Stanley Center for Peace and Security
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The Stanley Foundation is now the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.
After more than half a century, we have changed our name. But we have stayed true to our vision, and we continue to collaborate for policy progress on the most profound threats to human survival and well-being.
Founding Story
The Stanley Center for Peace and Security was founded in 1956 by C. Maxwell “Max” and Elizabeth M. “Betty” Stanley. Max was a professional engineer and businessman. Betty was a devoted philanthropist and avid supporter of the arts, education, and the environment. They both had a deep interest in world peace and security.
The Stanley family intentionally based the center in Muscatine, Iowa—home to Max Stanley’s two global companies, which still exist today. Our location provides a valuable vantage point from which to conduct global operations while also ensuring we continue the Stanley family’s commitment to local programming that helps our fellow Iowans grow as involved, educated global citizens.
In the decades since our founding, the Stanley Center’s issue portfolio has grown, and our strategy for creating lasting change has sharpened. Through it all, generations of the Stanley family have continued to play an active role in the center’s governance, shaping our focus and ensuring key family values are reflected in our mission and culture.