Most think tanks describe themselves as independent institutions and usually deny any influence on their work from funding sources or other interests. Although some think tanks adhere to the concept of independent research, in several cases, albeit very often not visible at first sight, the influence of corporate money on the kind of issues picked up as well as the results presented can be noted. Corporate money so funds ideologically charged policy research with the aim to influence public policy making.
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Founded in 1918 as a war library by Herbert Hoover, the Institution today is a center of scholarship and public policy research, committed to generating ideas that define a "free society". The defining principles of individual, economic and political freedom, private enterprise, and representative government were fundamental to Hoover's vision. Hoover described the mission as contributing to the pursuits of securing and safeguarding peace, improving the human condition, and limiting government intrusion into the lives of individuals.
The Reason Foundation was created as "a think tank for liberty." Its initial mission was to publish a national magazine on current issues (Reason magazine) and to conduct conferences and seminars on classical-liberal ideas. Over time, its mission has broadened to include public policy research, via the Reason Public Policy Institute division. The Foundation is now a national research and educational organization that explores and promotes the twin values of rationality and freedom as the basic underpinnings of a good society. The Foundation supports the rule of law, private property, and limited government, and promotes voluntarism and individual responsibility in social and economic interactions, relying on choice and competition to achieve the best outcomes.