John Tillman (policy)

John Michael Tillman
Born
EducationB.B.A. (1983)
Alma materWayne State University
OccupationPublic policy
OrganizationHall of Giants
Websitehttps://hallofgiants.org/

John Tillman is an American political strategist and the founder and CEO of the Hall of Giants, a museum and cultural institution focused on entrepreneurship.[1] He has held leadership and board roles with public policy think tanks, including the Illinois Policy Institute.[2]

Career

Tillman held roles with Americans for Limited Government and the Sam Adams Alliance.

In 2011, Tillman won the Roe Award from the State Policy Network, which recognizes figures in the state-level free-market policy movement.[3]

In 2014, he joined the board of the National Taxpayers Union.[4]

Tillman runs the American Culture Project, which was founded in 2019. According to The Washington Post, fundraising materials and internal communications described the organization as seeking to improve Republican electoral prospects in the 2022 elections.[5] He and Warlander Asset Management sued Illinois officials in 2019, alleging the state had issued debt in violation of the Illinois Constitution. In 2020, an Illinois appellate court reinstated the litigation, the lawsuit to proceed.[6]

Tillman also runs the Franklin News Foundation. According to The Washington Post, the foundation received a grant during the COVID-19 pandemic for coverage and commentary highlighting opposition to COVID-19 public health restrictions.[7]

In 2026, he founded Hall of Giants, a proposed museum and cultural institution focused on entrepreneurship. Entrepreneur reported that the project planned a temporary pavilion on the National Mall and a later traveling exhibition.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Bova, Dan (26 May 2026). "The First Hall of Fame for Founders Is Coming — Take a Look Inside the Hall of Giants". Entrepreneur Magazine.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ "From Illinois politics to entrepreneur museum: A founder's $400 million bet". www.chicagobusiness.com. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
  3. ↑ "The 2011 Roe Award Winner: John Tillman". State Policy Network. October 12, 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  4. ↑ Kellogg, Douglas (December 2, 2014). "John Tillman Joins National Taxpayers Union Board". National Taxpayers Union. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Stanley-Becker, Isaac. "Inside a stealth 'persuasion machine' promising Republican victories in 2022". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  6. ↑ Scurria, Andrew (August 6, 2020). "Challenge to $14 Billion in Illinois Debt Revived". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  7. ↑ Stanley-Becker, Isaac. "Inside a stealth 'persuasion machine' promising Republican victories in 2022". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  8. ↑ Bova, Dan (26 May 2026). "The First Hall of Fame for Founders Is Coming — Take a Look Inside the Hall of Giants". Entrepreneur.