Alliance Defending Freedom
78% goes to programs $12 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Alliance Defending Freedom is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Scottsdale, Arizona, registered in 1993, with $119,839,751 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 78% of spending to programs.
15100 N 90th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260 EIN 54-1660459 Since 1993
Revenue (FY2024)
$119.8M
▲ 8.2% vs prior year
Civil Rights median: $332K
Expenses (FY2024)
$108.6M
Net assets
$99.8M
Employees
482
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
B+Program efficiency40% of the rating78% to programs · $12 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Alliance Defending Freedom: 78% to programs · $12 to raise $100 earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating11 mo reserves · +9% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Alliance Defending Freedom: 11 mo reserves · +9% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Alliance Defending Freedom: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Alliance Defending Freedom: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Alliance defending freedom exists to keep the door open for the (continued on schedule o)gospel by advancing every person's god-given right to live and speak the truth. we contend for the truth in law, policy, and the public square, and equip the alliance to do the same.
What they do
Allied support and training: adf seeks to cultivate allies across multiple professions who contend for truth in law, policy, and the public square. adf provides training, education, events, amicus curiae opportunities, and other supportive initiatives so that adf's mission can be multiplied through a committed community.
Education: as a legal advocacy organization, adf seeks to educate the public about the importance of protecting the fundamental freedoms within its mission. this is accomplished through a variety of channels, including public speaking; digital, electronic, and print resources; social media; events; and a comprehensive website. key examples include a parental rights toolkit to help parents know their rights and a quarterly magazine entitled faith & justice. these and other educational initiatives increase awareness about key cultural and legal issues of the day, while serving to identify potential adf allies.
Contact & location
- Address
- 15100 N 90th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260
- City
- Scottsdale
- State
- Arizona
- Subcategory
- Civil Liberties
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $43.6M (FY2013) to $119.8M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $12.4MNet assets $99.8M
Operating margin
9.4%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$112.2M
Total liabilities
$12.4M
Net assets
$99.8M
Salaries & benefits
$55.2M
51% of expenses
Board members
9
8 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $119,839,751▲8.2% | $108,568,981▲2.0% | $99,800,606▲10.7% | $112,233,785▲9.2% | 990 |
| 2023 | $110,713,980▲8.7% | $106,394,230▲9.6% | $90,162,896▲9.3% | $102,769,051▲5.3% | 990 |
| 2022 | $101,821,939▼2.6% | $97,103,483▲19.4% | $82,500,829▲10.0% | $97,603,306▲14.7% | 990 |
| 2021 | $104,490,113▲32.5% | $81,311,475▲21.1% | $74,998,324▲30.7% | $85,085,772▲8.4% | 990 |
| 2020 | $78,833,050▲20.9% | $67,142,893▲13.2% | $57,388,377▲34.0% | $78,471,731▲61.1% | 990 |
| 2019 | $65,187,555▲7.0% | $59,299,188▲3.6% | $42,813,699▲14.7% | $48,720,562▲8.2% | 990 |
| 2018 | $60,949,233▲10.4% | $57,262,014▲4.7% | $37,329,602▲27.0% | $45,011,387▲28.3% | 990 |
| 2017 | $55,187,996▲7.8% | $54,685,295▲8.7% | $29,401,436▼0.7% | $35,095,981▲0.7% | 990 |
| 2016 | $51,173,952▼0.7% | $50,304,647▼12.7% | $29,596,108▲5.1% | $34,851,845▲6.3% | 990 |
| 2015 | $51,537,691▲6.7% | $57,646,405▲17.8% | $28,156,823▼17.6% | $32,795,628▼15.2% | 990 |
| 2014 | $48,310,833▲10.8% | $48,935,954▲14.5% | $34,160,364▼3.9% | $38,683,986▲1.2% | 990 |
| 2013 | $43,596,651 | $42,742,612▲3.8% | $35,559,894▲7.9% | $38,238,952▲7.9% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $41,163,648▲21.6% | $32,968,221▼7.9% | $35,452,107▼5.1% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $33,848,974▲5.3% | $35,802,940▲3.7% | $37,374,797▼0.4% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $32,142,551 | $34,519,320 | $37,524,821 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Kristen Waggoner — $584,869 (0.54% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kristen Waggoner | Ceo, President & Chief Counsel | 60 | $584,869 |
| Michael Farris | Former President and Ceo | 0 | $525,000 |
| Jim Campbell | Chief Legal Counsel | 50 | $370,542 |
| Rebecca Eggleston | Executive Vice President - Part Year | 50 | $363,537 |
| John Bursch | Vp of Appellate Advocacy, Sr Counsel | 50 | $312,710 |
| Grant Dawson | Svp of Information Technology | 50 | $306,967 |
| Lance Bauslaugh | Svp of Development | 50 | $295,379 |
| Ryan Bangert | Svp of Strategic Initiatives | 50 | $291,418 |
| Tim Chandler | Sr Counsel, Vp of Church & Ministry Alliance Enga | 50 | $284,954 |
| Jeremy Tedesco | Sr Counsel, Svp Corporate Engagement | 50 | $280,202 |
| Mark Tjernagel | Evp of Operations - Part Year | 50 | $45,316 |
| Caleb Robinson | Director | 2 | — |
| John Rogers | Chairman | 7 | — |
| Kerri Kupec Urbahn | Director | 2 | — |
| Lisa Fullerton | Director | 2 | — |
| Mark Maddoux | Secretary/treasurer | 4 | — |
| Michael Tremain | Director | 2 | — |
| Michael Whitehead | Director | 2 | — |
| Scott Scharpen | Director | 2 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Ahead Inc | It Infrastructure and Services | $2,378,537 |
| Action Mailing Corp | Direct Marketing Services | $2,133,104 |
| Shapiro & Duncan | Hvac Services | $1,927,812 |
| Lansdowne Resort and Spa | Event Space and Hosting Services | $1,594,767 |
| Jw Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort | Event Space and Hosting Services | $1,582,163 |
Grants received · $333.6M total
253 grants to Alliance Defending Freedom totaling $333.6M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signatry Charitable Trust | Community development | 2024 | $19,182,600 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Civil rights | 2024 | $8,815,031 |
| Christian Community Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $3,481,900 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Civil rights | 2024 | $1,947,941 |
| Donors Trust Inc | For general operations | 2024 | $1,586,648 |
| Upward Bound Youth | Religious support | 2024 | $1,450,275 |
| Bradley Impact Fund Inc | Internship program | 2024 | $650,000 |
| Greater Horizons | Public, societal benefit | 2024 | $640,200 |
| Servant Foundation | Community development | 2024 | $395,650 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $275,000 |
| Givewell Community Foundation Inc | Religion | 2024 | $200,200 |
| Bradley Impact Fund Inc | Legal support for parental rights | 2024 | $200,000 |
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Community & human services | 2024 | $101,000 |
| Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund | General support | 2024 | $97,300 |
| The Us Charitable Gift Trust | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2024 | $80,250 |
Grants made · $10.5M in FY2024
37 grants totaling $10.5M in FY2024 — showing the 15 largest. All grants made by Alliance Defending Freedom →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance Defending Freedom International | Operations support | $8,715,495 |
| Adf Action | Operations support | $900,000 |
| Envisage Law | Family values | $96,852 |
| Consovoy Mccarthy Pllc | Religious liberty | $80,219 |
| Liberty Counsel Inc | Religious liberty | $75,000 |
| Boyden Gray Pllc | Religious liberty | $55,000 |
| Ethics and Public Policy Center Inc | Family values and religious liberty | $47,800 |
| Dillon Pllc | Religious liberty | $31,833 |
| Simms Showers LLP | Sanctity of life | $31,637 |
| Fox Rothschild LLP | Religious liberty | $30,351 |
| Bodanza & Bodanza Law Office | Family values | $30,000 |
| Hostetter Law Group LLP | Family values | $28,000 |
| Wadleigh Starr & Peters Pllc | Family values and religious liberty | $27,726 |
| Burke Law Group | Family values | $25,066 |
| Child & Parental Rights Campaign Inc | Family values | $25,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Alliance Defending Freedom a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Alliance Defending Freedom is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 54-1660459, based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Alliance Defending Freedom's EIN?
- Alliance Defending Freedom's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 54-1660459.
- How much revenue does Alliance Defending Freedom report?
- Alliance Defending Freedom reported $119,839,751 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Alliance Defending Freedom's spending goes to programs?
- Alliance Defending Freedom spends about 78% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Alliance Defending Freedom have?
- CharityIndex grades Alliance Defending Freedom A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Alliance Defending Freedom's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Alliance Defending Freedom's latest Form 990 is $584,869, paid to Kristen Waggoner (Ceo, President & Chief Counsel).
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Data for Alliance Defending Freedom (EIN 54-1660459) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.