Third Way is a Washington, D.C.-based public policy think tank founded in 2005. The think tank develops policy ideas, conducts public opinion research and hosts issue briefings. The organization has four policy divisions: Economics, National Security, Clean Energy, and Social Policy & Politics. Third Way develops and advocates for policies that it says represent the "vital center".
Third Way was honored as "2013 North American Think Tank of the Year" by Prospect, a British monthly current affairs magazine, for its "original, influential, and rigorous work on the most pressing challenges facing people, governments, and businesses". In 2012, the first year that Prospect issued a prize for North America, the award went to The Carnegie Endowment. The judges commended Third Way for "making a real impact on debate in the center ground of American politics".
The think tank includes many Republican donors and Democratic officials.
Third Way was founded in 2005 by Jonathan Cowan, Matt Bennett, Jim Kessler, and Nancy Hale in the wake of the 2004 election as a policy, messaging and strategy "idea center" and think tank. The organization was dedicated to understanding the wants, needs and expectations of self-described Moderate left leaning Americans, who comprise 44% of the voting public..
Third Way's President and Economic Program director made the case that progressives needed to reorient themselves and set forth a modern agenda focused on growth and middle class success for the 21st century in an opinion piece published on the Politico website in 2010.
Third Way has four major policy programs: the Economics Program focuses on helping the middle class in America in the midst of growing global competition. The National Security Program aims at issues of security and the US military. Third Way has also undertaken a program on clean energy intended to influence policy decisions on reducing carbon emissions. Finally, it has a Social Policy Program to examine issues including equality, education, immigration and gun control.
CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider is a Resident Scholar and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Third Way. A few of the staff members for the organization now work in the Obama administration and some Third Way emeritus co-chairs have served in President Obama's cabinet including former Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.