Organization · Community
Heartland Forward
Heartland Forward is a nonprofit think tank based in Bentonville, Arkansas, focused on accelerating economic growth and enhancing performance across 20 central U.S. states.
Overview
What Heartland Forward does
What Heartland Forward is
Heartland Forward is a nonprofit think tank based in Bentonville, Arkansas, focused on accelerating economic growth and enhancing performance across 20 central U.S. states.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Community
- Founded
- Founded in 2019
- Approximate age
- About 7 years
- Structured capabilities
- Community
- Last reviewed
- March 31, 2026
Official channels
Find Heartland Forward elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Heartland Forward as a community
Community overview
Heartland Forward is a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank focused on accelerating economic growth in the heartland of the United States. The organization aims to generate $500 million in economic impact by 2030 through applied research, community-driven programs, policy initiatives, and convenings. Heartland Forward was established to change the narrative about the middle of the country and to support local communities in enhancing their economic resilience.
Community focus
Heartland Forward invests in three primary impact areas: Regional Competitiveness, Talent Pipeline, and Health & Wellness. They provide communities with tools and strategic support to harness AI, expand access to high-speed internet, and strengthen economic resilience. They also offer data, tools, and opportunities for communities to build talent through entrepreneurship, education, workforce development, and human capital, while acting as a resource to improve health outcomes.
Member value
Members benefit from access to research, community-driven programs, policy initiatives, and networking opportunities that enhance economic resilience and growth in their communities.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Corporate Innovators · Students
- Benefits
- network-access and mentorship
- Program types
- community and other
- Selection criteria
- open
- Regions
- United States
Community activity
- Annual events
- 1
Events and activity
Heartland Forward hosts the Heartland Summit, an annual event that gathers approximately 350 leaders from various sectors to discuss economic development and community growth in the heartland.
Notable members
Key team members include Angie Cooper (President), Brian Kelsey (Vice President of Programs and Strategy), and Katie Altland (Senior Administrative Assistant).
Common questions
What to know about Heartland Forward
Upseed classifies Heartland Forward under the Community organization type. Its current public profile includes community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 31, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.