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Filing year 2024

THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION

Washington, District of Columbia·EIN 23-7327730·NTEE W050 · Public & Societal Benefit·501(c)(3)
Total revenue
$133.9M
Total assets
$413.8M
Total expenses
$142.2M
Reported officers
29
Mission

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.

Executive compensation, broken down

Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 12 reported individuals · Filing year 2024

Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Public & Societal Benefit organizations nationwide.

President
Above 90th percentilevs Public & Societal Benefit peers in District of Columbia
$780k
$828k
Base
$408k
Bonus
$254k
Other
$20k
Benefits
$32k
Executive Vice President
Above 90th percentile
$649k
$690k
Base
$392k
Bonus
$152k
Other
$1k
Benefits
$43k
Chief Operating Officer
Above 90th percentile
$533k
$566k
Base
$319k
Bonus
$124k
Other
$1k
Benefits
$42k
Chief Advancement Officer
Officer (Unspecified)
$455k
$483k
Base
$292k
Bonus
$75k
Other
$2k
Benefits
$38k
Vp, Domestic Policy
Board Vice President
Above 90th percentile
$423k
$449k
Base
$291k
Bonus
$59k
Other
$1k
Benefits
$39k
Vp, Finance, Accounting & Treasurer
Vice President
75th to 90th percentile
$392k
$416k
Base
$256k
Bonus
$55k
Other
$3k
Benefits
$42k
Vp, Inst. for Constitutional Gov't
Board Vice President
Above 90th percentile
$387k
$411k
Base
$253k
Bonus
$52k
Other
$5k
Benefits
$38k
Distinguished Fellow
Highest Compensated Employee
Above 90th percentilevs Public & Societal Benefit peers in District of Columbia
$375k
$398k
Base
$350k
Bonus
$307
Other
$7k
Benefits
$2k
Ed, the Feulner Institute
Highest Compensated Employee
Above 90th percentilevs Public & Societal Benefit peers in District of Columbia
$360k
$382k
Base
$231k
Bonus
$50k
Other
$8k
Benefits
$38k
General Counsel & Secretary
Secretary (Operational)
Above 90th percentile
$307k
$326k
Base
$219k
Bonus
$42k
Other
$480
Benefits
$3k
Vp, Communications
Board Vice President
Median to 75th percentile
$262k
$278k
Base
$124k
Bonus
$60k
Other
$521
Benefits
$23k
Trustee
Board Member
Median to 75th percentile
$36k
$38k

Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.

Estimated with Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.

Plus 17 unpaid individuals.

Browse compensation in Public & Societal Benefit

Pay in context

Top pay as a share of expenses

In 2024, the highest total compensation at THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION equaled 0.5% of the organization's total expenses. The median for public & societal benefit organizations is 10%.

This organization (2024)
0.5%
Sector median
10%
Middle half of sector
4% to 22%

Based on 2,608 public & societal benefit organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.

Funded by

Private foundations whose Form 990-PF Part XV grants matched this organization.

Up 3%
from 2023

From $758k in 2023 to $780k in 2024.

$758k
2023
$780k
2024
In today's dollarsEst.
Roughly flat in real terms$831k to $828k

Estimated with Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.

Pay for the position

Chief Executive Officer pay rose 3% from 2023 to 2024, while revenue rose 33%.

$758k in 2023 to $780k in 2024.
  • Executive Vice President pay rose 4% from 2023 to 2024.
  • Chief Operating Officer pay rose 4% from 2023 to 2024.

Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2023 and 2024.

Highest reported compensation in each year. Volunteer board members and partial-year payouts are filtered out.

Among peers

Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.

1
THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION2024
$780k
2
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CENTER INC2023
$284k
See full Executive Director compensation rankings across Public & Societal Benefit
FAQ

Common questions about THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION

What does the Chief Executive Officer of THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION earn?

In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION received $779,903 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Public & Societal Benefit organizations in District of Columbia: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.

How does Chief Executive Officer pay at THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION compare with similar nonprofits?

Compared with the same role at Public & Societal Benefit organizations in District of Columbia, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION falls in the top 10%. In 2024, the highest total compensation at THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION equaled 0.5% of the organization's total expenses. The median for public & societal benefit organizations is 10%.

What are THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION's revenue and expenses?

In 2024, THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION reported $133.9M in total revenue and $142.2M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.

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