From its first year of operation, the Show-Me Institute has been a formal member of the State Policy

Network (SPN), a national web of like-minded 'think tanks' that promote disinformation and ALEC agendas in state Capitols. While the Show-Me Institute claims to be focused on issues important to the people of Missouri, it actually pushes an agenda dictated by its national right-wing funders and partners, such as Rex Sinquefield, SPN, and ALEC.

The Show-Me Institute was co-founded in 2005 by Rex Sinquefield, a billionaire GOP donor who has bankrolled numerous campaigns and ballot initiatives to advance his extreme political agenda, and wealthy conservative Crosby Kemper III. Today, Sinquefield serves as President of SMI. Despite spending hundreds of thousands on political candidates, Sinquefield has been mostly unsuccessful in persuading legislators to make his radical tax and education ideas law. In 2012, Sinquefield faced widespread criticism after he expressed a belief that the public school system was intentionally designed by Ku Klux Klan members to hurt black children. SMI has received significant funding from the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, which has given $4,300,000 to SMI between 2005 and 2011, according to the foundation's public tax filings. This does not include money Sinquefield may have personally given SMI.

The Show-Me Institute is closely connected to the controversial American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), where corporate lobbyists and lawmakers come together behind closed doors to vote on "model legislation" that ends up benefiting the corporations' bottom line. SMI has coauthored numerous reports with ALEC, used ALEC research, attended ALEC conferences, and hosted an ALEC event in St. Louis. In addition, SPN is also a longtime member and supporter of ALEC.

Attack workers' rights by pushing "paycheck deception" and "right to work" measures Defund and privative Missouri's public schools through voucher programs and charter schools Block access to affordable healthcare for Missouri families Oppose raising the minimum wage Cut retirees' benefits and destroy public pensions Lower taxes on corporations Attack teachers' rights

Rex Sinquefield is just one part of SMIs right-wing funding structure, as the institute has also received significant funding from other right-wing, out-of-state foundations. SMI is not required to disclose its donors, and does not publish them voluntarily. Most notably, SMI received $567,941 from the Koch-funded Donors Capital Fund between 2005 and 2011. The original funders of Donors Capital Fund are kept anonymous, adding another layer of secrecy. SMI's other known right-wing funders include the California-based Jaquelin Hume Foundation ($125,000), the Virginia-based State Policy Network ($87,951), the South Carolina-based Roe Foundation ($60,000), and the Coors family's Colorado-based Castle Rock Foundation ($20,000).

Show-Me Institute, accessed 11/3/2013

SMIs push for a fair tax, which would essentially raise taxes on the middle class while lowering taxes on the wealthy, is one example of how the institute pushes an agenda that benefits its funders, like Sinquefield and the Kochs. SMI has also advocated against raising Missouris minimum wage and supports measures such as paycheck deception and right to work in order to undermine workers collective bargaining rights, both which could benefit its corporate and wealthy backers.