The most meaningful measure of success is the large number of our proposals that have gained popular support and been made into policy. And there are other important indicators of success: the number of newspaper mentions within our state per year (more than a thousand annually); the coverage we generate from the state's broadcast media; the number of requests for speaking engagements (more than 100 every year); the volume and quality of our publications; and the frequency with which legislators, the Governor, and their staffs seek our advice.
At the Mackinac Center, we are proud of the fact that the current Governor has cited our work, implemented many of our recommendations, and appointed several associates and scholars to high positions within state government.
Corporate funding of public policy research (or similar, so–called "advocacy" groups) is not massive, but neither is it new. What comes as a surprise to many people is the fact that a sizable chunk of those dollars has gone (and still goes) not to the "free market" groups but to those of a very different bent.
In a recent book, Patterns of Corporate Philanthropy, economist James T. Bennett documents what he regards as the sad state of corporate America's support for the very system that forms the foundation of their existence, free enterprise. Bennett says that year after year, the overwhelming share of corporate donations for public affairs research groups went to those of a left–of–center, anti–free enterprise persuasion (61.3 percent, by his calculations).