To educate the public and support activities that highlight the relationship between structural limits on government power and the protection of our dignity and our freedoms.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
96¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.4M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $445K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
96%
of spending
Looks good: 96% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.4M
to officers and key staff · 0.8% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Concern: 0.2 months of spending in cash; under 2 weeks.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
8
named funders · $156.6M
Looks good: 8 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$0
0% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
1
of 3 voting members
Worth a look: 1 of 3 voting members are independent, under half.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$168.5M
+18% vs prior year
Spent
$169.7M
To programs
96%
Net assets
$2.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$168.5M
FY2024▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$65.8M
FY2021$117.3M
FY2022$134.8M
FY2023$143.1M
FY2024$168.5M
Expenses
$169.7M
FY2024▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$59.8M
FY2021$113.6M
FY2022$138.8M
FY2023$145.4M
FY2024$169.7M
Net assets
$2.8M
FY2024▼ -29%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$6.6M
FY2021$10.3M
FY2022$6.2M
FY2023$3.9M
FY2024$2.8M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

990 PDF Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Exemption reinstated (2010-05-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 2011.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

96 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 96% · $163.1M Management & general 4% · $6.6M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

8 people listed on the 990; $1.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$308,333Pt VII · Sec A
$264,600Pt VII · Sec A
Counsel
$222,853Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Secretary
$215,952Pt VII · Sec A
$212,360Pt VII · Sec A
$173,270Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Chairman
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Ormal Skinner’s $308K as Counsel is at the 46th percentile of top reported officer pay among 13 $100M+ crime & legal nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Ormal Skinner$308,333$300,000$278,250——
Jason Snead$264,600$245,000$195,000——
Carrie Severino$215,952$246,320$179,242$220,000$170,734
Chad Ennis$222,853$155,641———
Ann Corkery$212,360$197,600$132,650——
Jacqueline Doyer$173,270$114,740———
Trent England——$163,218——

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See The 85 Fund executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Educates the public on how government limits protect dignity and freedoms.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $163.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Organization made grants and undertook activities to educate the public about the importance of constitutionalism, limited government, religious liberty, the role of the courts, education policies, and election reforms.

$163.1Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 8 funders →
Grants paid · 188 grants · $437.8M · 2020–2024
Donors Trust INCVA · FY2024$67,900,000
Club for Growth Foundation INCDC · FY2024$1,500,000
Hawthorn Foundation INCMA · FY2024$1,100,000
Paragon Health InstituteVA · FY2024$1,000,000
Triton Research InstituteME · FY2024$500,000
The Tikvah FundNY · FY2024$450,000
Becket FundDC · FY2024$400,000
Center for Individual RightsDC · FY2024$350,000
Smart Approaches to Marijuana INCVA · FY2024$300,000
Library of CongressFY2024$250,000
Independent Women's ForumVA · FY2024$250,000
Central Fund of IsraelNY · FY2024$250,000
See all 188 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$168.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$168.5M
Money outPt IX
$169.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$163.1M
Managementcol C$6.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$2.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.8M
Total assetsLn 16$2.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a3
IndependentVI 1b1
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$168.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Total revenueLn 12$168.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.8M
Total assetsLn 16$2.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$2.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 57
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.9M$2.8M
Total assetsLn 16$3.9M$2.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$0
Net assetsLn 32$3.9M$2.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$118.2M$118.2M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$216K$173K$43K$0
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.3M$1.1M$160K$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$90K$78K$12K$0
Legal feesLn 11b$9.5M$9.4M$191K$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$72K$72K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$36.8M$30.9M$5.9M$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$440K$440K
Office expensesLn 13$120K$72K$48K$0
OccupancyLn 16$44K$26K$17K$0
TravelLn 17$647K$582K$65K$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$2.2M$2.2M$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$41K$41K
All other expensesLn 24e$7K$7K$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$169.7M$163.1M$6.6M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $168.5M$169.7M−$1.1M$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $143.1M$145.4M−$2.3M$3.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $134.8M$138.8M−$4.1M$6.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $117.3M$113.6M$3.7M$10.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 $65.8M$59.8M$6.0M$6.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $168,530,018 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $143,050,000$168,530,018
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $143,050,000$168,530,018
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $101,397,631$118,174,781
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,518,698$1,569,243
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $750,000$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $41,717,254$49,910,399
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $145,383,583$169,654,423
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$2,333,583−$1,124,405
Part VI · Governance 1 of 3 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body3
VI-1b Independent voting members1
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $168,530,018 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$168,530,018
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$168,530,018
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$168,530,018
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $169,654,423 across 17 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $118,174,781$118,174,781
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $172,762 · Management $43,190 · Fundraising $0$215,952
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,103,176 · Management $159,840 · Fundraising $0$1,263,016
IX-9 Other employee benefits$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $77,882 · Management $12,393 · Fundraising $0$90,275
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $9,355,055 · Management $190,919 · Fundraising $0$9,545,974
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $72,000$72,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $30,877,130 · Management $5,927,445 · Fundraising $0$36,804,575
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $439,908$439,908
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $71,805 · Management $47,872 · Fundraising $0$119,677
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $26,203 · Management $17,468 · Fundraising $0$43,671
IX-17 TravelPrograms $581,867 · Management $64,652 · Fundraising $0$646,519
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $2,189,914 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$2,189,914
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $41,212$41,212
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $6,949 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$6,949
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $163,077,432 · Management $6,576,991 · Fundraising $0$169,654,423
Part X · Balance sheet $2,754,902 assets, 7 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,879,307$2,754,902
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,879,307$2,754,902
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,879,307$2,754,902
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,879,307$2,754,902
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,879,307$2,754,902
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,754,902 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$168,530,018
XI-2 Total expenses$169,654,423
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,124,405
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,879,307
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,754,902

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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