A sampling of public-policy think tanks

Though far from comprehensive, this rundown on some dozen institutions invites comparison with those already featured in the accompanying series - the American Enterprise Institute, the Brookings Institution, and the Heritage Foundation - as well as with a fourth - the Hoover Institution - which will be featured Tuesday.

CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE, WASHINGTON

Founded: 1910Personnel: 55Budget: $4.7 millionEndowment: $55 millionFunding: 95% endowment income, 5%other foundationsIdeological persuasion: Nonpartisan; to ''educate the public regarding the complexities of foreign policy''Concentration: International relations, foreign policy

CATO INSTITUTE, WASHINGTONFounded: 1977Personnel: 15Budget: $1.4 millionEndowment: NoneFunding: 72% foundations, 12% corporations, 4% individuals , 12% sales and conference fees Ideological persuasion: ''Classical liberal,'' in the sense that it is ''dedicated to the principles of social and economic freedom''Concentration: Broad range from monetary policy and national resources to social security and the defense budget

CENTER FOR NATIONAL POLICY, WASHINGTONFounded: 1981Personnel: 6Budget: $1 millionEndowment: NoneFunding: 67% institutional (foundations, corporations, and labor unions), 33% individualsIdeological persuasion: Independent, nonpartisanConcentration: Foreign policy (US-Soviet relations, strategic policy) and domestic affairs (employment, wage/price policy, housing, inflation)

CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, GEORGETOWNFounded: 1962 Personnel: 160Budget: $7.5 millionEndowment: $7 million (in endowed chairs, no general endowment)Funding: 38% corporate sponsors, 34% grants from foundations, 25% government contracts,2% endowment income, 1% publications salesIdeological persuasion: Independent, non-partisanConcentration: Energy, national resources, international business and economics, maritime studies, military policy, regional studies

HUDSON INSTITUTE - INDIANAPOLISFounding: 1962Personnel: 500 (including recently acquired Center for Naval Analysis, formerly a federal government agency)Budget: $30 millionEndowment: NoneFunding: 90% government contracts, 10 %contracts from foundationsIdeological persuasion: IndependentConcentration: Energy and environmental issues, national security, economics, education

INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES, MENLO PARK, CALIF.Founded: 1961Personnel: 8 Budget: $1.2 millionEndowment: NoneFunding: 36% general contributions, 55% restricted contributions (set aside for specific projects), 9% interest, fees, etc.Ideological persuasion: Nonpartisan libertarianConcentration: Educational research in economics, history, law, politics, ethics

INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS, WASHINGTONFounded: 1981Personnel: 20 Budget: $1.5 million (1985)Endowment: NoneFunding: 50% German Marshall Fund of the US, 50% corporations and foundations Ideological persuasion: NonpartisanConcentration: Economics

INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES, WASHINGTONFounded: 1963Personnel: 40Budget: $1. 2 millionEndowment: NoneFunding: 100% from individuals and small foundationsIdeological persuasion: Progressive, formulating ''alternate strategies''Concentration: National security, foreign policy, human rights, economics, domestic cultural programs, community outreach adult classes

INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY STUDIES, SAN FRANCISCOFounded: 1973Personnel: 15 Budget: $1.2 millionEndowment: NoneFunding: 46% individuals, 27% corporations, 16% sales of books, etc., 5% interest, 6% government grantsIdeological persuasion: NonpartisanConcentration: Government, education, social security, crime, nuclear arms, world economic growth

JOINT CENTER FOR POLICY STUDIES, WASHINGTONFounded: 1970Personnel: 40Budget: corporations, 2% unions and individuals, 2% earnedIdeological persuasion: Nonpartisan, liberalConcentration: Issues of interest to black Americans

MID-AMERICA INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH, OAK BROOK, ILL. Founded: 1984Personnel: 3Budget: $250,000Endowment: NoneFunding: 33% individuals, 33% corporations, 34% foundations

Ideological persuasion: Nonpartisan, conservativeConcentration: Issues, mainly economic, of importance to the Midwest

RESOURCES FOR THE FUTURE, WASHINGTONFounded: 1952Personnel: 110Funding: $5.5 millionEndowment: $24 million (reserve fund)Funding: 34% foundations, 33% federal government, 26% reserve fund income, 7% corporationsIdeological Persuasion: NonpartisanConcentration: Natural resources, economics

ROBERT MAYNARD HUTCHINS CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, WASHINGTON

Founded: 1959Personnel: 13Budget: $1 millionEndowment: NoneFunding: 95% private membership contributions and individual gifts, 5% foundationsIdeological persuasion: NonpartisanConcentration: Representative government, individual liberty, equal oportunity, separation of powers, free enterprise, religious/political pluralism, peace

THE ROOSEVELT CENTER FOR AMERICAN POLICY STUDIES, WASHINGTONFounded: 1982 Personnel: 32Budget: $2.7 millionEndowment: NoneFunding: 74% individuals, 19% interest, fees, etc., 7% foundations and corporations

Ideological persuasion: Non-partisan, liberalConcentration: Education, foreign policy, federal budget - with emphasis on defining alternatives for public debate

URBAN INSTITUTE, WASHINGTONFounded: 1968Personnel: 150Budget: $9.9 millionEndowment: NoneFunding: 60% private, 40% publicIdeological persuasion: NonpartisanConcentration: Social and economic problems, health, housing, community, pensions

Research: April Austin, Monitor staff