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Heartland Institute
| Heartland Institute | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Arlington Heights, Illinois |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | James Taylor, President |
| Founder(s): | David H. Padden |
| Year founded: | 1984 |
| Website: | Official website |
The Heartland Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Arlington Heights, Illinois that, according to its website, "focus[es] on issues in education, environmental protection, health care, budgets and taxes, and Stopping Socialism."[1] The institute was founded in 1984.[1] As of September 2025, the institute's website states that its work inlcudes producing "books, policy studies, and shorter publications and send many of them to every national and state elected official in the United States."[2]
Background
The Heartland Institute was founded in 1984 by David H. Padden.[3] Before founding the institute, Padden was the director of the Cato Institute, which, as of September 2025, described itself as "an assiduously nonpartisan and independent public policy research organization—or think tank—that creates a presence for and promotes libertarian ideas in policy debates."[4]
According to the Heartland Institute's website, its mission is "to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems."[1]
Leadership
As of September 2025, the Heartland Institute's Board of Directors included the following individuals:[5]
- Joseph A. Morris, Chair
- Steven Milloy, Board Member
- Paul Fisher, Board Member
- Jeré C. Fabick, Board Member
- Robert J. Buford, Board Member
- William S. Armistead, Board Member
- Joe Armendariz, Board Member
Work and activities
Policy work
As of September 2025, according to its website, the Heartland Institute "has published more than two dozen books ranging in length from fewer than 100 pages to more than 1,000 pages, some with circulation of more than 100,000 copies. Heartland has published more than 140 peer-reviewed policy studies and scores of policy briefs, Research & Commentary collections, and booklets."[2]
Tea Party movement
In 2009, the Heartland Institute was one of the organizers of the Taxpayer March on Washington, which History.com described as "one of the earliest and biggest Tea Party movement events".[6][7] According to History.com participants in the march protested against "President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform proposals, federal spending, taxes and support for women's reproductive rights, among other issues."[7]
In 2011, the Heartland Institute's Vice President and Director of Communications Jim Lakely said that since the start of the Tea Party movement in 2009, the institute had "distributed more than 75,000 copies of 'The Patriot's Tool Box,' a 10-chapter book that lays out conservative arguments for policy reforms across a variety of issues....The support of the Tea Party groups across the country has been extremely valuable."[8]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the Heartland Institute's revenues and expenses from 2011 to 2024. The information comes from ProPublica
| Year | Revenue | Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3.35 million | $3.7 million |
| 2023 | $4.08 million | $4.06 million |
| 2022 | $3.85 million | $4.31 million |
| 2021 | $4.11 million | $4.16 million |
| 2020 | $3.78 million | $3.59 million |
| 2019 | $4.56 million | $5.53 million |
| 2018 | $5.85 million | $5 million |
| 2017 | $5.99 million | $5.47 million |
| 2016 | $5.48 million | $5.52 million |
| 2015 | $4.4 million | $5.77 million |
| 2014 | $6.74 million | $4.39 million |
| 2013 | $4.78 million | $4.42 million |
| 2012 | $5.33 million | $5.44 million |
| 2011 | $4.57 million | $5.2 million |
See also
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Heartland Institute official website
- Heartland Institute on Facebook
- Heartland Institute on X
- Heartland Institute on YouTube
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Heartland Institute, "About Us," accessed September 5, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Heartland Institute, "What We Do," accessed September 5, 2025
- ↑ The Heartland Institute, "David H. Padden," accessed September 5, 2025
- ↑ The Cato Institute, "About," accessed September 5, 2025
- ↑ The Heartland Institute, "Who We Are - Board of Directors," accessed September 5, 2025
- ↑ The Washington Times, "Tea Party Express roars to D.C.," September 8, 2009
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 History.com, "Tea Party protest draws thousands to Washington, D.C.," February 18, 2025
- ↑ Medill Reports Chicago, "Heartland Institute continues to influence prominent legislators, citizens," December 7, 2011
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