About Heritage

Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

We believe the principles and ideas of the American Founding are worth conserving and renewing. As policy entrepreneurs, we believe the most effective solutions are consistent with those ideas and principles. Our vision is to build an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish.

Heritage’s staff pursues this mission by performing timely, accurate research on key policy issues and effectively marketing these findings to our primary audiences: members of Congress, key congressional staff members, policymakers in the executive branch, the nation’s news media, and the academic and policy communities.

Governed by an independent Board of Trustees, The Heritage Foundation is an independent, tax-exempt institution. Heritage relies on the private financial support of the general public—individuals, foundations, and corporations—for its income, and accepts no government funds and performs no contract work. Heritage is one of the nation’s largest public policy research organizations. Its hundreds of thousands of individual members make it the most broadly supported think tank in America.

Heritage's policy centers include: Asian Studies Center, B. Kenneth Simon Center for Principles and Politics, Center for Data Analysis, Center for Health Policy Studies, Center for International Trade and Economics, Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, Center for Media and Public Policy, Center for Policy Innovation, DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society, Domestic Policy Studies, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, The Kathryn and Shelby Collum Davis Institute for International Studies, The Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, and Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies.

Leadership for America Campaign

While the American people increasingly want better answers and solutions they are getting more slogans and promises. Recognizing this need, in April 2007, The Heritage Foundation undertook a 10-year campaign that is the boldest since our founding in 1973—a campaign for freedom, a new effort to conserve liberty, and a sustained, clear-headed program to rebuild the foundations upon which our future rests. This is our Leadership for America campaign. Read More

First Principles
American Leadership
Education
Energy & Environment
Enterprise & Free Markets
Entitlements, Taxes & Spending
Family & Religion
Health Care
Protect America
Rule of Law

Read More About The Leadership For America Campaign

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Press and Media Resources

Heritage runs a full-service media relations shop, ready to assist reporters, editors and producers 365 days a year. Sign up for the Hot Sheet to get a daily digest of policy experts who can comment on the day’s top news. To arrange an interview, call the Media Information Line at (202) 675-1761.

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Government Staff Resources

Heritage analysts help members of Congress and their staff prepare for congressional hearings by providing valuable insight on foreign or domestic policy issues. Congressional staffers come to Heritage regularly to receive custom-tailored briefings on the latest Heritage research related to their committee assignment or legislative priority.

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Conservative Community Resources

The conservative movement includes a wide array of think tanks, scholars, public-interest law groups, activists, philanthropists, film makers, and many others working to spread the idea that liberty is the best way of governing society. We feature some of the best work being done by conservatives and pro-liberty activists around the world.

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Young Leaders Program

Heritage offers young conservatives from around the country Washington’s best internship program. Through our Student Virtual Think Tank, young conservatives can interact with Heritage policy experts on their campuses. For those visiting Washington, the Young Leaders Program will host a briefing about Heritage and policy issues.

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Financials

The Heritage Foundation Annual Reports

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2009 Annual Report
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2007 Annual Report

Audited Financial Statements

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Annual Form 990

Our annual Form 990 filings are available at Guidestar.org

Jobs at Heritage

Jobs at Heritage and the Job Bank

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Young Leaders Program

Heritage Internships

Join college students from around the country as part of Washington, D.C.'s premier internship program. The Heritage Foundation Internship Program attracts young conservative leaders of the highest caliber.

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Our Work

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Backgrounder posted April 14, 2010 by Curtis S. Dubay Obamacare: Impact on Taxpayers
Backgrounder posted March 1, 2006 by Tim Kane, Ph.D., Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D. The Real Problem with Immigration... and the Real Solution
WebMemo posted April 27, 2010 by John L. Ligon Obamacare: Impact on Businesses
Testimony posted September 21, 2012 by James Phillips Safeguarding Israel’s Security in a Volatile Region
WebMemo posted April 20, 2010 by Kathryn Nix Obamacare: Impact on the Uninsured
Backgrounder posted January 5, 2004 by Robert Rector, Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D. Understanding Poverty in America
Backgrounder posted April 14, 2011 by Derek Scissors, Ph.D. The United States vs. China—Which Economy Is Bigger, Which Is Better
Factsheet on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 THE NEW FLAT TAX: Encourages Growth and Job Creation
Backgrounder posted June 1, 2004 by Arthur Laffer The Laffer Curve: Past, Present, and Future
Lecture posted May 5, 2004 by The Honorable Frank J. Williams Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties in Wartime

Blog Post on Monday, November 19, 2012 Ron Wyden's Revisionist Solyndra History
Blog Post on Monday, November 19, 2012 Driver's License Insecurity: Your Identity (And America) May Be at Risk
Issue Brief posted November 19, 2012 by Derek Scissors, Ph.D. Chinese Economic Espionage Is Hurting the Case for Free Trade
Blog Post on Monday, November 19, 2012 232 Business Leaders Urge Obama, Congress to Reform Entitlements