As America approaches its 250th anniversary, it is worth asking an important question: What kind of country do we hope to leave to the next generation?

Every generation inherits both extraordinary opportunities and profound responsibilities. Ours is no exception. We face mounting government debt… unsustainable government spending… profound threats to economic freedom… declining trust in our institutions… and growing uncertainty about the principles that have long sustained a free and prosperous society.

These challenges are real—but they are precisely why Independent Institute exists.

For forty years, Independent Institute has done more than respond to the issues of the day. We have invested in the ideas, scholars, research, and educational initiatives that help shape the future. We understand that lasting change begins not with political slogans, but with sound ideas, rigorous scholarship, and the courage to challenge conventional wisdom.

That long-term commitment continues to guide us today.

We are also helping Americans rediscover the constitutional principles that have safeguarded liberty for nearly two and a half centuries. Earlier this year, we were proud to publish The Independent Guide to the Constitution: Original Intentions, Modern Inventions by William J. Watkins, Jr. As our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the book has struck a chord with readers seeking a thoughtful, nonpartisan understanding of our founding charter. By carefully distinguishing the Framers’ original design from later interpretations that expanded government power—and laying out how to restore its provisions to their original intent—the book reflects Independent Institute’s commitment to scholarship that informs today’s debates while preserving the constitutional principles on which tomorrow’s freedom depends.

The timing feels especially meaningful.

That is the work Independent Institute has undertaken for four decades. And it is the work we intend to continue well into the future.

As I said before, the challenges before us are real. But so are the opportunities.

The ideas that built America remain as powerful today as they were 250 years ago. With your partnership, Independent Institute will continue bringing the principles of liberty to new generations, informing public debate, supporting outstanding scholars, and helping build a more peaceful, prosperous, and free society.

As we look to the future, I invite you to support Independent Institute with a generous fiscal year-end gift. Your generosity today helps ensure that the research, education, and public engagement needed to preserve liberty will continue for generations to come.

Thank you for believing, as we do, that ideas matter—and that the future is worth investing in.