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.