Ayn Rand Institute
Ayn Rand Institute Logo
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| Formation | 1985 |
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| Type | Research and Education Organization |
| 22-2570926 | |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) - Public charity |
| Focus | Ayn Rand and Objectivism |
| Headquarters | 2121 Alton Parkway, S-250 Irvine, CA 92606 |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 33°41′40″N 117°50′20″W / 33.6945°N 117.8390°WCoordinates: 33°41′40″N 117°50′20″W / 33.6945°N 117.8390°W |
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Executive Director
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Yaron Brook |
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Budget (2013)
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Revenue: $10,429,821 |
| Website | aynrand.org |
The Ayn Rand Institute: The Center for the Advancement of Objectivism, commonly known as the Ayn Rand Institute (ARI), is a nonprofit think tank in Irvine, California, that promotes Objectivism, a philosophical system developed by author Ayn Rand. Its stated goal is to "spearhead a cultural renaissance that will reverse the anti-reason, anti-individualism, anti-freedom, anti-capitalist trends in today's culture". The organization was established in 1985, three years after Rand's death, by Leonard Peikoff, Rand's legal heir. Its executive director is Yaron Brook.
ARI is mainly an educational organization, but also has "outreach programs." Its various programs include classes on Objectivism and related subjects offered through its Objectivist Academic Center, public lectures, op-ed articles, letters to the editor, competitions for essays about Rand's novels, materials for Objectivist campus clubs, supplying Rand's writings to schools and professors, and providing intellectuals for radio and TV interviews.
During her lifetime, Rand helped establish The Foundation for the New Intellectual, to promote Objectivist ideas. The Foundation was dissolved some 15 years after her death, as having been made redundant by the Ayn Rand Institute. Although Rand never intended for Objectivism to become an organized movement, she heartily approved of rational individuals with the same ideas working toward a common goal. Peikoff, her legal heir, was convinced to start the organization after businessman Ed Snider organized a meeting of possible financial supporters in New York in the fall of 1983. Peikoff also agreed to be the first chairman of the organization's board of directors.
ARI began operations on February 1, 1985, three years after Rand's death. The first board of directors included Snider and psychologist Edith Packer. Snider was also one of the founding donors for the organization. Its first executive director was Michael Berliner, who was previously the chairman of the Department of Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education at California State University, Northridge. ARI also established a board of governors, which initially included Harry Binswanger, Robert Hessen, Edwin A. Locke, Arthur Mode, George Reisman, Jay Snider, and Mary Ann Sures, with Peter Schwartz as its chairman.M. Northrup Buechner and George Walsh joined the board of advisors shortly thereafter.
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