The Panetta Institute for Public Policy is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit educational organization and think tank founded in 1997 by former U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta and his wife Sylvia Panetta. Reflecting the founders' lifelong commitment to public service, the Institute's core mission is to attract, motivate, and prepare individuals for lives of public service and to foster more knowledgeable engagement in the democratic process. It is based at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), a campus Leon Panetta was instrumental in establishing during his congressional tenure. The Institute operates several key programs, most notably a prestigious Congressional Internship Program that provides students from the California State University system with intensive training and placement in Washington, D.C., covering all associated costs to ensure accessibility. It also conducts an annual nationwide survey of college students to inform its curriculum and public policy discussions. The organization functions as a study center focused on the policy challenges of the 21st century and relies on philanthropic support from individuals, foundations, and corporations.