About Heritage Foundation
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.
Focus Areas
National securityEconomy and free marketsEducation and school choiceFamily and marriageHealth careImmigration and border securityElection integrityTechnology / Big TechEnergy and environmentAmerican heritage and citizenship
Who They Fund
political organizations / party committees (e.g., Republican National Convention)policy educators and public policy programs
About Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation uses prize programs, policy education grants, and operating support to advance conservative public-policy work across a broad set of issues. One visible thread is its use of awards to seed research and leadership: the Freedom and Opportunity Academic Prizes give faculty at U.S. colleges, universities, and seminaries $15,000 to $20,000 for original work on priorities such as the American Family, Dignity of Work, and National Security. The foundation also backs policy organizations directly, including Heritage Action for America, which received multiple grants for public policy education in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Another recurring channel is support for civic and institutional projects, such as grants tied to the Republican National Convention and a presidential inaugural committee. Its mission statement centers on conservative public policies grounded in free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense, and that framing matches the mix of grantees in the recent record.
What Heritage Foundation Funds
Education and training are a clear part of the portfolio. The Lloyd and Bea Smith High School Fellowship supports high school students in civic education, civics, conservative public policy education, and youth leadership, with applications open by May 31. For early-career talent, the internships and fellowships program places students and professionals at The Heritage Foundation for policy work, research, and communications training. Research incentives appear through the Freedom and Opportunity Academic Prizes, which award faculty at U.S. colleges, universities, and seminaries for original projects on Heritage priority issues. The foundation also uses innovation prizes to support outside institutions working on policy and civic themes; examples include grants to Forge Leadership Network and the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.
How Heritage Foundation Gives
Typical awards are in the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $41,000, median of $75,000, and p75 of $100,000. The recent record shows both larger operating grants and repeated award-style funding over multiple years, including the same recipients appearing again across 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation is a public charity, not a funder of individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Its active programs do accept unsolicited applications for fellowships and academic prizes.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$8.7M
Total Assets
$413.8M
Total Revenue
$133.9M
Total Expenses
$142.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $41K and $100K, with a median of $75K.
25th Percentile
$41K
Median
$75K
75th Percentile
$100K
Geographic Reach
National19 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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