What We Do

The Heartland Institute is a national nonprofit research and education organization founded in 1984 and based suburban Chicago that addresses a wide range of public policy issues. We have deep expertise on budget and tax issues, education policy, environmental protection, energy, health care policy, and the rise of socialism. We produce books, policy studies, and shorter publications and send many of them to every national and state elected official in the United States. We have comprehensive communications and government relations programs, as well.

In December 2024, The Heartland Institute launched Heartland UK/Europe with Director Lois Perry to fight for free markets and against socialist plans like “Net Zero” energy policies across the Atlantic. Visit the Heartland UK/Europe website to follow their work.

Expertise

In addition to a staff of 22, approximately 500 academics and professional economists participate in Heartland’s peer-review process as policy advisors and more than 300 elected officials serve on its Legislative Forum. More than a dozen Heartland staffers are available to write, speak, or comment in-depth on a wide range of policy issues.

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Publications

Heartland 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. Surveys show 82 percent of state legislators read at least one of Heartland’s publications sometimes or always.

Publications

Government Relations

Our government relations staff made 310,805 contacts with elected officials in 2023, including 516 direct personal contacts and 15 face-to-face meetings. These are virtually all educational contacts – we do not lobby. Our government relations staff calls legislators to ask if they need information, are aware of new developments in other states, and if we can send the “best available research” on issues they are coping with.

Government Relations

Media Relations

Through October 2025, Heartland spokespersons appeared in print, online, or on broadcast media more than 11,136 times.

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Digital Influence

In the first three quarters of 2025, Heartland has generated more than 12 million views on our videos on all platforms. Our several Facebook pages also have nearly a half million fans and registered more than 18 million impressions so far in 2025.

Credibility and Influence

Our decades in public policy, solid research and publications, and repeated communications with state legislators have made Heartland a credible, independent, “go-to” source for thousands of elected officials. A telephone survey of 500 randomly selected state and local elected officials recently conducted by Victory Enterprises found 78% of the state elected officials surveyed read one or more Heartland newspapers “sometimes” or “always”; and 45% reported a Heartland publication “influenced my opinion or led to a change in public policy.””

Bipartisan

The Heartland Institute’s influence is not limited to a single political party. The 2018 Victory Enterprises survey showed strong appeal on both sides of the political aisle. Sixty-nine percent of Democratic state legislators recognize The Heartland Institute, 81 percent read one or more Heartland newspapers “sometimes” or “always,” and 36% reported a Heartland publication “influenced or led to a change in public policy.”