"The policy world is filled with voices clamoring to be heard, but few organizations are consistently successful at getting the ear of policymakers and shaping the ideas that become part of public debate. This book shows how organizations that care about influencing policy can take a strategic approach to impact and deliver results." —Jane Harman, former Member of Congress "Whether an academic or a legislator, think tank or government staffer, if you care about turning good ideas into good policy, Andrew's book will guide you down the right path." — Barry Jackson, former Chief of Staff, Speaker John Boehner "Selee has produced a highly practical guide to help think tanks improve their strategic planning, performance, and impact." —James G. McGann, Director, Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania Think tanks and research organizations set out to influence policy ideas and decisions— a goal that is essentially their raison d'être. And yet, the ways that they measure their progress toward this goal remain fuzzy and underexplored. What Should Think Tanks Do? is the first practical guide that is specifically tailored to think tanks, as well as policy research and advocacy organizations. Andrew Selee draws on extensive interviews with members of leading think tanks, as well as on cutting-edge thinking in business and nonprofit management, to provide concrete strategies for setting policy-oriented goals and shaping public opinion. Concise and pragmatic, What Should Think Tanks Do? gives leaders in these organizations tools and tangible metrics to drive and evaluate success. ANDREW SELEE is Vice President for Programs at the Wilson Center and former Director of its Mexico Institute. He has been a congressional staffer and served as staff and on the board of several nonprofit organizations. He teaches at Johns Hopkins University and George Washington University.