Non-profit

Faith in Public Life

Website:

www.faithinpubliclife.org

Location:

WASHINGTON, DC

Tax ID:

20-3798596

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2016):

Revenue: $1,578,270
Expenses: $1,431,481
Assets: $1,327,030

Former Project of:

Center for American Progress

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Faith in Public Life is a left-of-center policy advocacy organization which focuses on economic and social issues. The organization is made up of politically liberal clergy and faith leaders.

Faith in Public Life was originally a project of Center for American Progress (CAP), a large liberal think tank with strong ties to the Democratic Party establishment. The organization and its officers are outspoken opponents of the Trump administration and its stance on immigration policy. 1

Immigration

Faith in Public Life is an aggressive opponent of the Trump administration and its immigration policy. The organization calls for the passage of the Dream Act, which would grant legal status to certain illegal immigrants, without modification. In a letter to Congress, Faith in Public Life claimed that the Trump administration has “white supremacist” demands and terrorizes immigrant communities. The organization also claims to work with churches to provide sanctuary for illegal immigrants hiding from authorities. 2

Faith in Public Life signed a letter condemning the immigration policy of the Trump Administration and urging American CEOs not to employ anyone involved with the policy. It accused these officials of being directly guilty of abuses in the immigrant detention system. 3

Founder

Former U.S. Representative and Obama administration official Tom Perriello (D-Virginia) is the founder of Faith in Public Life. He also served as the president of Center for American Progress Action Fund, the 501(c)(4) arm of CAP. He currently serves as the director of U.S. programs for Open Society Foundations, the principal advocacy-philanthropic organization headed by liberal billionaire megadonor George Soros. 4

Board of Directors and Staff

Jennifer Butler is the CEO of Faith in Public Life. She previously served as the White House Council on Faith and Neighborhood Partnerships in the Obama administration. 5

Scott Nielson is the chair of the board of directors for Faith in Public Life. He previously served as a program officer for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, one of the largest left-leaning foundations in America. He also works as the managing director of advocacy for Arabella Advisors, a philanthropic consulting company that manages multiple left-of-center organizations including the Hopewell Fund, of which Nielson is the managing director. According to his profile on Arabella Advisors, Nielson has also worked in unspecified capacity for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Democracy Alliance, the State Infrastructure Fund, and the Open Society Foundations. 6 7

Bobby Clark is a member of the board of directors for Faith in Public Life. He previously worked as vice president of programs and communications at the Gill Foundation, a left-of-center grantmaking organization involved in LGBT issues. He also helped to found ProgressNow, a liberal policy advocacy organization that promotes its stances through targeted emails and social media ads. 8

Bryan Whitaker is the chief innovation officer for Faith in Public Life. He previously served as the chief technology officer for the Democratic National Committee. He also worked as the founding director for the Field Information Services at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of America’s largest and most politically active labor unions. 9

Funding

Faith in Public Life operated on a budget of $2,177,009 in 2017. The organization received $2,673,160 in contributions and grants. 10

Faith in Public Life has received numerous donations from left-leaning and liberal organizations. Democracy Fund, a foundation which funds left-of-center organizations, has donated $300,000 since 2017. 11 George Soros’ Open Society Foundations made a $90,000 grant to Faith in Public life in 2017. 12 Faith in Public Life Received $150,000 in 2017, $175,000 in 2016, and $100,000 in 2015 from NEO Philanthropy, a large New York-based nonprofit that serves as a clearinghouse for left-of-center causes.  13 1415

References

  1. “Mission Statement.” Faith in Public Life. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://www.faithinpubliclife.org/mission-statement.
  2. “Immigration.” Faith in Public Life. Accessed July 4, 2019. https://www.faithinpubliclife.org/immigration.
  3. “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs.” Restore Public Trust. April 6, 2019. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/04/Restore-Public-Trust-Open-Letter-Asylum-04.2019.pdf.
  4. “Foundations Strengthen Work to Promote Open Society Values in United States.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/newsroom/foundations-strengthen-work-promote-open-society-values-united-states.
  5. “Staff and Board.” Faith in Public Life. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://www.faithinpubliclife.org/staff-board.
  6. “Staff and Board.” Faith in Public Life. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://www.faithinpubliclife.org/staff-board.
  7. “Meet the Team: Scott Nielson.” Arabella Advisors. Accessed July 4, 2019. https://www.arabellaadvisors.com/directory/scott-nielsen/.
  8. “Staff and Board.” Faith in Public Life. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://www.faithinpubliclife.org/staff-board.
  9. “Staff and Board.” Faith in Public Life. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://www.faithinpubliclife.org/staff-board.
  10. 2017 IRS Return of Tax-Exempt Organization: Faith in Public Life. Part I: Summary.
  11. “Grants Made: Faith in Public Life.” Democracy Alliance. Accessed July 4, 2019. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/democracy-fund/.
  12. “Grants Made: Faith in Public Life.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed July 4, 2019. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=faith+in+public+life&grant_id=OR2016-32062.
  13. 2017 IRS Return of Tax-Exempt Organization: NEO Philanthropy. Part II: Continuation of Grants and other Assistance to Governments and Organizations in the United States.
  14. 2016 IRS Return of Tax-Exempt Organization: NEO Philanthropy. Part II: Continuation of Grants and other Assistance to Governments and Organizations in the United States.
  15. 2015 IRS Return of Tax-Exempt Organization: NEO Philanthropy. Part II: Continuation of Grants and other Assistance to Governments and Organizations in the United States.

Directors, Employees & Supporters

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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 2006

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2016 Dec Form 990 $1,578,270 $1,431,481 $1,327,030 $71,930 N $1,568,339 $9,750 $181 $128,702
    2015 Dec Form 990 $2,252,645 $1,599,762 $1,251,481 $143,170 N $2,238,797 $13,667 $181 $144,448 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $863,467 $1,501,730 $528,431 $73,003 N $839,178 $24,000 $289 $144,237 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $1,220,810 $1,688,389 $1,155,981 $62,290 N $1,219,582 $0 $228 $155,519 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $1,464,461 $1,402,954 $1,620,127 $58,857 N $1,450,995 $2,500 $122 $134,596 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,842,322 $1,252,341 $1,557,529 $57,766 N $1,836,603 $0 $187 $130,152 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Faith in Public Life

    1990 M ST NW STE 740
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036-3415