Contact

Reaching the editorial and research team at Think Tank Authority provides access to subject-matter guidance on policy research institutions, organizational structure questions, and reference inquiries related to the think tank sector in the United States. This page identifies the available contact channels, describes the geographic scope of inquiries handled, and specifies what information to include when submitting a message to ensure accurate and timely responses.

Additional contact options

Think Tank Authority handles inquiries through two primary channels: a web-based message form and a direct email address for press and institutional inquiries. These two channels serve distinct purposes, and routing a message to the correct channel reduces response time.

Web form — General research questions, site corrections, and public inquiries are best submitted through the on-site contact form. The form captures structured data fields that allow staff to route messages efficiently without requiring a follow-up to clarify the nature of the request.

Email (press and institutional) — Organizations, journalists, and academic institutions seeking attribution, licensing of reference content, or partnership inquiries should use the dedicated press address. This channel receives priority review, typically within 3 business days.

A third option exists for researchers who require background on methodology: the site's Think Tank Research Methods and Evaluating Think Tank Credibility pages address the most common technical questions without requiring direct contact.

How to reach this office

Think Tank Authority operates as a national reference property focused on the U.S. policy research sector. The editorial office does not maintain a public walk-in address. All correspondence is handled digitally.

The following structured breakdown identifies response timelines by inquiry type:

1. General public inquiry (web form) — Response within 5 business days.
2. Factual correction or content dispute — Acknowledged within 2 business days; resolution within 10 business days depending on the complexity of the sourcing review.
3. Press and media inquiry (email) — Response within 3 business days.
4. Partnership or licensing request — Initial response within 5 business days; full review may require up to 15 business days.
5. Fellowship or career-related inquiry — Directed to the Think Tank Internships and Fellowships and Careers at Think Tanks reference pages before editorial staff engage directly.

Messages submitted outside business hours (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time) enter the queue and are reviewed on the next available business day.

Service area covered

Think Tank Authority covers the U.S. think tank sector at the national level. The site documents institutions headquartered across all 50 states, with particular depth on organizations based in Washington, D.C., which accounts for the largest concentration of policy research institutions in the country.

International inquiries — for example, questions about U.S.-based think tanks with overseas operations, or comparative questions involving non-U.S. institutions — fall within scope when the primary reference point is a domestic organization. Inquiries focused exclusively on foreign policy institutes outside U.S. jurisdiction are outside the editorial mandate and will be acknowledged but not substantively answered.

The site's reference scope spans ideologically distinct institution types. Coverage includes conservative, progressive, libertarian, and nonpartisan think tanks, as documented in the Types of Think Tanks reference page. This breadth means inquiries across the ideological spectrum are treated with equal editorial priority.

Scope comparison — in-scope vs. out-of-scope inquiries:

What to include in your message

Incomplete messages are the single largest cause of delayed responses. A well-formed inquiry includes 4 specific components that allow staff to locate relevant content, assess the scope of the question, and assign it to the correct reviewer.

1. Subject or institution name — Identify the specific think tank, policy area, or topic the inquiry concerns. Vague subject lines such as "question about your site" create unnecessary triage steps.

2. Nature of the inquiry — State whether the message is a factual correction, a research question, a press inquiry, or a partnership proposal. This single field determines routing before staff read the full message.

3. Relevant page or URL — If the inquiry relates to existing content on the site, include the specific page address or title. For example, referencing the Think Tank Transparency and Donor Disclosure page allows reviewers to pull the exact passage in question.

4. Organizational affiliation (for institutional inquiries) — Journalists, researchers, and institutional partners should include their affiliation and publication or organization name. This is not required for general public inquiries but accelerates handling for press and partnership messages.

Messages that omit items 1 and 2 are placed in a secondary queue pending clarification, which extends the standard response window by a minimum of 3 additional business days.

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