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Non-profit

Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT)

Website:

investigativeproject.org
Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

13-4331855
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $2,516,409
Expenses: $2,382,659
Assets: $710,182
Type:

Right-of-center Research Group
Formation:

1995
Executive Director:

Steven Emerson
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $1,686,337
Expenses: $1,924,286
Net Assets: -$156,670

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The Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) is a right-of-center research group that manages an online database tracking radical Islamic terrorism within the United States and around the world. Its database claims to provides the names of alleged organizations, individuals, and movements that are related to, involved in, or financiers of Islamist terrorism. 1 IPT’s research has been used in media articles and publications, individual and group terrorism reports, testimonies offered to United States’ Congressional committees, and government action against terrorists and financiers based in the United States. 1 2 3 4

The IPT and its founder and director, Steven Emerson, have been accused by left-of-center advocacy groups of having an anti-Muslim bias. 5 6

The fundraising arm of IPT is the Investigative Project on Terrorism Foundation. 7

Background

Steven Emerson founded the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) in 1995 following the November 1994 broadcast of his documentary film, Jihad in America, on PBS. Emerson claimed the film exposed “clandestine operations of militant Islamic terrorist groups on American soil.” 8

IPT claimed that following its founding, it began tracking incidents of terrorism and Islamist extremism as well as researching individuals and groups behind the recruitment and financing of potential Islamist terrorist operations within the United States. IPT expanded its focus to research terror-linked individuals and groups operating outside the U.S. IPT’s research has been used within reports for government agencies and United States Congressional committees. 1

In 2006, Emerson founded the Investigative Report on Terrorism Foundation, the IPT’s fundraising arm, which received its tax-exempt status in 2007. 9 The IPT claims to accept no funding from outside the United States, or from any governmental agency or political or religious institution. 1

Initiatives

The Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) maintains a blog and publication center that publishes articles and shorter posts related to Islamist extremism. 10 11 The project uses a research center database that provides developments on potential Islamist terrorist activities within the United States. The database is also used to provide evidence, research, and testimony used by media and governmental entities. The online database includes information on groups and individuals connected to terrorism, updates with court cases and testimonies, governmental action against terrorism, as well as other reports and multimedia publications discussing radical Islamic activities. 12

Activities

Lawsuits

The Investigative Report on Terrorism (IPT) database keeps a record of criminal and civil lawsuits and court cases related to radical Islamist terrorism in the United States, which has been used as evidence and research to obtain convictions and prosecutions. 4

IPT research was provided during the Holy Land Foundation trials from 2006-2011, which involved the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) (originally called the Occupied Land Fund), then the largest Islamic nonprofit organization in the United States. HLF had been accused of providing material support to the terrorist organization Hamas. IPT provided material evidence to support the conviction, including an audio recording submitted of HLF leaders discussing intent to contribute finances to several groups with links to Hamas. 13 14

The initial trial against HLF in 2006 was declared a mistrial, as the jurors could not reach a unanimous decision. However, in the second trial in 2008, jurors found the defendants guilty of providing financial support to Hamas. Although HLF and the individual defendants appealed the decision, an appeals court upheld the convictions against HLF and its senior leaders in December 2011. 15

In 2005, the Islamic Society of Boston (ISB), which later became the Muslim American Society of Boston (MAS-Boston), filed a defamation lawsuit against several organizations and individuals, including IPT executive director Steven Emerson. IPT had been investigating ISB’s connections to terrorist financing and hate speech. 16 The lawsuit was dropped by ISB in 2007. 17

Political Advocacy

In 2008, IPT founder and director Steven Emerson delivered a speech at the Fourth Annual Terrorism Financing Conference in North Carolina. Emerson was invited to speak as an expert on terrorism by then-United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, George E.B. Holding, an appointee of the George W. Bush administration. 18 In 2010, IPT researcher Stephen Landman delivered an address at the Space and Missile Defense Command Security Awareness briefing in Alabama. 19

IPT and Steven Emerson have been praised by several United States government officials including Michael Mukasey, the former Attorney General of the United States in the George W. Bush administration, and John Bolton, the former National Security Council Advisor under President Donald Trump and former United States Ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush. 1

Controversies and Criticism

In 2021, the Investigative Project on Terrorism was accused of spying on the Ohio chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a pro-Palestinian advocacy group that has been accused of supporting political Islamist movements including the Muslim Brotherhood. The CAIR-Ohio executive director, Romin Iqbal, was also accused of recording meetings and leaking information to IPT for nearly a decade. Iqbal was later fired for his alleged involvement with IPT. 20

In response to the allegations, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) and Special Counsel for Hate Crimes at Civil Rights Bureau for State of New York Richard Sawyer issued cease and desist orders against IPT, accusing the group of anti-Muslim bias. 21 22 IPT defended its actions, claiming “it will not hesitate to uncover and publicly expose radical Islamist activity on American soil by groups like CAIR.” 20 A National Review op-ed defended Emerson and IPT for its investigation of CAIR, noting that IPT conducted normal investigative work. 23

CAIR has also accused IPT of being at the center of what it calls “America’s Islamophobia network.” In a 2013 report, CAIR accused the IPT of fueling fear of Muslims for its own financial gain. 24 IPT and Steven Emerson have also been accused of anti-Muslim racism and Islamophobia by left-of-center groups ThinkProgress and its parent group, the Center for American Progress. 5 6

Leadership

Steven Emerson is the founder and executive director of the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT). He has a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brown University and he has worked as a special correspondent for CNN, was a senior editor at US News and World Report, worked as a freelancer for the New York Times and the New Republic, and worked as a staff researcher for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Emerson has testified before U.S congressional hearings and has been interviewed by several media outlets including Fox News, ABC News, and MSNBC. He produced the 1994 documentary Jihad in America. In 2013, he produced a second documentary, Jihad in America: the Grand Deception. Emerson is the author or co-author of six books, including Jihad Incorporated: A Guide to Militant Islam in the U.S. and American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us. 25

Emerson has received controversy due to claims of his treatment of employees as well as potential collaboration with the Israeli government. Within a series of emails released to the press, Emerson is accused of cursing at and threatening to fire employees for alleged mistakes related to the CAIR spying controversy, calling his employees “f****** idiots.” In the same email leak, Emerson was accused of working with Israeli government officials to provide information on anti-Israeli organizations including Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). 26

In 2015, Emerson faced controversy when he described Birmingham, England as a “Muslim-only city” where non-Muslims “don’t go” during a Fox News interview. He later issued an apology for his statement. 27

Finances and Funding Controversy

In 2022, the Investigative Project on Terrorism Foundation reported $1,686,337 in revenue, $1,924,286 in expenses, and -$156,670 in net assets. 28 One of IPT’s donors is the Middle East Forum (MEF), a right-of-center think tank that promotes American interests in the Middle East. 29 30 From 2009 to 2012, IPT received $1,409,585 in funding from MEF. 20

IPT’s Steven Emerson has been accused of using the organization for his own financial gain through his private, for-profit media company, SAE Productions. A 2010 article in The Tennessean reported that in 2008, SAE Productions, of which Emerson is the sole officer, received $3,390,000 from the IPT for “management services.” 31 32 Emerson later claimed security considerations had forced him to avoid disclosing financial information that would normally be made publicly available by tax-exempt organizations. 33

References

  1. About. Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/about.php
  2. Reports. Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/reports/
  3. Testimony. Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/testimony/
  4. Cases. Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/cases.php
  5. Clifton, Eli. “Meet An Islamophobia Network ‘Expert’: Steven Emerson.” ThinkProgress. August 31, 2011. Accessed September 29, 2024.  https://archive.thinkprogress.org/meet-an-islamophobia-network-expert-steven-emerson-52f4dad98b29/
  6. Ali, Wajahat, Clifton, Eli, et al. “Fear, Inc.” Center for American Progress. August 26, 2011. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/fear-inc/
  7. Investigative Project On Terrorism Foundation. ProPublica. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/134331855
  8.  Steven Emerson. Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed September 29, 2024.https://www.investigativeproject.org/author/Steven+Emerson?bio_only=TRUE
  9. Investigative Project on Terrorism Foundation. Charity Navigator. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/134331855
  10. Blog. Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/blog/
  11. Articles. Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/articles/
  12. Research. Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/research.php
  13. Audio File: MTGB_19931002_12.WAV. Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/76.pdf
  14. “Federal Judge Hands Downs Sentences in Holy Land Foundation Case.” Office of Public Affairs – Department of Justice. May 27, 2009. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-judge-hands-downs-sentences-holy-land-foundation-case
  15. “US v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, et al.” Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/case/65/us-v-holy-land-foundation
  16. “Islamic Society of Boston, et al. v. Boston Herald, et al.” Investigative Project on Terrorism. May 2005. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://dev.investigativeproject.org/case/367/isb-et-al-v-boston-herald-et-al
  17. Abrams, Floyd. “Islamic Society of Boston Dismisses Defamation and Civil Lawsuit.” Cahill, Gordon, and Reindel. June 6, 2007. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.cahill.com/news/firm-news/100187
  18. “FOURTH ANNUAL TERRORISM FINANCING CONFERENCE.” United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Archive. March 7, 2008. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nce/press/2008/2008-Mar-07.html
  19. Hawkins, Kari. “Terrorism Grows Within U.S. Borders.” US Army. March 5, 2010. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.army.mil/article/35434/terrorism_grows_within_u_s_borders
  20.  Henrix, Sheridan. “What is the Investigative Project on Terrorism, and who is its founder Steve Emerson?” The Columbus Dispatch. December 15, 2021. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2021/12/15/what-investigative-project-terrorism-linked-cair-ohio-firing/8907234002/
  21. “Attorney General James Warns Hate Group to Immediately Stop Spying on Muslim Communities.” New York State Attorney General. April 1, 2022. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2022/attorney-general-james-warns-hate-group-immediately-stop-spying-muslim
  22. Sawyer, Richard. “CEASE AND DESIST NOTIFICATION.” STATE OF NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. April 1, 2022. Accessed September 29, 2024.

    https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2022.04.01_ipt_cease_and_desist_vff.pdf

  23. Caschetta, A.J. “Media Attack Investigative Reporter for Investigating and Reporting on CAIR.” National Review. January 29, 2022. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/01/media-attack-investigative-reporter-for-investigating-and-reporting-on-cair/
  24. “Financing Prejudice and Hate.” JSTOR. 2013. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/resrep31106.4.pdf
  25.  Steven Emerson. Investigative Project on Terrorism. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.investigativeproject.org/author/Steven+Emerson?bio_only=TRUE
  26. “Sample of Evidence – IPT.” DropBox. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/l03puuo2whzcz6oq1084i/EVIDENCE-IPT.pdf?rlkey=zihf8df0br0djno5rmfdwsb88&e=3&dl=0
  27. “Apology for ‘Muslim Birmingham’ Fox News claim.” BBC. January 12, 2015. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-30773297
  28. Investigative Project On Terrorism Foundation – 2022 Federal 990 Form. ProPublica. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/134331855/202421139349301107/full
  29. “Factsheet: Middle East Forum.” BRIDGE – Georgetown. August 14, 2018. Accessed September 29, 2024. University. https://bridge.georgetown.edu/research/factsheet-middle-east-forum/
  30. Home. Middle East Forum, 2023. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.meforum.org/
  31. Smietana, Bob. “Anti-Muslim crusaders make millions spreading fear.” The Tennessean. October 24, 2010. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2010/10/24/antimuslim-crusaders-make-millions-spreading-fear/28936467/
  32. Rozen, Laura. “Nonprofit group’s ties to for-profit entity draw scrutiny.” Politico. October 24, 2010. Accessed sEptember 29, 2024. https://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/1010/Nonprofit_groups_ties_to_forprofit_entity_draws_scrutiny.html
  33. Cohler-Esses, Larry and Guttman, Nathan. “Terror Expert Emerson Feels His Own Heat Over Finances.” Forward. November 17, 2010. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://forward.com/news/133244/terror-expert-emerson-feels-his-own-heat-over-fina/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 2007

    • 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
    2021 Dec Form 990 $2,516,409 $2,382,659 $710,182 $634,066 N $2,515,703 $0 $468 $0 PDF
    2020 Dec Form 990 $2,219,083 $2,215,564 $674,041 $731,675 N $2,216,363 $0 $2,305 $0
    2019 Dec Form 990 $2,219,616 $2,401,439 $947,172 $1,008,325 N $2,218,092 $0 $726 $0 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $1,984,898 $1,876,971 $730,597 $759,927 N $1,982,251 $0 $2,340 $0 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,056,982 $2,598,096 $1,121,139 $1,258,396 N $2,053,137 $0 $2,015 $0 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $2,531,474 $2,660,321 $1,277,896 $874,039 N $2,461,176 $0 $1,092 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $2,127,991 $3,835,789 $1,228,425 $695,721 N $2,114,049 $0 $6,735 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $3,466,299 $2,482,104 $2,875,596 $635,094 N $3,448,546 $7,537 $9,616 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $2,750,186 $2,521,984 $1,842,513 $586,206 N $2,699,625 $31,409 $8,128 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $2,524,640 $2,971,730 $1,898,202 $870,097 N $2,513,142 $0 $8,559 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $2,841,934 $2,611,007 $2,137,225 $620,363 N $2,836,719 $0 $6,521 $0 PDF
    2010 Dec Form 990 $2,656,074 $3,528,481 $1,285,935 $0 N $2,636,762 $0 $19,312 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT)

    5614 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW 341
    Washington, DC