Atlas Network’s Templeton Freedom Award Expands to $1.23 Million Prize Program, Elevating the World’s Top Competition for Pro-Liberty Think Tanks

Atlas Network is pleased to announce a bold expansion of the Templeton Freedom Award prize program, the world’s top competition for pro-liberty civil society organizations. Named for the late investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton, the program honors his legacy by recognizing Atlas Network’s partner organizations for making innovative contributions to economic freedom and human progress and inspiring them to aim higher and achieve greater impact. Templeton Religion Trust has increased its investment in the program to $1.23 million over three years, doubling down on its awards to local think tanks and “do tanks” across six regions. A longtime supporter of Atlas Network’s efforts, Templeton Religion Trust will invest $410,000 annually to showcase the top freedom champions around the world—in North America and beyond.

Bigger Prizes, Bigger Ambitions

The Templeton Freedom Award prize program has traditionally awarded $270,000 in grants to high-achieving civil society organizations that make innovative contributions to economic freedom and human progress. Its grand prize of $100,000, the Templeton Freedom Award, has long been presented annually at Atlas Network’s Liberty Forum and Freedom Dinner in New York City, while the program also sponsors four- and five-figure Liberty Awards in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Middle East and North Africa.

Because of Templeton Religion Trust’s increased investment, this year’s Templeton Freedom Award will total $150,000, with all finalists receiving at least $30,000. Next year, four of the regional Liberty Awards will increase to a new total of $20,000 each—with each winner receiving $15,000 and each finalist receiving $2,500—and the North America Liberty Award will total $30,000. The prize program encourages organizations large and small to broaden their ambitions and achieve pivotal policy victories for liberty, with newer organizations competing alongside more established entities like the Cato Institute or Pacific Legal Foundation to showcase their impact on the ground.

A Moonshot for Freedom

Last year, the Lebanese Institute for Market Studies (LIMS) took home the Templeton Freedom Award. After the Lebanese government heavily subsidized essential commodities such as food, medicine, and fuel, leading to unsustainable fiscal deficits and widespread shortages, LIMS successfully advocated for the removal of price controls that were causing shortages in gas, electricity, and medicine. After five years of advocacy, major subsidy programs were lifted on more than 300 food items, wheat, fuel, infant formula, and medications. LIMS also prevented another Central Bank bailout in 2023, helping reduce government spending by over $6 billion.

This year’s Templeton Freedom Award recipient will follow in the historic footsteps of LIMS and other freedom champions. Like prestigious prizes in science or technology, the Templeton Freedom Award catalyzes breakthroughs for free enterprise by rewarding results—public policy changes that measurably improve the lives of everyday citizens. Every year, pro-liberty organizations compete not only on ideas, but real, lasting change in their local communities.

“Templeton Religion Trust has a long tradition of advancing freedom and liberty, and we are proud to strengthen our relationship even further in the years ahead, “said Brad Lips, CEO of Atlas Network. “In honor of the late Sir John Templeton, the Templeton Freedom Award prize program generously supports leading civil society organizations in every corner of the world, promoting free enterprise and individual liberty in local communities and the halls of power. Sir John knew that spreading freedom in one nation could improve the experiences of freedom champions in other countries, and we are seeing it firsthand—from North America to the rest of the world. Atlas Network looks forward to building on one of the most successful partnerships in philanthropy today.”