Talent Market

Talent Market

Background

Talent Market is a Virginia-based non-profit recruitment agency which aims to โ€œbring talent and liberty together to make the world a better place,โ€ according to its website. Talent Market provides โ€œconsulting and recruiting services to think tanks, policy organizations, research centers, and capacity building institutions that primarily focus on reducing the size and scope of government and advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.โ€1 โ€œHomepage,โ€ Talent Market. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/6EWag 2 โ€œAbout,โ€ Talent Market. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/MSmIC

Described by the New York Times previously as the โ€œright wing’s casting agency,โ€ the Center for Media and Democracy reports that the organization was set up in 2009 as an โ€œowned entityโ€ of Donors Trust, which has been called a โ€œdark money ATMโ€ of the US conservative movement. Talent Market is now listed as a โ€œprogram serviceโ€ on 990 forms of Donors Trust.3 Noam Sheiber. โ€œThe Right Wingโ€™s Casting Agency, and Its Agent,โ€ New York Times, March 6, 2016. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/23YM6 4 David Armiak. โ€œTalent Market: The Libertarian Headhunting Firm Serving the Koch Network and the Bradley Foundation,โ€ TruthOut, July 2, 2017. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/ruoU2 5 Andy Kroll. โ€œExposed: The Dark-Money ATM of the Conservative Movement,โ€ Mother Jones, February 5, 2013. Archived July 2, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. 6 โ€œDonors Trust 990,โ€ 2016. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/3L9gl

Talent Market states that it has worked with โ€œover 200 non-profits,โ€ placing โ€œmore than 500 individuals in key roles in the free-market nonprofit sector.โ€7 โ€œSuccess,โ€ Talent Market. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/jp4qK

The organization was founded by the then-President and CEO of Donors Trust Whitney Ball, President of the State Policy Network (SPN) Tracie Sharp, and Talent Market Executive Director Claire Kittle Dixon, according to the Center for Media and Democracy.8 David Armiak. โ€œTalent Market: The Libertarian Headhunting Firm Serving the Koch Network and the Bradley Foundation,โ€ TruthOut, July 2, 2017. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/ruoU2

Claire Kittle Dixon, now Talent Market’s executive director, was previously Program Officer for Leadership and Talent Development at the Charles Koch Foundation, according to Talent Market’s website. During that time, Kittle launched and managed two talent programs, the Koch Associate Program and the Koch Internship Program. Kittle has also served as the Vice President and Director of Research of the Buckeye Institute, an Ohio-based thinktank that is part of the Koch-funded State Policy Network. The organization’s Talent Manager, Lauren Skiver, was previously Grants Coordinator at the Charles Koch Foundation and subsequently Outreach Manager at Donors Trust.9 โ€œOur Team,โ€ Talent Market. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/svisD

Talent Market has assisted with recruitment for Utah State University’s Center for Growth and Opportunity, a thinktank created in 2017 following a $50 million joint donation from the Charles Koch Foundation and the Huntsman Foundation. A School of Business professor at the university told the Guardian that the center’s purpose was to โ€œpersuade these policy makers about public lands, anti-green energy and suchโ€ and that it was โ€œnot academically sound research.”10 โ€œCareers,โ€ Center for Growth and Opportunity. Archived July 2, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. 11 Alison Berg, Carter Moore. โ€œCharles Koch gave m to our university. Has it become a rightwing mouthpiece?โ€ The Guardian, May 2, 2019. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/4VwBz 12 โ€œUSU Huntsman School of Business Receives Million Gift,โ€ Utah State University, May 6, 2017. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/NDuhL

Talent Market has been criticized by the advocacy group โ€œUnKoch My Campusโ€ for interfering in the recruitment process at different universities, citing examples at Florida State University, Auburn University, Clemson University, University of Louisville, Western Carolina University and Wake Forest University, in addition to Utah State University.13 โ€œ2. Donor Influence In Hiring,โ€ UnKoch My Campus. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/fNlAu

Stance on Climate Change

Talent Market has not expressed a view on climate change but recruits staff for free-market organizations which have cast doubt on climate science and/or lobbied against policies to reduce emissions, such as the Heartland Institute.14 โ€œDirector of Development โ€“ The Heartland Institute โ€“ Northwest Chicago, IL,โ€ Talent Market, June 24, 2019. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/vrgKT

Funding

Talent Market is a โ€œprogram serviceโ€ provided by the right-wing funding network, Donors Trust, with much of its expenses covered by the Trust, according to 990 forms.15 โ€œDonors Trust 990,โ€ 2016. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/3L9gl

The following is based on data archived at Conservative Transparency, combined with 990 tax form review by DeSmog.16 โ€œTalent Market,โ€ Conservative Transparency. Archived July 2, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

See the attached spreadsheet for more information on Talent Market funding by year (.xlsx).

Donor2011201220132014201520162017Grand Total
Sarah Scaife Foundation $210,000 $210,000
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation $30,000$100,000 $130,000
Donors Capital Fund $100,000 $5,000 $105,000
Charles G Koch Charitable Foundation $50,000$50,000$100,000
The Roe Foundation$10,000$10,000$10,000$10,000$10,000 $50,000
JM Foundation $25,000 $25,000 $50,000
FM Kirby Foundation $10,000$10,000$10,000$10,000 $40,000
Dodge Jones Foundation $5,000$5,000 $10,000 $20,000
Mercatus Center $10,000$5,000$5,000 $20,000
American Legislative Exchange Council $12,500$7,500 $20,000
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation $2,000$5,000$5,000 $12,000
Chase Foundation of Virginia $3,000$3,000$3,000$3,000 $12,000
State Policy Network $5,000 $5,000 $10,000
Americans for Prosperity Foundation $10,000 $10,000
John William Pope Foundation $10,000 $10,000
Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity $6,000 $6,000
Illinois Policy Institute $5,000 $5,000
Armstrong Foundation $5,000 $5,000
The Randolph Foundation $5,000 $5,000
The Vernon K. Krieble Foundation $1,000 $1,000 $2,000
Grand Total$10,000$133,000$75,500$56,500$318,000$179,000$50,000$822,000

990 Forms

Talent Market is owned by DonorsTrust. Related 990 forms below:

Key People

Staff/Leadership

Name2015201620182019Description
Claire Kittle DixonYYYYExecutive Director
Katy Gambella YNetwork Engagement Manager
Lauren Skiver YYYTalent Manager

Advisory Council

Name201020152019Description
Ann C. FitzgeraldYYYPresident, A.C. Fitzgerald & Associates
Bridgett G. WagnerYYYVice President for External Relations, The Heritage Foundation
Lawrence W. ReedYYYPresident, Foundation for Economic Education
Marty ZupanYYYPresident Emeritus, Institute for Humane Studies
Roger R. ReamYYYPresident, The Fund for American Studies
Shari WilliamsYYYExecutive Director, The Vernon K. Krieble Foundation
Tracie J. SharpYYYPresident & CEO, State Policy Network
Whitney L. BallYY President & CEO, DonorsTrust

Actions

October 30, 2018

Claire Kittle Dixon joined the board of America’s Future Foundation, a network for young conservatives and libertarians and a member of the State Policy Network of right-wing thinktanks.17 โ€œMeet the Newest Members of AFFโ€™s Board!โ€ America’s Future Foundation, October 30, 2018. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/9KObo

March 6, 2016

The New York Times reported that Talent Market had been โ€œinvolved at every stepโ€ in recruiting new staff members for the Wisconsin-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, which has funded numerous conservative causes, including anti-union campaigns. The Foundation has close ties to Republican Governor Scott Walker and has donated to Koch-backed libertarian thinktanks, including Americans for Prosperity and the Competitive Enterprise Institute, as well as the climate science denying free-market thinktank, the Heartland Institute.18 Noam Sheiber. โ€œThe Right Wingโ€™s Casting Agency, and Its Agent,โ€ New York Times, March 6, 2016. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/23YM6 19 John McCormick. โ€œThe Conservative Group Behind Scott Walker’s Political Rise,โ€ Bloomberg, March 31, 2015. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/sXVfR 20 โ€œ2008 Award Grants,โ€ The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. Archived June 3, 2011. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

Talent Market has recruited staff members for a wide number of groups within the Koch Network.21 โ€œJob Openings,โ€ Talent Market. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Cul9J

Below is a sample of clients that have been listed on the Talent Market website over several years:

Client2015201620172019
1889 Institute YY
Acton Institute Y
Adolph Coors FoundationY YY
America’s Future Foundation YYY
American Council of Trustees and Alumni YYY
American Enterprise Institute YY
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) YY
American MajorityYY
American Media InstituteY
American Studies Center Y
Americans for Prosperity Y
Archbridge Institute YY
Ashbrook Center for Public AffairsYYY
Atlas NetworkYYYY
Ayn Rand Institute Y
Beacon Center of TennesseeYYYY
Benjamin Rush Institute YY
Bill of Rights InstituteYYYY
California Policy Center YY
Capital Research Center YY
Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy YYY
Cato Institute YYY
Center for Competitive PoliticsYY
Center for the Analysis of Property Rights & Innovation Y
Center of the American Experiment YY
Certell Y
Charles Koch FoundationYY Y
Charles Koch InstituteYYYY
Citizens Against Government Waste Y
Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom YY
Civitas Institute YYY
Claremont InstituteYYY
Commonwealth FoundationYYYY
Competitive Enterprise InstituteYYYY
DonorsTrust YYY
Empire CenterYYYY
Employment Policies Institute Y
Empower Mississippi Foundation Y
Foundation for Economic Education (FEE)YYY
Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA)Y Y
Franklin Center for Government & Public IntegrityYYYY
Freedom FoundationY Y
George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School Y
Georgia Center for OpportunityYY Y
Georgia Public Policy Foundation Y
Goldwater InstituteYYY
Government Justice Center YY
Illinois Policy InstituteYYYY
Independence InstituteYYYY
Independent Institute YY
Institute for Free Speech YY
Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason UniversityY YY
Institute for Justice YYY
Intercollegiate Studies Institute YY
John Jay InstituteY
John Locke Foundation YYY
John William Pope Foundation Y
Kansas Policy InstituteY Y
Law & Economics Center YYY
Leadership Program of the Rockies Y
Leadership Project for America FoundationY
Liberty Justice Center YY
Mackinac Center for Public Policy YYY
Manhattan Institute YY
Mercatus Center at George Mason UniversityYYYY
Mises Institute YY
Mississippi Center for Public Policy Y
Mississippi Justice Institute Y
Mountain States Legal Foundation Y
Moving Picture InstituteYYY
National Center for Policy AnalysisY
National Policy Research Institute (NPRI) YYY
National Review Institute YYY
National Right to Work Legal Defense FoundationYYYY
Network of Enlightened Women (NeW) YY
Pacific Legal Foundation YY
Pacific Research InstituteYYY
Pelican Institute Y
Philanthropy Roundtable YY
Platte Institute for Economic Research YY
Property and Environment Research Center (PERC)YYYY
R Street Y
Radio AmericaYYY
Reason Foundation Y
Reclaim New YorkYYYY
Regulatory Studies Center Y
Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity YY
Sarah Scaife Foundation Y
South Carolina Policy Council (SCPC)YYY
Spark FreedomY
State Policy NetworkYYYY
StrataYY
Students for Liberty (SFL)Y
Taliesin NexusYY
Tax Foundation YYY
Texas Public Policy Foundation Y Y
The Academy on Capitalism and Limited Government FoundationYY
The American SpectatorYYY
The Ashbrook Center Y
The Buckeye Institute YYY
The Center for College Affordability & ProductivityY
The Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University YY
The Daily Caller News FoundationYYYY
The Fairness CenterYYYY
The Foundation for Government Accountability YY
The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity Y
The Fund for American Studies YY
The Garden State Initiative Y
The Heartland Institute Y
The James Madison InstituteYYY
The Lynde and Harry Bradley FoundationYYYY
The Snider Foundation YY
Think Freely MediaYYY
Washington Legal Foundation Y
Washington Policy Center YYY
Wisconsin Institute for Law & LibertyYY Y
Wisconsin Policy Research InstituteYY
Young America’s FoundationYYYY
Young Americans for Liberty Foundation Y
Yankee Institute for Public PolicyYY Y
Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge YY

Job Postings

Below is a sample of job postings, including number of postings, by year. Note this is not a complete listing, but based on a snapshot of a single month each year of postings, via the Internet Archive.

View the attached spreadsheet for a full listing of job listings by group on the Talent Market website (xlsx).

Hiring Group20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019Total Postings (1-Month Snapshot)
Acton Institute 1 1
Adolph Coors Foundation 11
Alaska Policy Forum 1 1
Americaโ€™s Future Foundation 1 1
American Conservative Union Foundation 1 1
American Council of Trustees and Alumni 1 1
American Council on Science and Health 1 1
American Legislative Exchange Council 1 1 2
American Majority 1 1
American Media Institute 11 2
American Spectator Foundation 1 1
American Studies Center/Radio America/The American Veterans Center 1 1
Americans for Prosperity Foundation 13 1 5
Atlas Economic Research Foundation12 3
Ayn Rand Institute 1 1 2
Bill of Rights Institute 12 3
Caesar Rodney Institute 1 1
Cato Institute 1 113
Center for College Affordability and Productivity 1 1
Center for Competitive Politics 1 1
Center for Growth & Opportunity 11
Charles Koch Foundation 1 21 4
Charles Koch Institute 1 1
Citizens Against Government Waste 1 1
Civitas Institute 1 1
Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute 1 1
Claremont Institute 1 1
Commonwealth Foundation 1 1 24
Competitive Enterprise Institute 1 1114
Confidential Nonprofit1 1
DonorsTrust 1 11 1 4
Empire Center 11 2
Families Against Mandatory Minimums 1 1
Federalist Society 11
Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) 1 11 3
Foundation for Government Accountability 2 2
Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity 1 1
Franklin Center1 1 1 3
Free to Choose Network 1 1
Freedom Foundation 1 1 3 5
George Mason University Law and Economics Center 1 1
Georgia Public Policy Foundation 11
Goldwater Institute 11112 2 8
Illinois Policy Institute 11 1 3
Independence Institute 21 3
Independent Institute 1 113
Institute for Free Speech 112
Institute for Humane Studies 211 1 5
Institute for Justice 21 3
Intellectual Takeout 1 1
Intercollegiate Studies Institute 1 12
International Center for Law and Economics 11
Jack Miller Center 11
John Locke Foundation 1 1
Kern Family Foundation 2 2
Leadership Institute 11
Leadership Project for America 1 1
Mackinac Center for Public Policy 1 1
Maine Heritage Policy Center 1 1
Manhattan Institute 2 1 1116
Mercatus and IHS1 1
Mercatus Center at George Mason University 121 4
Mercatus/IHS1 1
Montana Policy Institute 1 1
Mountain States Legal Foundation 1 1
National Center for Policy Analysis 1 1
National Review Institute 1 1
National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation 1 1
Network of Enlightened Women 1 1
New Civil Liberties Alliance 2 2
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs 11
Pacific Legal Foundation 11 2
Pacific Research Institute11 2
Pelican Institute for Public Policy 1 1
Philanthropy Roundtable 11
Pioneer Institute 1 1
Prager University Foundation 11
Project Veritas 1 1
Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) 1 1
Reason Foundation 224
Reclaim New York 1 1
Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity 1 1
Show-Me Institute 1 1
South Carolina Policy Council1 1 2
State Policy Network1 12 15
Students For Liberty 1 12
Sutherland Institute 1 1
Tax Foundation 2 2
TechFreedom 11
Texas Charter Schools Association 11
Texas Public Policy Foundation 111 3
The Becket Fund 1 1
The Bill of Rights Institute 11
The Center for Growth and Opportunity 11
The Daily Caller News Foundation 11
The Fairness Center 1 1
The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity 11
The Free State Foundation 11
The Fund for American Studies 22
The Heartland Institute 11
The Independence Institute 11
The Mises Institute 1 1
The Philanthropy Roundtable 1 1
Thomas B. Fordham Institute 1 1
Washington Legal Foundation1 1
Wisconsin Policy Research Institute1 1 2
Wyoming Liberty Group 2 2
Yankee Institute 1 1
Young Americaโ€™s Foundation 1 12
Grand Total109162012171922211334193

Contact & Address

Talent Market’s contact details listed on its website are:22 โ€œContact,โ€ Talent Market. Archived July 2, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/scdQq

Talent Market
c/o DonorsTrust
1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 280
Alexandria, VA 22314

703.835.9933

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