supported initiatives. The institute originated from approximately $9 million remaining in Senator McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign fund. Those funds were transferred into a nonprofit foundation and provided the initial financial base for the organization. It was formally inaugurated in Washington in May 2012. From the outset, its stated purpose was to develop practical recommendations for public leaders, publish research relevant to national and international policy, identify and train a new generation of national-security leaders, and preserve the McCain family’s public-service tradition. Its subject areas span democratic governance, human rights, national security, political prisoners and hostages, countering human trafficking, and the prevention of targeted violence. The institute also organizes public and private discussions designed to connect government officials, scholars, business leaders, civil-society representatives, and security specialists. One of its best-known convening platforms is the Sedona Forum, an annual invitation-only meeting held in Sedona, Arizona, where international leaders and experts discuss global challenges and possible policy responses. The McCain Institute’s programs are supported by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Reported past donors have included Walmart, FedEx, SpaceX, Chevron, the embassies of Saudi Arabia and Denmark, Howard Graham Buffett, and investor Paul E. Singer. In 2025, the Carnegie Corporation of New York awarded the institute a $500,000 grant to support work concerning political prisoners and hostages. The institute’s funding model and links to prominent donors reflect the broader role of Washington policy organizations, which often combine philanthropic support, research, convening, and public education. The organization’s Preventing Targeted Violence program, created in 2020, addresses hate-inspired violence and terrorism. Its broader portfolio positions the institute at the intersection of foreign policy, national security, democracy protection, and leadership development. The institute is associated with Arizona State University but remains a distinct nonprofit organization. As of the supplied reference material, its executive director is Evelyn Farkas. The McCain Institute is therefore best understood as a mission-driven policy and leadership institution whose identity is closely connected to John McCain’s political and public-service legacy, while its work extends across contemporary domestic and international policy issues.

The McCain Institute was established in 2012 as a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit policy center affiliated with Arizona State University. Its creation followed Senator John McCain’s 2008 campaign for the presidency of the United States. Approximately $9 million remained in the campaign fund after the election, and those funds were transferred into a nonprofit foundation that became the financial foundation for the institute. The organization was formally inaugurated in Washington in May 2012. Its founding concept was to continue elements of McCain’s public-service legacy through practical work on leadership, national security, international affairs, democracy, and human rights. Rather than operating as a commercial enterprise, the institute was designed as a policy, research, convening, and leadership-development organization. Its stated objectives include offering recommendations to decision-makers, producing relevant research, identifying and preparing future national-security leaders, and preserving the McCain family’s tradition of public service. Over time, the institute developed a portfolio that combines policy programs with high-level events. Its work has addressed democratic institutions, human rights, international security, human trafficking, and threats from hate-inspired violence and terrorism. The Sedona Forum became a central convening initiative: an annual, invitation-only conference in Sedona, Arizona, bringing together government officials, international leaders, and specialists to discuss global problems and potential solutions. Reported participants have included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Senator Mitt Romney, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. In 2020, the institute created its Preventing Targeted Violence program. The initiative focuses on reducing the risk of hate-inspired violence and terrorism, extending the institute’s security work into the prevention of politically and socially motivated attacks. The organization has also maintained programs concerning democracy and human rights, including work related to political prisoners and hostages. The institute is funded through philanthropic and institutional support from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Reported past donors include Walmart, FedEx, SpaceX, Chevron, the embassies of Saudi Arabia and Denmark, Howard Graham Buffett, and investor Paul E. Singer. In 2025, the Carnegie Corporation of New York provided a $500,000 grant for work on political prisoners and hostages. These funding relationships support the institute’s research, events, leadership programs, and issue-specific initiatives. The McCain Institute remains affiliated with Arizona State University and headquartered in Washington, D.C. Its public identity continues to draw on John McCain’s name and record, while its operating agenda addresses contemporary policy questions in the United States and abroad. As of the supplied reference material, Evelyn Farkas serves as executive director.

• 2025

  Carnegie Corporation awards program grant

  [1]McCain Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  The Carnegie Corporation of New York awarded the institute $500,000 to support work on political prisoners and hostages.

• 2020

  Preventing Targeted Violence program created

  [1]McCain Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  The institute launched a program focused on preventing hate-inspired violence and terrorism.

• 2012

  McCain Institute established

  [1]McCain Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  The nonprofit policy institute was established in Washington, D.C., with an affiliation to Arizona State University.

• 2012

  Formal inauguration in Washington

  [1]McCain Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  The institute was formally inaugurated in May 2012 with a mandate centered on leadership, national security, international affairs, and public service.

• 2008

  McCain presidential campaign leaves surplus funds

  [1]McCain Instituteen.wikipedia.org

  Approximately $9 million remained from John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign fund and was later transferred into a nonprofit foundation that supported the creation of the institute.

A nonpartisan-leaning, mission-driven policy and leadership institute focused on democracy, human rights, national security, and public service, with a strong association with John McCain’s legacy and Arizona State University.

• Policy forum

  Sedona Forum

  An annual invitation-only conference held each spring in Sedona, Arizona. It brings together international leaders, public officials, and global-security experts to discuss major international challenges and possible policy responses.

• Security program · 2020

  Preventing Targeted Violence

  A program created in 2020 to address hate-inspired violence and terrorism. It represents the institute’s focus on prevention, security policy, and the risks posed by targeted political or social violence.

• Leadership development · 2012

  Leadership-development programs

  Programs intended to identify and prepare emerging leaders, particularly in national security and public service. They reflect the institute’s founding objective of strengthening the next generation of policy and security leadership.

• Policy and advocacy program

  Democracy and human-rights programs

  A group of initiatives addressing democratic governance, human rights, political prisoners, and related international policy questions through research, advocacy, convening, and public education.

• 2025

  Accept grant for political-prisoner and hostage workOther

  Background

  The institute’s human-rights and international-security agenda includes issues affecting political prisoners and hostages.

  Action taken

  The Carnegie Corporation of New York awarded the institute a $500,000 grant to support this area of work.

  Aftermath

  The grant provided dedicated philanthropic support for the institute’s related programming.

  Grant amount. $500,000 (2025)

  Source

• 2020

  Expand prevention work on targeted violenceStrategy

  Background

  The institute identified hate-inspired violence and terrorism as issues requiring dedicated prevention and policy attention.

  Action taken

  It created the Preventing Targeted Violence program.

  Aftermath

  The program became part of the institute’s broader portfolio spanning national security, democracy, and public safety.

  Source

1. 1McCain Instituteen.wikipedia.org
2. 2McCain Institute official websitemccaininstitute.org