A philanthropic hub for rigorous scholarship.
The Foundation is a public charity governed by an independent board of trustees, with grantmaking conducted through peer review.
Mission
The Alexander Hamilton Foundation identifies, funds, and supports exceptional scholars in the humanities, arts, and social sciences, with particular attention to advancing the intellectual pluralism that rigorous inquiry in a free society requires.
Principles
Our grantmaking is disciplined by three principles: scholarly excellence, respect for the academic institutions that host our grantees, and long-horizon patience with the questions we believe matter most.
Academic independence
The Foundation funds scholars to do their own work. It does not direct the content of research, prescribe conclusions, or condition awards on the positions scholars take. Grants are administered through the grantee's home institution under that institution's standard appointment and oversight processes.
Awards are made through peer review by tenured faculty drawn from the relevant disciplines, consistent with the norms of scholarly practice.
Nondiscrimination
The Foundation does not discriminate in its grantmaking, employment, or operations on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. The policy applies to the selection of fellows and grantees, the engagement of peer reviewers, and the treatment of employees, contractors, and vendors.
Governance
The Alexander Hamilton Foundation is a public charity organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and recognized as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation operates under bylaws and a conflict-of-interest policy adopted by its board.
The Foundation is governed by its board of trustees.
- Daniel Pianko Chair
- Tao Tan Vice Chair
- Philip Siegel Secretary
- Kenneth Goldstein President
The name
The Foundation is named for Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), a founding-era statesman whose writing and service helped shape enduring American institutions, and whose own life was shaped by neighbors generous enough to fund his studies at King's College (now Columbia University), where he distinguished himself and came to George Washington's notice. The name reflects the Foundation's commitment to serious, sustained scholarship on the institutions and ideas that animate public life.