Simone Lawson
The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank that has been described as a major influence on the Republican Party and the Trump administration. The Foundation has been involved in various political campaigns, including those related to voting laws, LGBTQ+ rights, and abortion access. While the Foundation itself cannot donate money directly to political campaigns, it has received funding from various organizations and individuals, including businessman Joseph Coors, who contributed $250,000 to establish the Foundation in 1973, and the Koch Family Foundations, Altria, and the Bradley Foundation. The Heritage Foundation has also been accused of spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories, such as claiming that the 2024 election was illegitimate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of founding | 16 February 1973 |
| Founders | Paul Weyrich, Edwin Feulner, Joseph Coors |
| Type of organisation | Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organisation |
| Political alignment | Conservative, Republican, right-wing, far-right |
| Funding sources | Donations from individuals, corporations, charitable foundations, and conservative organisations |
| Notable funders | Joseph Coors, Richard Mellon Scaife, Koch Family Foundations, Altria, Bradley Foundation, Korea Foundation, Korean Central Intelligence Agency |
| Notable donations | $100,000 to the American Accountability Foundation (AAF) |
| Notable initiatives | Project 2025, Heritage Action |
| Political influence | Significant, especially during the Trump administration |
| Stated mission | "To formulate and promote public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense" |
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What You'll Learn
The Heritage Foundation's political activism wing, Heritage Action
The Heritage Foundation wields significant influence in US public policymaking and has been ranked among the most influential public policy organizations in the country. In 2010, it established a sister organization, Heritage Action, to act as its political activism wing. Heritage Action is an influential force in conservative and Republican politics, working to advance the policies of The Heritage Foundation and turn them into reality.
Heritage Action is supported by tens of thousands of conservatives across America, who help the organization maintain its independence. It accepts no government funds and is not affiliated with any political party. The organization employs a two-pronged "inside-outside" strategy, deploying a government relations team in Washington, D.C., to directly influence lawmakers while also building a network of activists across the country.
Heritage Action's regional field staff works with leading grassroots activists to build support for conservative policies and hold members of Congress accountable to their constituents. The organization also coordinates a grassroots network of conservative citizens to apply pressure on lawmakers to adopt conservative policies. This network, known as the Heritage Action Sentinel program, consists of activists committed to holding Congress accountable and ensuring a strong future for America.
Heritage Action has been involved in various controversial issues, such as opposing the $40 billion military aid package for Ukraine following the Russian invasion in 2022, and supporting Republican efforts to make state voting laws more restrictive after the 2020 presidential election. Additionally, Heritage Action is a key player in Project 2025, a far-right policy document that includes proposals to restrict abortion access, oppose LGBTQ+ rights, and impose strict immigration policies.
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The Heritage Foundation's funding sources
The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank founded in 1973 by Paul Weyrich, Edwin Feulner, and Joseph Coors. It aims to "advance the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense."
The Heritage Foundation has been ranked among the world's most influential think tanks, impacting public policy, media, and political discourse. It has a political activism arm, Heritage Action, which was founded in 2010 and has been influential in conservative and Republican politics.
The Heritage Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and BBB Wise Giving Alliance-accredited charity. It is funded by donations from private individuals, corporations, and charitable foundations but is not required to disclose its donors or donations under current laws.
In its early years, the Heritage Foundation received significant financial support from Joseph Coors, who contributed $250,000 in seed money and continued to provide an annual grant of $300,000 for several years. The foundation's trustees have historically included individuals affiliated with major corporations, such as Chase Manhattan Bank, Dow Chemical, General Motors, Mobil, Pfizer, and Sears.
Over the years, the Heritage Foundation has received funding from various sources, including the Adolph Coors Foundation and the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) of South Korea, which reportedly donated $2.2 million in the 1980s. In 2009, the foundation's panel "Busting the Myth of Green Jobs" was found to have received funding from ExxonMobil. Additionally, in 2017, an analysis revealed that the Heritage Foundation had accepted approximately $80 million through Donors Capital Fund and Donors Trust, groups associated with climate change denial.
In terms of political campaigns, Heritage Action, the foundation's political activism arm, has been involved in various initiatives. Following the 2020 presidential election, Heritage Action supported Republican efforts to restrict voting laws, planning to spend $24 million over two years in eight key states. In 2022, Heritage Action opposed the $40 billion military aid package for Ukraine, and in 2024, the Heritage Foundation donated $100,000 to the American Accountability Foundation (AAF) to publish personal information about career civil servants.
While organizations themselves cannot contribute directly to candidates or party committees, they can spend money on political activities and lobbying. The Heritage Foundation has not reported any outside spending in the 2024 election cycle as of February 6, 2025, according to the FEC. However, it is important to note that "dark money" groups can spend millions on elections without disclosing their funding sources.
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The Heritage Foundation's influence on US public policy
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank established in 1973, has been instrumental in shaping Republican policy and advancing a right-wing agenda. It was founded by Joseph Coors, along with Paul Weyrich and Edwin Feulner, who were irritated by President Nixon's centrist leanings and the expansion of the federal government. With Coors' funding, the foundation aimed to deliver policy proposals for conservative legislators to influence debate and push for favourable legislation.
The Heritage Foundation has had a significant influence on US public policy, especially during the presidency of Ronald Reagan, whose policies were reportedly influenced by the foundation's 'Mandate for Leadership' policy study. The foundation has consistently influenced Republican administrations, most notably during the Trump presidency, where it had a powerful say in the administration's staffing. The Heritage Foundation has also been described as a major influence on the presidential transition of Donald Trump and was reportedly able to place over 60 policy experts in his administration.
The Heritage Foundation's latest initiative, Project 2025, is a controversial plan to radically transform the federal government if former President Donald Trump is re-elected. The project includes appointing ideologically aligned civil servants, restricting abortion access, opposing LGBTQ+ rights, transforming federal agencies for political purposes, and imposing strict immigration policies.
The Heritage Foundation has also been active in other areas of public policy. For example, following the 2020 presidential election, the foundation launched a campaign in support of Republican efforts to make state voting laws more restrictive. The foundation's political activism arm, Heritage Action, planned to spend $24 million over two years across eight key states to support these efforts. The foundation has also been involved in foreign policy, initially supporting military aid to Ukraine following the Russian invasion, before reversing its position and opposing further aid.
While the Heritage Foundation has had a significant influence on US public policy, it is not without its critics. The foundation has been described as "extreme," and its initiatives, such as Project 2025, have been characterised as an assault on the rights of marginalised people. The foundation has also been accused of spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories, such as claiming that the 2024 election was illegitimate and that Biden could attempt to remain in office by force. Additionally, the foundation has received funding from various conservative organisations and has been rated as "right-biased" by media bias-rating organisations.
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The Heritage Foundation's stance on LGBTQ+ rights
The Heritage Foundation is a self-described "conservative think tank" with a mission to "formulate and promote public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense." It was founded in 1973 by Paul Weyrich, Edwin Feulner, and Joseph Coors, who contributed $250,000 to its establishment.
While the Heritage Foundation's stated values include freedom and limited government, these values do not seem to extend to LGBTQ+ Americans. The organization has a history of opposing LGBTQ+ rights and has supported groups such as Moms For Liberty, which seek to ban books and target guidelines that protect students' freedom of expression and access to bathrooms that align with their gender identity. The Heritage Foundation has also coordinated copycat state legislation targeting gender-affirming care for transgender youth and has made false claims about the impact of marriage equality and the Equality Act on children.
The Heritage Foundation's political activism organization, Heritage Action, was established in 2010 and has been influential in conservative and Republican politics. Heritage Action has supported Republican efforts to restrict voting and has spent millions of dollars across key states to achieve this.
Project 2025, also known as the 2025 Presidential Transition Project, is a plan led by the Heritage Foundation that includes restricting abortion access, opposing LGBTQ+ rights, and imposing strict immigration policies. The project has been described as a chilling vision of anti-democratic Christian nationalism and a blueprint for future political cycles, regardless of the outcome of the 2024 election.
While the Heritage Foundation itself cannot contribute directly to political campaigns or candidates, it has a history of influencing public policy and political discourse. The organization has received funding from various sources, including private individuals, corporations, charitable foundations, and even foreign intelligence agencies.
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The Heritage Foundation's conspiracy theories
The Heritage Foundation is an American conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1973 by Paul Weyrich, Edwin Feulner, and Joseph Coors, who contributed $250,000 to establish the organization. The Heritage Foundation has been ranked among the world's most influential think tanks, impacting public policies, media, and political discourse.
While the Heritage Foundation itself cannot contribute to candidates or party committees, it has been involved in various conspiracy theories and controversial actions. Here are some instances of the Heritage Foundation's involvement in conspiracy theories:
- Support for restrictive voting laws and opposition to uniform nationwide voting standards: Following the 2020 presidential election, the Heritage Foundation supported Republican efforts to make state voting laws more restrictive. In March 2021, The New York Times reported that the Heritage Foundation planned to spend $24 million over two years to support these efforts. The Foundation also opposed H.R. 1/S.1, a Democratic bill proposing uniform nationwide voting standards, including expanded early and postal voting.
- Promotion of anti-critical race theory instruction: In 2021, the Heritage Foundation prioritized pushing Republican-controlled states to ban or restrict critical race theory instruction in schools. They aimed to include anti-critical race theory provisions in must-pass legislation, such as the annual defense spending bill.
- Climate change denial: The Heritage Foundation is one of several organizations funded by ExxonMobil, an oil and petroleum company, that denies the scientifically proven consensus on climate change.
- Opposition to foreign aid and support for isolationism: The Heritage Foundation has opposed foreign aid packages, such as the $40 billion military aid package for Ukraine following the Russian invasion. This position aligns with its history of supporting isolationist policies and opposing foreign interventions.
- Project 2025 or the 2025 Presidential Transition Project: The Heritage Foundation leads Project 2025, a controversial plan that includes appointing ideologically aligned civil servants, restricting abortion access, opposing LGBTQ+ rights, transforming federal agencies for political purposes, and imposing strict immigration policies. Critics have labeled it an authoritarian, Christian nationalist blueprint that threatens to steer the U.S. toward autocracy.
- Promotion of misinformation and conspiracy theories about elections: The Heritage Foundation has promoted misinformation and conspiracy theories about election integrity. In 2024, it posted misinformation about the US election, claiming that non-citizens would rig the election and that Biden could refuse to leave office after losing.
- Project Esther and Antisemitism: The Heritage Foundation's Project Esther, aimed at combating antisemitism, has been criticized for reinforcing conspiracy theories about Jews having too much power and influence. The project targets Wikipedia editors accused of fueling anti-Jewish hostility and focuses on left-wing offenders while ignoring right-wing promoters of anti-Jewish conspiracy theories.
- Influence in the Trump Administration: The Heritage Foundation has had significant influence in the Trump administration, with former Heritage employees appointed to senior positions. The Trump administration's policies and reorganization plans reflect Heritage-based proposals, indicating the Foundation's impact on decision-making.
These instances demonstrate the Heritage Foundation's involvement in conspiracy theories and controversial political actions, shaping public policies and influencing political discourse in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
The Heritage Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and is not required to disclose its donors and donations. While it cannot contribute to candidates and party committees, it can spend money on political campaigns through its political activism wing, Heritage Action.
Heritage Action is the Heritage Foundation's political activism organization. It was founded in 2010 and has been described as an influential activist force in conservative and Republican politics.
In March 2021, The New York Times reported that Heritage Action planned to spend $24 million over two years across eight key states to support efforts to restrict voting.
Yes, in July 2024, the Heritage Foundation promoted a conspiracy theory that Biden could attempt to remain in office following the 2024 election by force.
The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank that has been described as far-right. It has been instrumental in shaping Republican policy and advancing a right-wing agenda. The foundation has a long history of opposing LGBTQ+ rights and has been criticized for its controversial initiatives, such as Project 2025.
