There is a hunger in America for conservative principles and policies, as the explosive growth in Heritage Foundation membership demonstrates. Today, we have more than 661,000 active members.

Over the past year and a half, traditional American values have been put through the ringer. The liberals in Washington are working quickly and persistently to diminish principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom and a strong national defense – all conservative principles. But their progressive ways have met an obstacle: the American public.  And it’s more conservative than they thought.

With many politicians of both parties straying from the principles that have made America great, record numbers of Americans are turning to The Heritage Foundation for leadership.

In 2007, Heritage launched its ten-year Leadership for America campaign to get the nation back on track. At the time, Heritage counted 275,000 Americans as paid members.

Within a year, Heritage membership grew to just over 300,000, making us by far the most broadly-supported public policy organization in the country.

Today, our membership has doubled: we count more than 661,000 active members on our membership rolls. In 2010, we’re adding an average of 15,000 unique new members to our rolls each month.

Why is this significant? Well, for one, it flies in the face of the liberal mantra that conservative ideas are archaic and unpopular. More importantly, it reflects the nation’s center-right leanings and allows Heritage to lead the way to future conservative victories.

The accelerated growth of Heritage membership demonstrates that our message of building an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity and civil society flourish is resonating with Americans more than ever before. And it further underscores why this message should resonate with lawmakers.

Consider:

  • Three-quarters of Congressional districts are home to more than 1,000 Heritage members each;
  • 210 Congressmen represent districts that include more than 1,500 Heritage members;
  • Traditionally blue states like California, Pennsylvania and New York boast some of our highest membership counts: 76,000, 30,000 and 27,000 respectively.

Our new sister organization, Heritage Action for America, will leverage this membership to help enact principled, conservative change. Through targeted grassroots and national activist campaigns, Heritage Action for America will apply pressure on lawmakers and make them feel the heat for the rising tide of conservatism in America.

The Heritage Foundation’s membership growth is only the beginning. Studies show that millions of households nationwide identify with conservative principles. And as the left continues to push through its harmful agenda, this number will continue to climb. And Heritage’s membership will climb with it, because we offer real leadership to get America back on track. From where we’re standing now, the future of Heritage and the conservative movement at large shows unlimited potential moving forward.

Join The Heritage Foundation today with your gift of $25 or more to help build the conservative movement.

Co-authored by Eva Brates, a member of the Young Leaders Program at the Heritage Foundation, contributed to this post. For more information on interning at Heritage, please visit: http://www.heritage.org/about/departments/ylp.cfm