Palmetto Promise Institute

Palmetto Promise Institute
FounderJim DeMint
Established2009
President and CEOEllen Weaver
BudgetRevenue: $551,452
Expenses: $460,257
(FYE December 2016)[1]
Formerly calledPalmetto Fort Foundation, Palmetto Policy Forum
AddressP.O. Box 12676 Columbia SC 29205
Coordinates34°00′00″N 81°02′20″W / 34.0000°N 81.0388°W / 34.0000; -81.0388
Map
WebsiteOfficial website

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]

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 Ellen Weaver.[5]

The organization's board of directors includes Rick Timmons, Jim DeMint, Dan Adams, Mike Brenan, Stu Rodman, Van Hipp Jr., Phil Hughes, Wendy Damron, 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]

References

  1. ^ "Palmetto Promise Institute" (PDF). Foundation Center. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  2. ^ Kropf, Schuyler (January 25, 2015). "U.S. Sen. Tim Scott going to Selma for "Bloody Sunday" 50th anniversary". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  3. ^ Bouknight, Deena (July 2014). "Freedom of Education". Columbia Metropolitan Magazine. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Our History". Palmetto Policy Institute. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  5. ^ Self, Jamie (November 22, 2013). "DeMint-backed policy forum touts U.S. Sen. Tim Scott's story". The State. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Board of Directors". Palmetto Policy Institute. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  7. ^ Lovegrove, Jamie. "SC Supreme Court strikes down McMaster's grants for private school tuition". Post and Courier. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Palmetto Promise Institute". State Policy Network. Retrieved 30 June 2022.