American Conservative Union (ACU) Foundation

The American Conservative Union (ACU) Foundation, or CPAC Foundation, is a nonprofit political organization that aims to educate citizens about conservative principles and advocate for conservative policies. 1 The ACU Foundation hosts five policy centers 2 and ranks politicians based on their level of conservatism. 3

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Issue Areas: Multi-Issue Advocacy
Website: foundation.conservative.org
Formation:

1983

Former Executive Director:

Daniel Schneider

Former Executive Director’s Salary (2019):

$0 4

Location: Alexandria, VA View on map
Tax ID: 52-1294680
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $6,371,369 Revenue: $9,273,258 Expenses: $6,157,058

Contents

    The American Conservative Union Foundation is an associate member of the State Policy Network, a coalition of free-market state-level policy organizations. 5

    The American Conservative Union (ACU) is the 501(c)(4) sister organization of the ACU Foundation. 6

    Activities

    To show that conservative policies are more effective than liberal alternatives, the American Conservative Union Foundation hosts five policy centers that produce research, publish editorials, and support conservative activism training. Currently, the five policy centers include “Criminal Justice Reform,” “Human Dignity,” “21st Century Property Rights,” “Statesmanship and Diplomacy,” and “Arts & Culture.” 7

    The ACU Foundation’s Nolan Center for Justice supports conservative reforms of the American criminal justice system. 8 The Center advocates for reform policies that would keep the public safe within the confines of individual liberty and limited government, using tax dollars wisely while holding offenders accountable. 9

    The American Conservative Union Foundation annually ranks politicians and awards those who are the most conservative, based on their voting records. 3 ACU Foundation’s Center for Legislative Accountability provides a searchable online database of its 50 years of ratings, which includes ratings of members of Congress, state legislators, and specific bills. Also included are the analysis of voting trends over time, enhanced lawmaker profiles, and side-by-side lawmaker comparisons. 10

    Funding

    The American Conservative Union Foundation is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. While the ACU Foundation does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the Pew Charitable Trusts ($562,358 in 2018), 11 the Everlasting Private Foundation ($495,000 in 2020), 12 and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation ($350,000 in 2017). 13

    People

    Daniel Schneider is the former executive director of the American Conservative Union (ACU) and the ACU Foundation, and formerly sat on the board of Americans United for Life. Schneider is currently vice president of the Free Speech America and Business Divisions at Media Research Center. 14

    Matt Schlapp is the chair of the boards of the ACU Foundation and the Conservative Political Action Coalition (CPAC). Schlapp is a member of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board and formerly worked as White House political director for former President George W. Bush. 15

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $6,371,369 $9,273,258 $6,157,058 View
    2023 $4,173,343 $8,195,246 $9,298,061 View
    2022 $4,324,775 $9,427,841 $7,817,710 View
    2021 $2,645,098 $4,056,346 $4,702,691 View
    2020 $3,106,404 $6,098,234 $5,470,676 View

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $18,468,695
    • Number of Grants: 193
    • Number of Funders: 71

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $1,250,0002021 Silicon Valley Community Foundation
    $1,250,0002021 Silicon Valley Community Foundation
    $1,000,0002020 Silicon Valley Community Foundation
    $1,000,0002020 Silicon Valley Community Foundation
    $700,0002023 The Just Trust for EducationPROJECT SUPPORT FOR THE NOLAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE
    $700,0002023 Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust IncUNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
    $495,0002020 Everlasting Private Foundation C/o Annie Mh ChanGeneral support
    $370,0002021 Criminal Justice Reform FoundationREGRANT TO PARTNER WITH CJRF MISSION
    $281,0002021 Foundation For The CarolinasCHARITABLE GIFT
    $275,2002023 Arnold VenturesTO SUPPORT THE GRANTEE'S PROSECUTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL.
    $256,4502023 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $250,0002024 Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust IncUNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
    $230,0002024 Arnold VenturesTO RECRUIT AN INDIVIDUAL TO LEAD GRANTEE'S PROSECUTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL ON A FULL-TIME BASIS.
    $200,0002022 Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust IncUNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
    $182,5002020 Criminal Justice Reform FoundationREGRANT TO PARTNER WITH CJRF MISSION
    $150,0002021 Coefficient GivingTo support the Nolan Center for Justice. The Nolan Center for Justice aims to increase support for criminal justice reform among conservative policymakers in Congress and at the state and local levels, as well as in the conservative base more broadly
    $150,0002021 Silicon Valley Community Foundation
    $145,0002021 The 85 FundGeneral Support
    $136,5002021 Everlasting Private Foundation C/o Annie Mh ChanGENERAL SUPPORT
    $130,1002021 Donors Trust Incfor general operations
    $125,0002022 Everlasting Private Foundation C/o Annie Mh ChanGENERAL SUPPORT
    $120,0002022 The Pew Charitable TrustsPolicy
    $112,0612021 The Pew Charitable TrustsPOLICY
    $107,0502020 Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc.Public, societal benefit
    $100,0002024 Bessent-Freeman Family Foundation Inc C/o Palmetto MgmtGENERAL

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $120,000
    • Number of Grants: 3
    • Number of Recipients: 3

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $90,0002022 Americans of FaithSubgrant to Americans of Faith
    $20,0002022 Show-Me InstituteGeneral Support
    $10,0002022 Pelican Institute for Public PolicyGeneral Support

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. American Conservative Union Foundation Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Part I, Line 1.
    2. “About Us.” American Conservative Union, 2022. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://www.conservative.org/about/.
    3. “Home.” American Conservative Union Foundation, 2022. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://www.conservative.org/about/.
    4. American Conservative Union Foundation Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.
    5. “The Network.” State Policy Network, 2022. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://spn.org/directory/.
    6. American Conservative Union Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Schedule R, Part II.
    7.  [1] “About Us.” American Conservative Union, 2022. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://www.conservative.org/about/.
    8. “Home.” Nolan Center for Justice, 2022. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://conservativejusticereform.org/.
    9. “The Conservative Principles of Justice.” Nolan Center for Justice, 2022. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://conservativejusticereform.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ACUFCCJR_ConservativePrinciples.pdf.
    10. “Home.” Center for Legislative Accountability, 2021. Accessed October 3, 2022. http://ratings.conservative.org/.
    11. Pew Charitable Trusts, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018, Schedule I, Part II.
    12. Everlasting Private Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2020, Part XV, Line 3.
    13. [1] Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017, Part XV, Line 3.
    14. “Dan Schneider.” LinkedIn, 2022. Accessed October 2, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-schneider-79b35b7/.
    15. “Matt Schlapp.” American Conservative Union, 2022. Accessed September 30, 2022. https://www.conservative.org/staff/matt-schlapp/.