Draft:Sanders Institute

The Sanders Institute is a think tank which supports causes affiliated with Senator Bernie Sanders. It was founded by Jane Sanders, the wife of Bernie Sanders, and her son David Driscoll.{{Cite web|url=https://vtdigger.org/2018/07/29/sanders-institute-little-show-first-year-500k/|title=Sanders Institute has little to show for first year and $500K|first=Jasper|last=Craven|date=July 29, 2018|website=VTDigger}}

The institute was launched in 2017. It occupied an office in Burlington, Vermont with three staff members and volunteer fellows.{{Cite web|url=https://vtdigger.org/2017/06/09/sanders-launches-think-tank/|title=Sanders launches think tank|first=Jasper|last=Craven|date=June 10, 2017|website=VTDigger}} It was initially funded with $25,000 of personal money from Bernie and Jane Sanders to help cover the approximate $125,000 cost in starting the non-profit. Our Revolution, an organization which was spun off from the 2016 Sanders campaign, contributed the rest of the seed money, which was to be repaid later on.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/06/07/sanders-institute-jane-sanders-launches-new-progressive-think-tank/102594476/|title='The Sanders Institute': Jane Sanders launches new progressive think tank|first=Nicole|last=Gaudiano|website=USA TODAY}}

In November 2018, the institute hosted "The Gathering," a convention of progressive politicians and activists. Attendees included Cornel West, Danny Glover, and Carmen Yulín Cruz.{{Cite web|url=https://vtdigger.org/2018/11/30/sanders-institute-kicks-off-gathering-progressive-leaders/|title=Sanders Institute kicks off gathering of progressive leaders|first=Xander|last=Landen|date=November 30, 2018|website=VTDigger}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/us/politics/bernie-sanders-wife-jane.html|title=Bernie Sanders Steps Out With His Favored Political Partner: His Wife (Published 2018)|date=November 30, 2018}}

In March 2019, the institute announced that it was going to suspend operations by the end of May 2019 to avoid any issues with Sanders 2020 presidential campaign.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/9e4794da89ab448399f3ff1457464d1b|title=Institute founded by Sanders' wife, son is shutting down|date=March 15, 2019|website=AP News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/14/us/politics/bernie-sanders-public-policy-group.html|title=Sanders Institute Suspends Operations as Senator Runs for President (Published 2019)|date=March 14, 2019}}

In April 2021, the institute was relaunched with a $350,000 donation by the 2020 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vermontpublic.org/vpr-news/2021-07-08/bernie-sanders-campaign-makes-350-000-donation-to-relaunch-sanders-institute|title=Bernie Sanders' Campaign Makes $350,000 Donation To Relaunch Sanders Institute|date=July 8, 2021|website=Vermont Public}}