WASHINGTON—The Heritage Foundation today announced one of the largest gifts in the think tank’s 50-year history: a $25 million commitment from the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation (DDSF). Heritage will receive $5 million per year from 2023-2027.
“We are incredibly grateful for the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation’s commitment to The Heritage Foundation and its support for our mission to take back America,” said Heritage President Kevin Roberts.
“This commitment is a significant vote of confidence in the great work Heritage staff is doing day in and day out to restore self-governance to the American people and counter the Left’s attempts to capture our nation’s institutions,” Roberts added. “The continued support of the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation has been indispensable to our work, and we are excited to call them friends and allies in the fight for our nation’s future.”
The $25 million, five-year commitment will be directed toward Heritage’s long-term policy goals, including countering the threat of communist China, holding Big Tech accountable, and others that support Heritage's mission to formulate and promote public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
“As The Heritage Foundation turns 50, they are leading a movement to forward our founding principles in the nation’s capital and across the country,” said Diana Davis Spencer. “Their cutting-edge research and critical coalition-building skills are pushing back against those who weaken America and undermine Civil Society. We are proud to help Heritage reach new heights over the next five years, ensuring that America remains the exceptional Land of the Free.”
Background:
Shelby Cullom Davis and Kathryn Wasserman Davis, prominent American investors and philanthropists, became Heritage donors in 1979. Shelby served on the Board of Trustees from 1979-1992, including many years as chairman. Kathryn then served as an honorary trustee from 1994-2013.
The Davis family legacy continues through their daughter Diana Davis Spencer, who has devoted her life to cementing America’s founding principles in our country’s institutions as an activist, journalist, and philanthropic leader.
DDSF is now led by Abby Spencer Moffat, who currently serves as a Heritage trustee. Abby is an impressive nonprofit leader, scaling DDSF into a globally recognized institution with a focus on public policy, entrepreneurship, education, and national security.
With hundreds of thousands of donors, The Heritage Foundation is the nation’s most broadly supported public policy research institute. Founded in 1973, it develops and promotes policy solutions that advance free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional values and a strong national defense.
