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No. CF-0011Investigation
Subject
Kristen Waggoner
File type
Investigation
Status
PUBLISHED
Record
4 FACTS · 4 PRIMARY
Sources
15

Alliance Defending Freedom: The Legal Capture Layer

The litigation engine that turned dark money into Dobbs.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF, EIN 54-1660459) is the most consequential legal organization in the Christian-nationalist network, founded in 1994 by James Dobson and 25+ Christian Right leaders as a counter to the ACLU. With $154M in documented spending, 16 Supreme Court victories since 2011 (including Dobbs), and a 4,800-attorney network, ADF is the machine's litigation division. SPLC designates it a hate group.

Alliance Defending FreedomChristian nationalismSupreme CourtDobbsProject 2025
All investigationsDownload report

The investigation

7 entities6 relations15 sources100% zoom
foundedfoundedc4 political arm16 victories incl. DobbsCEOadvisory-board partnerAlliance Defending FreedomEIN 54-1660459 · $154MJames DobsonCo-founder (Focus on the Family)Focus on the FamilyFounding networkKristen WaggonerCEO / PresidentADF Action501(c)(4) political armU.S. Supreme Court16 wins since 2011 (incl. Dobbs)Project 2025Advisory-board partner

Drag to pan. Click a node to focus its relationships. Use the +/− controls (or ⇧/⌘ + scroll) to zoom.

ADF in the machine: founded by Focus on the Family, funded by the dark-money layer, litigating to the Supreme Court.

Not a law firm, a capture operation

ADF occupies the legal-capture layer: where CPI provides personnel, Heritage provides policy, and Marble Freedom Trust provides money, ADF provides the courtroom. Founded 1994 (as Alliance Defense Fund) by James Dobson of Focus on the Family; current CEO Kristen Waggoner.

The record

16 Supreme Court victories since 2011, including Dobbs v. Jackson (overturning Roe v. Wade). $154M total documented spending in the dataset. A 501(c)(3) with a 501(c)(4) political arm (ADF Action), 4,800+ allied attorneys, 4,200+ church clients, and ADF International headquartered in Vienna. Named a Project 2025 advisory-board partner; helped write 25 enacted bills across 12 states in 2024.

Kristen Waggoner

CEO/President, ADF

Leads ADF's litigation strategy; argued and won landmark Supreme Court cases for the Christian-right legal movement.

James Dobson

Co-founder

Focus on the Family founder; convened 25+ Christian Right leaders in 1994 to create ADF as a counter to the ACLU.

Key figures

Network map

Network map of the recordServant Foundation paid The Signatry Charitable Trust · $344M in 1 payment · Jan 1, 2023 · ● primary record · [11]The Signatry Charitable Trust paid Come Near Media · $131M in 1 payment · Jan 1, 2024 · ● primary record · [9] [12]Alliance Defending Freedom associated with IRS · ● primary record · [2] [3] [4] [6] [8] [10] [13] [14] [15] · filed Form 990Servant Foundation gave to Alliance Defending Freedom · ● primary record · [1] [2] [3] [4] [6] [8] [10] [13] [14] [15] · LittleSis: donation, from 2022 LittleSis: donation, from 2023Kristen Waggoner associated with Alliance Defending Freedom · ● primary record · [2] [3] [4] [6] [8] [10] [13] [14] [15] · served as lead counsel and President and Chief CounselKristen Waggoner participated in Alliance Defending Freedom · ● primary record · [2] [3] [4] [6] [8] [10] [13] [14] [15] · Served as President and Chief CounselKristen Waggoner position at Alliance Defending Freedom · ● primary record · [2] [3] [4] [6] [8] [10] [13] [14] [15] · LittleSis: Attorney, current LittleSis: President, CEO and General Counsel, from 2022-08-19, currentJames Dobson position at Alliance Defending Freedom · ● primary record · [2] [3] [4] [6] [8] [10] [13] [14] [15] · LittleSis: FounderAlan Sears associated with Alliance Defending Freedom · ● primary record · [2] [3] [4] [6] [8] [10] [13] [14] [15] · co-founded ADFAlan Sears board member of Alliance Defending Freedom · ● primary record · [2] [3] [4] [6] [8] [10] [13] [14] [15] · LittleSis: Founding President, CEO, General Counsel / President, CEO, General Counsel, 1993 to 2017Alan Sears position at Alliance Defending Freedom · ● primary record · [2] [3] [4] [6] [8] [10] [13] [14] [15] · LittleSis: FounderMichael Farris associated with Alliance Defending Freedom · ● primary record · [2] [3] [4] [6] [8] [10] [13] [14] [15] · co-founderMichael Farris position at Alliance Defending Freedom · ● primary record · [2] [3] [4] [6] [8] [10] [13] [14] [15] · LittleSis: CEO, 2017 to 2022-08-19 LittleSis: Counselor to the CEO & President, from 2022-08-19, currentAlliance Defending Freedom · Organization · 2 findingsAlliance Defending Free…Alan Sears · Person · 1 findingAlan SearsKristen Waggoner · Person · 1 findingKristen WaggonerMichael Farris · Person · 1 findingMichael FarrisServant Foundation · Organization · paid $344,057,333 · 3 findingsServant FoundationThe Signatry Charitable Trust · Organization · paid $130,669,224 · received $344,057,333 · 2 findingsThe Signatry Charitable…Come Near Media · Organization · received $130,669,224 · 1 findingCome Near MediaIRS · Government body · 1 findingIRSJames Dobson · Person · 1 findingJames Dobson
9 entities, 2 recorded payments, 10 recorded relationships, 1 board interlock. 6 more named entities have no recorded link and are not drawn.
  • Person
  • Organization
  • Government body
  • Payment (width grows with the amount)
  • Recorded relationship
  • ● a verified primary record or stored query backs it
  • ○ reported only
Map data as a table
FromLinkToAmountDatesEvidence
Servant FoundationpaidThe Signatry Charitable Trust$344,057,333Jan 1, 2023 finding 169 [11]
The Signatry Charitable TrustpaidCome Near Media$130,669,224Jan 1, 2024 finding 178 [9][12]
Alliance Defending Freedomassociated withIRS finding 33 [2][3][4][6][8][10][13][14][15]
Servant Foundationgave toAlliance Defending Freedom finding 33, finding 40 [1][2][3][4][6][8][10][13][14][15]
Kristen Waggonerassociated withAlliance Defending Freedom finding 33 [2][3][4][6][8][10][13][14][15]
Kristen Waggonerparticipated inAlliance Defending Freedom finding 33 [2][3][4][6][8][10][13][14][15]
Kristen Waggonerposition atAlliance Defending Freedom finding 33 [2][3][4][6][8][10][13][14][15]
James Dobsonposition atAlliance Defending Freedom finding 33 [2][3][4][6][8][10][13][14][15]
Alan Searsassociated withAlliance Defending Freedom finding 33 [2][3][4][6][8][10][13][14][15]
Alan Searsboard member ofAlliance Defending Freedom finding 33 [2][3][4][6][8][10][13][14][15]
Alan Searsposition atAlliance Defending Freedom finding 33 [2][3][4][6][8][10][13][14][15]
Michael Farrisassociated withAlliance Defending Freedom finding 33 [2][3][4][6][8][10][13][14][15]
Michael Farrisposition atAlliance Defending Freedom finding 33 [2][3][4][6][8][10][13][14][15]

Series and data

Data

Records from IRS Form 990 filings (Schedule I grants)

Grantor nameTotal
NATL CHRISTIAN CHARITABLE FDN INC$156,304,196
Servant Foundation$117,424,830
Show the table (2 rows)
Grantor nameGrantor EINTotalRowsUnique filings
NATL CHRISTIAN CHARITABLE FDN INC5814939491563041961414
Servant Foundation43189010511742483087

Source: IRS Form 990 filings (Schedule I grants) · retrieved Jul 16, 2026

Download CSV

How these rows were pulled
SELECT org_name AS grantor_name, ein AS grantor_ein, sum(cash_grant_amt) AS total, count() AS rows, uniqExact(filing_url) AS unique_filings FROM politics_vault_archive.ein_990_grants WHERE (recipient_ein IN ('541660459','54-1660459') OR positionCaseInsensitive(recipient_name,'Alliance Defending Freedom')>0) AND ein IN ('581493949','58-1493949','431890105','43-1890105') GROUP BY ein, org_name ORDER BY total DESC

Retrieved Jul 16, 2026

Data

Records from public filings

Show the table (12 rows)
Tax yearNcf signatryOtherPct
201210065726·100
20141371113339125097.2
20151678591012834099.2
201615595735120578992.8
201716807339123744093.1
201824604184179300693.2
201925615873227693791.8
202023832247629586079.1
202127953728699053880
202258668853897450986.7
202345144336844502884.2
2024·540000·

Source: public filings · retrieved Jul 16, 2026

Download CSV

How these rows were pulled
WITH dedup AS (SELECT tax_year, grantor_ein, filing_url, max(amount) AS amt FROM politics_vault.adf_grant_flows WHERE positionCaseInsensitive(recipient_name,'Alliance Defending Freedom')>0 AND positionCaseInsensitive(recipient_name,'cause of kids')=0 GROUP BY tax_year, grantor_ein, filing_url) SELECT tax_year, round(sumIf(amt, grantor_ein IN ('581493949','431890105'))) AS ncf_signatry, round(sumIf(amt, grantor_ein NOT IN ('581493949','431890105'))) AS other, round(sumIf(amt, grantor_ein IN ('581493949','431890105'))/sum(amt)*100,1) AS pct FROM dedup GROUP BY tax_year ORDER BY tax_year

Retrieved Jul 16, 2026

Data

Records from public filings

Show the table (23 rows)
Grantor nameGrantor EINRecipientTotalCount
NATL CHRISTIAN CHARITABLE FDN INC581493949ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM17933280617
SERVANT FOUNDATION431890105ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM840509795
Servant Foundation431890105Alliance Defending Freedom326421022
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND110303001ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM1557447611
SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND311640316ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM73255288
BRADLEY IMPACT FUND INC454678325ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM41745002
Donors Trust Inc522166327Alliance Defending Freedom351491212
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC311640316ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM24826051
CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY621536731ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM22855208
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST237825575ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM20591159
The Dunn Foundation650415977ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM10410004
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION953510055ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM7700005
SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND311640316Alliance Defending Freedom6119802
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHARITABLE FUND INC815466677ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM4026502
TW LEWIS FOUNDATION860989236ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM3500004
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY363245072ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM3000001
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION953510055Alliance Defending Freedom2650003
THE BLACKBAUD GIVING FUND460942102ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM441683
WL AMOS SR FOUNDATION INC582399470ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM200003
DONATEWELL460942102ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM158882
Servant Foundation431890105The Alliance Defending the Cause of Kids and Families148002
SERVANT FOUNDATION431890105THE ALLIANCE DEFENDING THE CAUSE OF KIDS AND FAMILIES97501
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST237825575ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM FOR FAITH AND JUSTICE50001

Source: public filings · retrieved Jul 16, 2026

Download CSV

How these rows were pulled
SELECT grantor_name, grantor_ein, recipient_name, sum(amount) AS total, count() AS n FROM politics_vault.adf_grant_flows WHERE recipient_ein='54-1660459' OR positionCaseInsensitive(recipient_name,'Alliance Defending')>0 GROUP BY grantor_name, grantor_ein, recipient_name ORDER BY total DESC

Retrieved Jul 16, 2026

Data

Records from public filings

EIN
54-1660459
Organization
Alliance Defending Freedom
Current ceo
Kristen Waggoner
Year founded
1993
Revenue 2024
110713980
Revenue 2023
101821939

Source: public filings · retrieved Jul 16, 2026

Download CSV

How these rows were pulled
SELECT ein, org_name, current_ceo, year_founded, revenue_2024, revenue_2023 FROM politics_vault.adf_org_profile

Retrieved Jul 16, 2026

Data

Records from IRS Form 990 filings, EIN 431890105

Filer EIN
431890105
Filer name
Servant Foundation
Tax year
2023-01-01
Grantee EIN
825070897
Grantee name
The Signatry Charitable Trust
Grantee state
KS
Cash amount
344057333
Stated purpose
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Source: IRS Form 990 filings, EIN 431890105 · retrieved Oct 18, 2026

Download CSV

How these rows were pulled
SELECT filer_ein, filer_name, tax_year, grantee_ein, grantee_name, grantee_state, cash_amount, purpose FROM gt990_datalake.sched_i_grants WHERE filer_ein='431890105' AND grantee_ein='825070897' AND tax_year='2023-01-01' ORDER BY cash_amount DESC LIMIT 20

Retrieved Oct 18, 2026

Data

Records from IRS Form 990 filings, EIN 825070897

Filer EIN
825070897
Filer name
THE SIGNATRY CHARITABLE TRUST
Tax year
2024-01-01
Grantee EIN
650252235
Grantee name
Come Near Media Inc
Grantee state
CO
Cash amount
130669224
Stated purpose
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Source: IRS Form 990 filings, EIN 825070897 · retrieved Oct 20, 2026

Download CSV

How these rows were pulled
SELECT filer_ein, filer_name, tax_year, grantee_ein, grantee_name, grantee_state, cash_amount, purpose FROM gt990_datalake.sched_i_grants WHERE filer_ein='825070897' AND grantee_ein='650252235' AND tax_year='2024-01-01' ORDER BY cash_amount DESC LIMIT 20

Retrieved Oct 20, 2026

The record

a verified primary record or stored query backs the row. reported by a secondary source only.

Show the table (2 rows)
FromToWhatValueDateEvidence
Servant FoundationThe Signatry Charitable TrustCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT$344,057,333Jan 1, 2023 [11]
The Signatry Charitable TrustCome Near MediaCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT$130,669,224Jan 1, 2024 [9], [12]
gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com

Other findings

  • ●
    NCF + Servant Foundation (The Signatry) supply 79-100% of ADF's 990-documented grant inflows every year (2012-2023), totaling $273.7M across 21 unique filings
    opendemocracy.net [2], [3], [4], [6], [8], [10], [13], [14], [15]
  • ●
    The National Christian Foundation cluster (NCF + Servant Foundation / The Signatry) is the dominant funding pipeline for Alliance Defending Freedom, routing $273.7M across 21 unique IRS 990 filings (2012-2023), supplying 79-100% of all 990-documented grant inflows to ADF in every tax year on record
    projects.propublica.org [1], [8], [10], [13], [14], [15]

Sources · 15

  • Primary 9
  • Derived 6
  • Reported 0
  1. [1]
    Alliance Defending Freedom - Nonprofit Explorer
    projects.propublica.org Primaryretrieved Jan 1, 2024
  2. [2]
    gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com/EfileData/XmlFiles/201813199349310531_public.xml
    gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com Primaryretrieved Jul 16, 2026
  3. [3]
    gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com/EfileData/XmlFiles/202110469349300841_public.xml
    gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com Primaryretrieved Jul 16, 2026
  4. [4]
    gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com/EfileData/XmlFiles/202333179349303063_public.xml
    gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com Primaryretrieved Jul 16, 2026
  5. [5]
    gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com/EfileData/XmlFiles/202341309349302319_public.xml
    gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com Primaryretrieved Jul 16, 2026
  6. [6]
    gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com/EfileData/XmlFiles/202410409349300211_public.xml
    gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com Primaryretrieved Jul 16, 2026
  7. [7]
    gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com/EfileData/XmlFiles/202423189349310807_public.xml
    gt990datalake-rawdata.s3.amazonaws.com Primaryretrieved Jul 16, 2026
  8. [8]
    Non-profit rebranding Jesus for Gen Z also funds hate group
    opendemocracy.net Primaryretrieved Feb 12, 2023
  9. [9]
  10. [10]
    Records from IRS Form 990 filings (Schedule I grants)
    Derivedretrieved Jul 16, 2026
  11. [11]
    Records from IRS Form 990 filings, EIN 431890105
    Derivedretrieved Oct 18, 2026EIN 431890105
  12. [12]
    Records from IRS Form 990 filings, EIN 825070897
    Derivedretrieved Oct 20, 2026EIN 825070897
  13. [13]
    Records from public filings
    Derivedretrieved Jul 16, 2026
  14. [14]
    Records from public filings
    Derivedretrieved Jul 16, 2026
  15. [15]
    Records from public filings
    Derivedretrieved Jul 16, 2026

Derived means a stored database query with its result rows and the filing key they trace to. How the facts are checked

Showing this section as of the last site build. It updates to the latest saved edits when the live copy loads.

How the facts are checked. Every fact on this page is tied to at least one document. Primary (9) is the filing or record itself. Derived (6) is a stored query over primary rows. Reported (0) stays marked open until a primary record is found. Read the method.

Provenance

Last updated
Oct 20, 2026
Verified
4 findings by Oct 23, 2026
Pipeline origin
1 human, 3 agent
END OF FILE · CF-0011