Institut je u maju 2001. osnovao albanski biznismen Lulzim Masha i on je dobio naziv po bivšem američkom predsjedniku Woodrowu Wilsonu, možda najpoznatijem po tome što je nakon Drugog svjetskog rata osnovao Ligu naroda, prethodnicu savremenih UN.
Established in May 2001 by Albanian businessman Lulzim Masha, the facility is named after former US President Woodrow Wilson, perhaps best known for establishing the post-WWI League of Nations, the precursor of the modern UN.