In 1999, three regional groups joined forces to reveal the influence of special-interest contributors on state elections."The National Institute on Money in State Politics is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to accurate, comprehensive and unbiased documentation and research on campaign finance at the state level."

Located in Helena, Montana, the Institute collects reports submitted to agencies in every state by all candidates for statewide office, the legislature, and state Supreme Court; major political party committees; non-bond ballot measure committees, and lobbyists.

The task was and is immense. The Institute researched the reporting requirements in all 50 states—each with its own deadlines and laws—and created a uniform, seamless database that reveals the economic interests behind the contributions. The complexity and sheer volume of the work required skilled reasoning and dogged perseverance.

The Institute’s massive database is intended to inform public debate on state policy issues. Our perceptive researchers help people make sense of the numbers. "The Institute publishes studies and provides technical assistance and training to reporters, academic researchers and public interest groups that work on state policy issues." The result today is substantive profiles on candidates and issues, insightful reports and reliable data for all 50 states.

We believe that knowledgeable voters are the strongest foundation of democracy. Our data is freely presented to the nation.