The year was 1937, the heart of the Great Depression. Concerned about the effect such expansion might have on private sector growth, a small group of business executives gathered in New York City to discuss how they could monitor fiscal activities at all levels of government and convey the information to the general public. They decided to launch an organization which, through research and analysis, could inform and educate Americans using objective, reliable data on government finance. Its distribution of information has helped provide policy makers with the lay of the land in the ongoing debate over tax and budget policies, as well as with a greater understanding of the policies proposed. In its six decades, the Tax Foundation has earned a reputation for its independence in gathering data and publishing information on the public sector in an objective, unbiased fashion.
Numerous groups conduct research on tax and budget policy.
In this way, the Tax Foundation serves as a national clearinghouse, providing Americans with a better understanding of their tax system and the effects of tax policy. As a nonpartisan educational organization, the Tax Founation does not represent any particular economic sector's point of view. Through the years the organization has earned a reputation for independence, and credibility. Yet the Foundation is not void of perspective. From its founding day the organization has committed itself to principles which guide its research and public information programs and which should be the touchstones for all tax policy.