The Heartland Institute is a national nonprofit research and education organization, tax exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, and founded in Chicago in 1984. It is not affiliated with any political party, business, or foundation.
Heartland's mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. Such solutions include parental choice in education, choice and personal responsibility in health care, market-based approaches to environmental protection, privatization of public services, and deregulation in areas where property rights and markets do a better job than government bureaucracies.
The Heartland Institute produces five monthly publications on budget and tax issues, environment and climate, health care reform, information technology and telecommunications, and school reform. It also publishes policy studies and books, hosts conferences and other events, supports 12 senior fellows, and maintains two Web sites (http://www.heartland.org and www.globalwarmingheartland.org) and a blog (www.fromtheheartland.org). Click here for an overview of these programs.
Heartland has been endorsed by some of the country's leading scholars, public policy experts, and elected officials. Dr. Milton Friedman calls Heartland "a highly effective libertarian institute." Cato Institute president Edward Crane says Heartland "has had a tremendous impact, first in the Midwest, and now nationally."
Activities of The Heartland Institute are overseen by a 15-member Board of Directors, which meets quarterly. The full-time staff of 30 works with editors and Senior Fellows, including Dr. Richard Dolinar (health care), Dr. Jay Lehr (environment), Maureen Martin (legal affairs), John Rutledge (technology and economy), and Brian Wesbury (taxes and economy).
Two committees provide outside advice and expertise: a Board of Policy Advisors and the Board of Legislative Advisors. The former consists of more than 100 academics and professional economists who conduct research and participate in peer review of the institute's publications. The latter consists of more than 500 elected officials who suggest topics and sources of information and sometimes produce model legislation.
Funding for Heartland's programs comes from approximately 1,600 individuals, foundations, and corporations. In 2007, the organization raised and spent approximately $5.2 million. Sixteen percent of the organization's income came from corporations and 84 percent from individuals and foundations. Heartland does not accept government funds and does not conduct "contract" research for special-interest groups.
For more information about Heartland, please visit our FAQs feature.
If you believe in empowering people with ideas based on the principles of individual rights and limited government, please consider becoming a Member or a Donor to The Heartland Institute. Achieving the great American goal of "liberty and justice for all" requires that people like you help defend the institutions of freedom.
Becoming a member of and donor to The Heartland Institute is an effective and affordable way to fulfill your duty as an active citizen. Please join us today.
Sincerely,
