For the third year in a row, The Heritage Foundation is ranked as the No. 1 think tank in the world for “Significant Impact on Public Policy,” according to the latest edition of the University of Pennsylvania’s annual report on think tanks.
Heritage also ranked first again in the “Best Use of the Internet” category, the think tank’s second consecutive year at the top of that category.
Overall, Heritage improved its ranking in 13 categories, moving up three spots in the “Best Managed Think Tanks” category and two spots for “Best Quality Assurance and Integrity Policies and Procedures.” Heritage’s ranking did not decrease in any category this year.
Heritage Foundation President Kay C. James welcomed the results as proof that a well-managed think tank could achieve significant results. James said:
"The Heritage Foundation is honored to be ranked for the third year in a row as the No. 1 think tank in the world for our impact on public policy.
"I am deeply proud of our staff for helping us achieve this top ranking from the prestigious Global Go To Think Tank Index Report. From our analysts to our communications staff to everyone on the Heritage team who supports their efforts, we strive to lead the way in finding solutions to the issues America faces, and we work every day with our leaders and the American people to turn them into realities.
"Heritage is also honored to be ranked as the top think tank in the world for our use of the internet for the second year in a row. This ranking is a testament to our team’s tireless work to ensure our research is accessible to the public – not just in the multiple ways and formats we disseminate it, such as in-depth analyses, reporting through our news site, and shareable internet videos; but also in the plain language we use to communicate our solutions.
"I am grateful to Dr. Jim McGann and the Global Go To Think Tank Index for helping think tanks better assess their strengths and weaknesses and work to find ways to improve our performance. It’s competition like this that helps us all perform better and, I hope, produce even better outcomes for America and for the world.
The “2019 Global Go To Think Tank Index” maintains the largest, most comprehensive database of more than 8,248 think tanks globally and ranks them in multiple categories. According to the report, 3,900 journalists, policymakers, public and private donors, and functional- and regional-area specialists participate in the process.
“Our goal is to increase the profile and performance of think tanks and raise the public awareness of the important role think tanks play in governments and civil societies around the globe,” writes James McGann, a senior lecturer at the Lauder Institute of the Wharton School and the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. McGann is also director of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at Penn.
McGann added, “Given the rigor and scope of the nomination and selection processes, the rankings produced thus far have been described as the insider’s guide to the global marketplace of ideas.”
With three consecutive appearances as the No. 1 think tank for “Significant Impact on Public Policy,” Heritage will now be prominently listed in next year’s index as a “Center of Excellence.”
In addition to its top rankings for impact and internet use, Heritage ranked second in the categories “Think Tank to Watch in 2020” and “Best Advocacy Campaign.” Heritage also appeared in the first-time category, “Best Artificial Intelligence (AI) Think Tanks,” which are listed alphabetically and will be ranked next year.
Read the full report and list of rankings from the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the University of Pennsylvania.
