Edwin J. Feulner, Founder of the Heritage Foundation, Dies at 84

Edwin J. Feulner, the founder of the Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank, has passed away at the age of 83. Feulner established the Heritage Foundation in 1973, transforming it into one of the most influential conservative policy research organizations in the United States. Throughout his leadership, Feulner played a critical role in shaping conservative ideas and policies, impacting both domestic and international political landscapes. The Heritage Foundation publicly mourned the loss of its longtime founder, emphasizing his pivotal contributions to political thought and public policy. His legacy includes advancing free market principles, limited government, and strong national defense policies. Feulner's death marks the end of an era for the Foundation and the broader conservative movement that he helped solidify. The foundation's leadership and members have expressed deep condolences and highlighted his visionary guidance throughout nearly five decades. Further details on the time and place of his death were not provided, but the emphasis remains on his lasting influence and commitment to shaping American conservatism. The event underscores the importance of his foundational work and the Heritage Foundation's ongoing role in U.S. policy debates.

Edwin J. Feulner, the founder of the Heritage Foundation—a leading conservative think tank in the United States—passed away at the age of 84 on June 18 (local time). Born in 1941 in Chicago to parents who owned a real estate business, Feulner earned his undergraduate degree from Regis College, an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a doctoral degree from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. After working as a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and as an aide to former Republican Congressman Melvin Laird, Feulner established the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., in 1973 with an initial donation of $250,000 from beer magnate Coors.

Under his leadership, the Heritage Foundation expanded from a modest policy research institute to a powerful institution shaping American conservative policy. Feulner served as the foundation’s chairman from 1977 for 37 years, playing a significant role in embedding conservative values into U.S. policy. The foundation was instrumental in ushering the golden age of American conservatism during the 1980s under President Ronald Reagan’s administration. It advocated for free-market economics, limited government, individual freedom, and strong national defense—policies often associated with Reaganomics. In recognition of his contributions, President Reagan awarded Feulner the Presidential Citizens Medal in 1989.

Feulner was also a policy advisor during Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and participated in the Trump administration’s presidential transition team. The Heritage Foundation later announced Project 2025, aimed at outlining the conservative policy agenda for a potential Trump return to power in 2023.

Additionally, Feulner maintained a notable connection with Korea. He was recognized as a pro-Korean advocate in the United States and visited South Korea over 200 times, fostering close relationships with Korean political and business leaders.

Feulner's legacy, as described by The New York Times, reflects his central role as a foundational figure—termed the "Parthenon"—of the conservative movement in America, shaping policy and political discourse for nearly half a century.