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The Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation reported $133.9 million in revenue and $142.2 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $82.52 went to program services, $3.27 to management and general costs and $14.21 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 79.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $950,545 (PRESIDENT). 157 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 9% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $142MFor context, the median across 185 covered public & societal benefit charities: $88.81 programs, $11.18 management, $0.01 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $134MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.3% | 10.7% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 14.2% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.19 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 79.2% | 83.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $950,545 | $357,133 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.67% | 1.52% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 157 | 12 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 28.1 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 16 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEducational programs and communications:the Heritage Foundation (the foundation) hosts events and sponsors programs to educate policymakers, government officials, the academic community, journalists, and the general public on topics ranging from the constitution and civil society to political philosophy and legal jurisprudence.in 2024, a strategy forum was held that convened 200 movement leaders and experts in policy research, strategy, and communication to exchange actionable insights, develop strategic plans, and strengthen collaboration on key priorities shaping the conservative…
Public policy research:the foundation produces research papers annually, including issue briefs, blog posts, fact sheets, backgrounders, guides, and books addressing a broad range of economic, domestic, foreign, national security, and legal policy issues. The foundation published 33 issue briefs, 66 backgrounders, 20 legal memoranda, 20 factsheets and 27 special reports. The foundation also regularly publishes content across social media platforms as the public has shifted its content and consumption to those channels. The social media footprint grew to 3.3 million total followers, including…
Media, government relations, and outreach:the foundation distributes its research products to members of congress, congressional staff, policymakers in the executive branch of the federal government, state officials, journalists, members of the academic community, other non-profit organizations, the general public, and donors. The foundation conducts hundreds of briefings for domestic and international officials, policymakers, experts, and lawmakers and their staff on issues ranging from federal spending and unfunded liabilities to homeland security, tax, and health policy. In 2024, the…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 32.00 hrs/week | $682,571 | $170,642 | $97,332 | $950,545 |
| EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $545,991 | $0 | $103,490 | $649,481 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $444,117 | $0 | $88,644 | $532,761 |
| CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $368,437 | $0 | $86,078 | $454,515 |
| VP, DOMESTIC POLICY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $351,528 | $0 | $71,392 | $422,920 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL & SECRETARY Officer, 28.00 hrs/week | $262,036 | $112,301 | $44,500 | $418,837 |
| VP, FINANCE, ACCOUNTING & TREASURER Officer, 39.00 hrs/week | $313,985 | $0 | $78,088 | $392,073 |
| VP, INST. FOR CONSTITUTIONAL GOV'T Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $310,173 | $0 | $77,082 | $387,255 |
157 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Heritage Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $5.7M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b16 · 15 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5557
- Volunteers Part I, line 615
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| DPR CONSTRUCTION Construction | $8,916,586 |
| ASSOCIATED PROTECTIVE SERVICES Protection & security | $1,513,065 |
| MDS COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION Consultants on fundraising | $1,511,048 |
| ORACLE AMERICA INC It services | $1,438,606 |
| MOORE RESPONSE MANAGEMENT GROUP Mailing contact mgmt | $1,302,266 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 98 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
287 private foundations reported grants to The Heritage Foundation totaling $12M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Heritage Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Heritage Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Heritage Foundation spent in 2024, $82.52 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Center for Internet SecurityEast Greenbush, NY · revenue $126M · programs 63.1% · 2025
- Opportunity Finance NetworkWashington, DC · revenue $140M · programs 67.6% · 2025
- Association of the Graduates of the United States Military AcademyWest Point, NY · revenue $125M · programs 91.9% · 2024
- United Service OrganizationsArlington, VA · revenue $168M · programs 67.9% · 2024
- Institute of Nuclear Power OperationsAtlanta, GA · revenue $121M · programs 73.4% · 2025
All public & societal benefit charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of The Heritage Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, The Heritage Foundation reported that 82.5% of its $142.2 million in expenses went to program services, 3.3% to management and general and 14.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Heritage Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Heritage Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $950,545, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Heritage Foundation get its money?
Of $133.9 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 79.2% came from contributions and grants and 0.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Heritage Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7327730 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523199349302027 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443129349303214 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202311789349301501 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202231649349300228 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202141819349300124 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202012119349300611 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7327730: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.