State Policy Network

The State Policy Network (SPN) is an American nonprofit network that supports state-level conservative and libertarian policy organizations. Rather than functioning as a conventional think tank that develops one unified research program, SPN describes itself as a professional-services organization and policy clearinghouse for independently incorporated member groups. Its work includes organizational training, fundraising advice, communications support, networking, grantmaking, leadership development, and the circulation of policy research and legislative ideas. SPN was established in 1992 by South Carolina businessman Thomas A. Roe, who believed that every state needed an institution capable of adapting free-market and limited-government arguments to local legislative debates. Roe had helped establish the South Carolina Policy Council after discussing the idea with Ronald Reagan. The organization later grew out of the Madison Group, an informal collection of state think tanks that met in Washington, D.C. Early participants included organizations in South Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, and Michigan. Gary Palmer, then associated with the Alabama Policy Institute, helped found the network and became one of its early presidents. The network initially included fewer than 20 organizations. Training delivered by free-market policy leaders, including Lawrence Reed of Michigan's Mackinac Center for Public Policy, helped SPN recruit and develop additional state-based institutions. By the middle of the 1990s, it had expanded to 37 think tanks in 30 states. By the 2010s, SPN reported members or affiliated organizations across all 50 states. Membership is generally invitation-only and is centered on independently incorporated 501(c)(3) organizations that promote market-oriented policy approaches. The network distinguishes between state-based affiliate members and national associate members. SPN's member organizations have worked on taxes, education, labor policy, health care, welfare, environmental regulation, government spending, occupational freedom, and public-sector union policy. Positions associated with the network have included school choice and vouchers, charter-school expansion, restrictions on government spending, reductions in taxes and welfare programs, opposition to public-sector collective bargaining, and resistance to Medicaid expansion and elements of the Affordable Care Act. Because the member organizations set their own priorities, SPN does not necessarily speak for every affiliate on every issue. The network has attracted attention for its role in coordinating policy research, communications, and political influence at the state level. Critics have characterized SPN and some affiliates as part of a coordinated conservative infrastructure that supplies model legislation, research, and campaign support to state policymakers. SPN has also maintained close institutional ties with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), whose activities include developing and sharing model state legislation. Supporters present SPN as a voluntary association that helps independent policy organizations build durable local capacity and advance market-oriented reforms. SPN holds an annual meeting, begun in 1993, where members exchange research, receive operational training, and discuss policy priorities. It also provides grants for start-up costs and program work. The network has administered awards named for founder Thomas A. Roe and policy theorist Joseph Overton. Its revenue comes primarily from philanthropic and other private contributions, and its donors have included foundations, donor-advised funds, and corporations. Public reporting has documented substantial financial support from DonorsTrust and other foundations, although SPN has emphasized that donor confidentiality is common among nonprofit organizations. In 2025, longtime president and chief executive Tracie Sharp announced her departure after approximately 25 years leading the organization. Chris Dauer, formerly chief operating officer of the Hoover Institution, was named her successor in August 2025. SPN remains an active national network headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, with member organizations operating throughout the United States.

State Policy Network emerged from a group of state-level free-market policy organizations that met periodically at Washington's Madison Hotel. Thomas A. Roe, a South Carolina businessman and Heritage Foundation trustee, sought to reproduce at the state level the type of policy institution represented nationally by the Heritage Foundation. His earlier work with the South Carolina Policy Council helped demonstrate how national policy themes such as school choice and environmental deregulation could be translated into state legislative proposals. SPN was formally founded in 1992, with Roe serving as its founding board chairman until his death in 2000. Gary Palmer, associated with the Alabama Policy Institute, helped establish the network and served as an early president. In its first years, the network concentrated on building a constituency of independent state think tanks. Lawrence Reed of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy contributed to this effort by sharing training methods for creating and operating free-market policy organizations. The network grew from fewer than 20 initial members to 37 think tanks in 30 states by the mid-1990s. The organization institutionalized its activities through annual meetings beginning in 1993. These gatherings became venues for policy discussion, professional training, communications development, fundraising instruction, and cooperation among member groups. SPN also began providing financial assistance for start-up and program expenses. One documented example was a 2011 grant of $60,000 to the Foundation for Government Accountability, a Florida-based free-market organization. Over time, SPN developed a national network with organizations in all 50 states. Its affiliates remained legally independent and generally operated as state-focused 501(c)(3) think tanks, while national organizations could participate as associate members. The network's policy environment included organizations such as the Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, Americans for Prosperity Foundation, Americans for Tax Reform, FreedomWorks, and ALEC. SPN and ALEC developed particularly close institutional links: SPN has sponsored ALEC, many SPN affiliates have participated in ALEC, and the two organizations have been described as sister organizations. SPN and its members became increasingly visible in state debates during the 2000s and 2010s. Former leaders of member organizations, including Mike Pence, Jeff Flake, and Tom Tancredo, later served in Congress. SPN-affiliated groups supplied research and speakers to the Tea Party movement and supported policies involving tax reduction, spending limits, education choice, welfare and health-program reform, and restrictions on public-sector collective bargaining. SPN also promoted model legislation and arguments opposing implementation of portions of the Affordable Care Act, including Medicaid expansion. The network's role generated criticism from progressive advocacy groups and journalists. Reporting portrayed SPN as part of a coordinated conservative policy infrastructure and examined proposals submitted by affiliates seeking philanthropic support. The proposals covered labor, taxes, education, health care, environmental regulation, and public services. SPN responded that its members were independent organizations, not franchises, and that each group chose its own personnel and policy priorities. Financial reporting has identified foundation, corporate, and donor-advised-fund support. SPN's 2013 audited Form 990 reported approximately $8 million in revenue and $8.4 million in expenses, including grants and payments to other organizations. From 2008 through 2013, it received reported support from DonorsTrust. In 2023, the organization reported $27.1 million in revenue and $25.8 million in expenses. These figures are historical tax-reporting data rather than commercial sales figures. Tracie Sharp led SPN for approximately 25 years before announcing her departure in 2025. Chris Dauer, formerly the Hoover Institution's chief operating officer, was named president in August 2025. Lawson Bader, president and chief executive of DonorsTrust, serves as board chairman. SPN continues to operate as a national support and coordination network for state-level conservative and libertarian policy institutions.

• 2025

  Leadership transition announced

  [1]State Policy Networken.wikipedia.org

  Chris Dauer was named president after Tracie Sharp announced her departure following a long tenure.

• 2014

  Membership reported across all states

  [1]State Policy Networken.wikipedia.org

  The network was reported to have 65 member organizations, with representation in every state.

• 2011

  Member start-up grant program documented

  [1]State Policy Networken.wikipedia.org

  SPN provided a reported $60,000 start-up grant to the Foundation for Government Accountability.

• 2003

  Overton Award established

  [1]State Policy Networken.wikipedia.org

  SPN created an award honoring nonprofit operating executives and the legacy of Joseph Overton.

• 1995

  Network reaches 37 think tanks

  [1]State Policy Networken.wikipedia.org

  By the mid-1990s, SPN had expanded to 37 organizations in 30 states.

• 1993

  Annual meeting program begins

  [1]State Policy Networken.wikipedia.org

  SPN began convening members annually for policy analysis, training, organizational development, and networking.

• 1992

  State Policy Network founded

  [1]State Policy Networken.wikipedia.org

  Thomas A. Roe and allied state-policy leaders established SPN as an independent network for market-oriented state think tanks.

A national professional-services and capacity-building network for independent conservative and libertarian state policy think tanks.

• Professional network · 1992

  Member network

  SPN connects independent state-level conservative and libertarian think tanks with one another and with national associate organizations. Members exchange research, operating practices, communications methods, and policy strategies while retaining independent legal identities and control over their own priorities.

• Nonprofit professional services · 1992

  Organizational training and consulting

  The network advises members on fundraising, nonprofit administration, communications, leadership, staffing, and institutional growth. This capacity-building role is central to SPN's positioning as a professional-services organization rather than a single-issue advocacy group.

• Philanthropic support

  Grants and start-up support

  SPN distributes grants and other financial support for member start-up costs and program operations. Publicly described examples include assistance to emerging state policy organizations and payments supporting network activities.

• Conference and training · 1993

  Annual meeting

  SPN's annual meeting brings members together to discuss policy priorities, refine organizational practice, receive training, and build professional relationships. The event has been held in different American cities since 1993.

• Recognition programs · 1992

  Roe and Overton awards

  The Roe Award recognizes accomplishment and innovation in free-market policy advocacy. The Overton Award recognizes nonprofit operating leaders whose collaborative management and strategic work expand the reach of market-oriented organizations.

• 2013

  Scrutiny of donor-supported policy coordination

  Investigative reporting examined grant proposals submitted by SPN affiliates and portrayed them as evidence of a coordinated conservative policy agenda across numerous states. The reporting also discussed funding from foundations, donor-advised funds, and corporations. SPN maintained that its members were independent organizations and that donor privacy was normal nonprofit practice.

  Source

Read more

• 2013State policy grant-proposal agenda

  United States

  Grant proposals from SPN member organizations described coordinated research and advocacy priorities involving taxes, education, public services, health care, labor, and environmental regulation.

  Outcome. The proposals became the subject of investigative reporting about the coordination and funding of conservative state policy work.

  Source
• 2011Public-sector labor policy advocacy

  United States

  SPN affiliates supported state-level initiatives involving public-sector collective bargaining, union dues, and the authority of government-worker unions.

  Outcome. The work became part of broader state legislative debates and drew substantial criticism from labor and progressive advocacy organizations.

  Source
• 2010Affordable Care Act opposition

  United States

  SPN promoted model legislation and policy arguments for state resistance to parts of the Affordable Care Act, including opposition to Medicaid expansion.

  Outcome. Member organizations participated in state-level debates over implementation, insurance policy, and Medicaid expansion.

  Source
• 2010Education choice advocacy

  United States

  SPN members promoted charter schools, school vouchers, and broader parental or individual choice in education.

  Outcome. Education choice became a recurring policy priority for the network and its affiliates.

  Source

• 2025

  Change executive leadershipOther

  Background

  Tracie Sharp announced her departure after approximately 25 years as president and chief executive.

  Action taken

  SPN appointed Chris Dauer, formerly the Hoover Institution's chief operating officer, as president.

  Aftermath

  The appointment began a new leadership phase for the network.

  Source

• 2011

  Expand financial support for emerging affiliatesStrategy

  Background

  New and developing state think tanks needed operating resources and institutional assistance.

  Action taken

  SPN provided start-up and program grants, including reported support for the Foundation for Government Accountability.

  Aftermath

  Grantmaking became one of SPN's documented tools for expanding state-level policy capacity.

  Start-up grant. $60,000 (2011)

  Source

• 1993

  Institutionalize annual member conveningsStrategy

  Background

  A geographically dispersed network required regular opportunities for training, policy exchange, and relationship building.

  Action taken

  SPN began holding an annual meeting in different U.S. cities.

  Aftermath

  The annual meeting became a continuing mechanism for professional development and coordination.

  Source

• 1992

  Build an independent state-level policy networkStrategy

  Background

  Roe and other founders believed national free-market policy ideas needed independent institutions capable of adapting them to individual states.

  Action taken

  SPN was created to provide networking, training, fundraising assistance, and policy support to state think tanks.

  Aftermath

  The network expanded from fewer than 20 initial organizations to members and affiliates across all 50 states.

  Source

1. 1State Policy Networken.wikipedia.org