Palmetto Promise Institute
Conservative think tank
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Palmetto Promise Institute (PPI) is a conservative think tank in South Carolina.[2] The organization was formerly named the Palmetto Fort Foundation and the Palmetto Policy Forum.[3]
| |
| Founder | Jim DeMint |
|---|---|
| Established | 2009 |
| Mission | Palmetto Promise Institute promotes policy solutions to support a free and flourishing South Carolina, where every individual has the opportunity to reach their full, God-given potential. |
| President and CEO | Wendy Damron |
| Budget | $530,000 (2023)[1] |
| Formerly called | Palmetto Fort Foundation, Palmetto Policy Forum |
| Address | P.O. Box 12676 Columbia SC 29205 |
| Coordinates | 34.0000°N 81.0388°W |
 Interactive map of Palmetto Promise Institute | |
| Website | Official website |
Overview
The organization was founded as the Palmetto Fort Foundation in 2009 in honor of the Battle of Fort Moultrie.[4] It was relaunched by Jim DeMint in 2013 with $300,000 of his leftover campaign money. Its president and chief executive officer is Wendy Damron.[5]
The organization's board of directors includes Rick Timmons, Louie L. Cason Jr., Jeff Yelton, Dan Adams, Jim DeMint, Van Hipp Jr., Phil Hughes, Stu Rodman, and Barry Wynn.[6]
The think tank was named as a co-defendant, along with Governor Henry McMaster and others, in the South Carolina Supreme Court case Adams v McMaster. The lawsuit stemmed from McMaster's plan to spend $32 million in federal coronavirus aid to help families pay for K-12 private school tuition. In the case, the court ruled that McMaster's SAFE Grants, which were promoted publicly by the Palmetto Promise Institute, were a violation of the state constitution's prohibition against state funds being used to fund private schools.[7]
Palmetto Promise Institute is part of the conservative and libertarian State Policy Network.[8]
