The Heritage Foundation, sometimes referred to simply as Heritage, is an activist American conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1973, it took a leading role in the conservative movement in the 1980s during the presidency of Ronald Reagan, whose policies were taken from Heritage Foundation studies, including its Mandate for Leadership.
The Heritage Foundation's headquarters on Massachusetts Avenue on Capitol Hill
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead speaking at the Heritage Foundation in May 2010
A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental organizations, but some are semi-autonomous agencies within government, and some are associated with particular political parties, businesses or the military. Think tanks are often funded by individual donations, with many also accepting government grants.
Brookings Institution, founded in 1916 in Washington, D.C.
The Heritage Foundation, founded in 1973 in Washington, D.C.
Stanford University's Hoover Institution, founded in 1919 by U.S. President Herbert Hoover