Conservative Reform Network
The Conservative Reform Network (CRN, formerly the YG Network) was an advocacy organization that promoted right-of-center policies focused on economic reforms and expanding “the middle class” as well as policy towards healthcare, energy, education, and welfare. The group ceased operations in 2020. 1 2 3
Contents
The Conservative Reform Policy Center was the CRN’s 501(c)(3) sister organization, while the YG Action Fund was the CRN’s affiliated political action committee. 4
Advocacy
According to its website, the Conservative Reform Network (CRN) organized in favor of “conservative policies” which they claimed would “grow the American economy, expand the middle class, and create opportunity for all Americans.” 1 The group also organized its advocacy efforts through research, policy development, digital outreach, and paid media strategies. 1 Additional issue areas the group focused on included welfare, energy prices, healthcare, and higher education. 2
Financials
The Conservative Reform Network (CRN) ceased operations in 2020, with its tax filing that year reporting $18,486 in total revenue, $13,053 in expenses, and $0 in net assets. 5
According to its 2017 tax return, the CRN generated $1.88 million that year through contributions and grants. 6
2015 tax filings confirm show that CRN received a $50,000 contribution that year for general support from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). 7
In 2017, the CRN paid $221,904 in salaries and compensation. Its total expenses were $2.6 million. 8 Its biggest expense was $2.4 million for policy research and promotion, which included $1.6 million in grantmaking. 9
Funding
The CRN’s largest grant of 2017 was $1.1 million awarded to the 60 Plus Association. That same year, smaller grants were awarded to Americans for Tax Reform ($387,500), the Republican Professionals Network of Virginia ($100,000), and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council ($15,000). 10
Leadership
John Murray was the founder and chair of the board of the Conservative Reform Network until it ceased operations in 2020. Prior to this, Murray previously served as deputy chief of staff for former U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and was a founder and partner at the strategic communications and public affairs consulting firm AB+M Partners. Murray previously held leadership roles at the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and Freddie Mac. 11
April Ponnuru was a senior advisor at CRN until it ceased operations in 2020. Prior to this, she was an advisor to Jeb Bush’s 2016 presidential campaign, an executive director of the National Review Institute, and a senior advisor to then-U.S. Senate Republican Conference Vice Chair Roy Blunt (R-MO). 12 As of 2026, Ponnuru was managing director of Ridgely|Walsh, a boutique public affairs firm. 13
Financial Statistics
Total Assets
Total Revenue
Total Expenses
Revenue Detail
Expenses Detail
Employee Compensation
- Number of Employees: 1
Grant Activity
All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $350,000
- Number of Grants: 3
- Number of Funders: 1
All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $1,829,500
- Number of Grants: 4
- Number of Recipients: 3