Overview
Founded in 2011 by former Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr., the non-partisan Paulson Institute is based in Chicago with offices in Washington and Beijing. The Institute’s diverse, multicultural staff brings deep experience to its work from the highest levels of business, government, conservation, policy, and research. Originally established with an emphasis on the US-China relationship, the Paulson Institute’s work in more recent years has expanded its aperture to reflect the changing global order and its vast implications. It is a privately funded organization not connected to any government.
Mission and focus areas
The Paulson Institute is dedicated to fostering global relationships that advance economic prosperity, promote sustainable growth, and maintain global order in a rapidly evolving world. It operates at the intersection of economics, financial markets, and environmental protection by promoting market-based solutions to ensure green economic growth. Its work focuses on key verticals: a Green Finance Center and a Conservation Program. Key areas of focus include financing the energy transition, safeguarding globally important biodiversity, climate change, and decoding global political and economic challenges.
Structure and governance
The Institute is a non-partisan, independent, privately funded “think and do tank” not supported by or connected to any government. Its strength lies in its people, who are a diverse team of experts working across key verticals. The staff is multicultural, multilingual, and multigenerational, hailing from the public, private, and non-profit sectors. The organization is spread across different geographies, including its headquarters in Chicago and offices in Washington and Beijing.
Programs and offerings
The Institute’s programming encompasses public efforts, such as live in-person events and virtual conferences, and private roundtables that bring together experts from business, government, academia, and markets. Specific offerings include the Green Finance Center, which promotes market-driven solutions for the transition to a low-carbon economy, and the Conservation Program, which delivers impact through on-the-ground demonstration, capacity building, and policy advocacy. It produces original analysis, intellectual products, and podcasts such as “Nature’s Ledger” and “Straight Talk.” The Institute also coordinates high-impact research and carries out proof-of-concept projects to demonstrate best practices in green investment.
The Paulson Institute is a non-partisan, independent “think and do tank” dedicated to fostering global relationships that advance economic prosperity, promote sustainable growth, and maintain global order in a rapidly evolving world.
