The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit research organization providing objective analysis and effective solutions that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors around the world.

For more than 50 years, the RAND Corporation has pursued its nonprofit mission by conducting research on important and complicated problems. Initially, RAND (the name of which was derived from a contraction of the term research and development) focused on issues of national security. Eventually, RAND expanded its intellectual reserves to offer insight into other areas, such as business, education health, law, and science. RAND's innovative approach to problem solving has become the benchmark for all other «think tanks» that followed. (See History and Mission ).

RAND's tradition of problem-solving continues to this day. RAND conducts research and provides analysis to address challenges that face the United States and the world. Today, RAND emphasizes several areas of research that reflect the changing nature of a global society. Much of this research is carried out on behalf of public and private sponsors and clients . RAND also conducts its own RAND-initiated research on issues that otherwise might not receive funding. All RAND work — every publication, database, or major briefing — is held to rigorous and sometimes painstaking review processes. Such exacting standards are the foundation of RAND's impeccable reputation throughout the world. See Standards for High Quality Research and Analysis .

RAND improves policy and decision-making through research and analysis. At times, sponsors or clients may ask RAND to deliver research without suggesting a specific course of action. At other times, RAND may provide a range of solutions with an analysis of advantages and disadvantages. On certain occasions, RAND may formulate or even support clear-cut policy recommendations. What remains constant is RAND's commitment to public service by communicating its findings to a wide audience. This is accomplished in many ways. They include announcements to media, testimony by experts at RAND (often to the U.S. Congress), and publications, many of which are available free on this Web site. See Newsroom , Congressional Resources , and Publications .

RAND in the 21st century continues to address difficult challenges throughout the globe. In many ways, RAND's future reflects its past: anticipating emerging issues; establishing new angles of inquiry; and mapping the territory for responses by government, business, and society. Commitment to these high standards will continue to define RAND's work in the years to come.

About The Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation is a unique institution—a public policy research organization, or «think tank.»   We draw solutions to contemporary problems from the ideas, principles and traditions that make America great.

We are not afraid to begin our sentences with the words «We believe,» because we do believe: in individual liberty, free enterprise, limited government, a strong national defense, and traditional American values.

We want an America that is safe and secure; where choices (in education, health care and retirement) abound; where taxes are fair, flat, and comprehensible; where everybody has the opportunity to go as far as their talents will take them; where government concentrates on its core functions, recognizes its limits and shows favor to none. And the policies we propose would accomplish these things.

Our expert staff—with years of experience in business, government and on Capitol Hill—don’t just produce research. We generate solutions consistent with our beliefs and market them to the Congress, the Executive Branch, the news media and others. These solutions build on our country’s economic, political and social heritage to produce a safer, stronger, freer, more prosperous America. And a safer, more prosperous, freer world.

As conservatives, we believe the values and ideas that motivated our Founding Fathers are worth conserving. And as policy entrepreneurs, we believe the most effective solutions are consistent with those ideas and values.

We believe that ideas have consequences, but that those ideas must be promoted aggressively. So, we constantly try innovative ways to market our ideas. We are proud of our broad base of support among the American people and we accept no government funds.