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John Locke Foundation

U.S. right (conservative-libertarian)

Owned byIndependent 501(c)(3) nonprofit; co-founded by businessman Art Pope and journalist John Hood in 1990; no single corporate owner
FundingPrivate donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations; primary funder is the John William Pope Foundation (Art Pope's family foundation), which has historically contributed roughly 25–30% of total grants; does not accept government funds
On the administrationmixed

Background

The John Locke Foundation was founded in 1990 in Raleigh, North Carolina, by Art Pope and journalist John Hood, with the stated mission of promoting free markets, limited constitutional government, and individual liberty in North Carolina. It was named after the 17th-century English philosopher John Locke, a foundational figure in classical liberal thought. From its founding, the John William Pope Foundation — the family philanthropy of co-founder Art Pope — has been its dominant financial backer, contributing millions annually and accounting for a substantial share of JLF's total budget. In December 2020, JLF merged with the Civitas Institute, a sister conservative advocacy organization founded in 2005 with a similar North Carolina policy focus, with the combined entity retaining the John Locke Foundation name and expanding its reach. Outside analysts and media outlets consistently characterize JLF as a conservative or libertarian think tank; JLF itself prefers the label 'classical liberal' and disputes the partisan framing. Its policy work has supported tax cuts, school choice, deregulation, and skepticism of environmental regulations, positions broadly aligned with the national Republican platform. During the Trump second term (beginning January 2025), JLF has published commentary that questions the conservative credentials of Trump's tariff agenda, raises rule-of-law concerns about executive power, and critiques departures from limited-government orthodoxy — reflecting a free-market conservative perspective that is supportive of some Trump goals but willing to criticize others.

Sources

  1. John Locke Foundation - Wikipedia
  2. John Locke Foundation - SourceWatch
  3. John Locke Foundation - InfluenceWatch
  4. John Locke Foundation | NCpedia
  5. About - John Locke Foundation
  6. Trump's Actions Shouldn't Trump Rule of Law - John Locke Foundation
  7. Trump not throwing out administrative state - John Locke Foundation
  8. John Locke Foundation on tariffs (X post)
  9. The John Locke Foundation - John William Pope Foundation
  10. Art Pope - Wikipedia

Profile compiled 2026-07-09; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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