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Non-profit

National Christian Charitable Foundation

Website:

www.ncfgiving.com/
Location:

Alpharetta, GA
Tax ID:

58-1493949
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2018):

Revenue: $1,521,671,969
Expenses: $1,548,245,914
Assets: $2,220,030,143
Type:

Community Foundation
CEO:

Kendra VanderMeulen

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The National Christian Charitable Foundation (NCF), also known as the National Christian Foundation, is a community foundation. Founded in 1982, it is currently the largest Christian charity in the United States, having facilitated more than $14.5 billion in grants to more than 71,000 churches and other nonprofit organizations. The organization distributes more than $1.2 billion in grants annually and employs over 300 staff members. 1

The foundation was listed by philanthropic research organization Candid as a “foundation funding U.S. democracy,” a designation indicating it funds policy advocacy groups or voter-outreach projects. Among its policy-based funding, NCF predominately provides funding to right-of-center advocacy groups and think tanks such as the Alliance Defending Freedom, Susan B. Anthony List Foundation, the NRA Foundation, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation. 2 3

Background

National Christian Charitable Foundation was founded in the greater Atlanta area in 1982 by Atlanta tax attorney Terry Parker with the assistance of “evangelical financial gurus” Ron Blue and Larry Burkett. Blue and Burkett were credited with bringing in the early generation of major donors to the foundation’s ranks of fund holders, which has grown since primarily by word of mouth. 4

NCF claims to serve 25,000 and 30,000 donors who have donor-advised funds administered by the organization. The foundation reported that its revenue increased by more than $1 billion from 2020 to 2021. The foundation reports more than $108 million in overhead, which increased from $82 million in 2020. The foundation’s overhead numbers do not include 25 of the organization’s 30 regional offices, which are separate nonprofit entities that file their own tax returns. 5

Criticism from the Left

National Christian Charitable Foundation has been criticized by the left-of-center Southern Poverty Law Center for directing funds to tax-exempt organizations that the SPLC controversially has dubbed “hate groups.” The foundation has stated in response that its grant making is directed by the organization’s donor-advised fund holders and that it only distributed funds to nonprofits that are registered with the IRS. 6 7

Funding

National Christian Charitable Foundation has been listed by Candid as a “foundation funding U.S. democracy,” a designation that that indicates grantmaking to advocacy groups and voter outreach projects. In this area, NCF predominately provides funding to right-of-center advocacy groups and think tanks. Candid’s Foundation Funding for U.S. Democracy Database lists 494 grants from NCF to various public policy organizations, advocacy groups, and think tanks totaling $33.8 million in 2020. Many of the recipients highlighted by Candid were related to pro-life causes, humanitarian aid, and anti-human trafficking campaigns. 8 9

Recipients of the foundation’s funding include the American Enterprise Institute, Americans for Prosperity, Alliance Defending Freedom, Susan B. Anthony List Foundation, the NRA Foundation, Texas Public Policy Foundation, International Justice Mission, CARE for AIDS, Life Legal Defense Foundation, the Family Policy Foundation, Media Research Center, National Right To Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation, the Federalist Society, and many state-level affiliates of the State Policy Network. 10

The group also gave grants to the left-leaning Equal Justice Initiative. 11

References

  1. “About.” National Christian Charitable Foundation. Accessed May 28, 2021. https://www.ncfgiving.com/about/
  2. “National Christian Charitable Foundation.” Candid: Foundation Funding for U.S. Democracy. Accessed May 28, 2022. https://maps.foundationcenter.org/?_gl=1*nf1su5*_ga*MTEwNDA4Njk5Mi4xNjUxNjkzMTg5*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTY1MzY3MjExMy40LjEuMTY1MzY3MjEzMy40MA..#/list/?subjects=all&popgroups=all&years=all&location=6252001&excludeLocation=0&geoScale=ADM0&layer=recip&boundingBox=-188.7890625,-66.65297740055277,189.140625,76.10079606754579&gmOrgs=all&recipOrgs=all&tags=all&keywords=&pathwaysOrg=&pathwaysType=&acct=democracy&typesOfSupport=all&transactionTypes=all&amtRanges=all&minGrantAmt=0&maxGrantAmt=0&gmTypes=all&minAssetsAmt=0&maxAssetsAmt=0&minGivingAmt=0&maxGivingAmt=0&andOr=0&includeGov=1&custom=all&customArea=all&indicator=&dataSource=oecd&chartType=bars&multiSubject=1&listType=gm&zoom=0
  3. “Foundation Funding for U.S. Democracy.” Candid. Accessed May 28, 2022. https://maps.foundationcenter.org/?_gl=1*20gwg4*_ga*MTEwNDA4Njk5Mi4xNjUxNjkzMTg5*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTY1MzY3MjExMy40LjEuMTY1MzY3MjIyNi42MA..#/list/?subjects=all&popgroups=all&years=all&location=6252001&excludeLocation=0&geoScale=ADM0&layer=recip&boundingBox=-188.7890625,-66.65297740055277,189.140625,76.10079606754579&gmOrgs=all&recipOrgs=all&tags=all&keywords=&pathwaysOrg=&pathwaysType=&acct=democracy&typesOfSupport=all&transactionTypes=all&amtRanges=all&minGrantAmt=0&maxGrantAmt=0&gmTypes=all&minAssetsAmt=0&maxAssetsAmt=0&minGivingAmt=0&maxGivingAmt=0&andOr=0&includeGov=1&custom=all&customArea=all&indicator=&dataSource=oecd&chartType=bars&multiSubject=1&listType=grant&zoom=0&_ga=2.82149269.2078121296.1653672137-1104086992.1651693189
  4. Rahey, Steve. “National Christian Foundation is Quiet but Influential Giant.” Ministry Watch. October 29, 2021. Accessed May 28, 2022. https://ministrywatch.com/national-christian-foundation-is-quiet-but-influential-giant/
  5. Rahey, Steve. “National Christian Foundation is Quiet but Influential Giant.” Ministry Watch. October 29, 2021. Accessed May 28, 2022. https://ministrywatch.com/national-christian-foundation-is-quiet-but-influential-giant/
  6. Rahey, Steve. “National Christian Foundation is Quiet but Influential Giant.” Ministry Watch. October 29, 2021. Accessed May 28, 2022. https://ministrywatch.com/national-christian-foundation-is-quiet-but-influential-giant/
  7. Moritz-Rabson, Daniel. “U.S.’s Biggest Christian Charity Reportedly Channeled $56.1 Million to Purported Hate Groups.” Newsweek. March 20, 2019. Accessed May 28, 2022. https://www.newsweek.com/biggest-christian-charity-funding-hate-groups-1370055
  8. “National Christian Charitable Foundation.” Candid: Foundation Funding for U.S. Democracy. Accessed May 28, 2022. https://maps.foundationcenter.org/?_gl=1*nf1su5*_ga*MTEwNDA4Njk5Mi4xNjUxNjkzMTg5*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTY1MzY3MjExMy40LjEuMTY1MzY3MjEzMy40MA..#/list/?subjects=all&popgroups=all&years=all&location=6252001&excludeLocation=0&geoScale=ADM0&layer=recip&boundingBox=-188.7890625,-66.65297740055277,189.140625,76.10079606754579&gmOrgs=all&recipOrgs=all&tags=all&keywords=&pathwaysOrg=&pathwaysType=&acct=democracy&typesOfSupport=all&transactionTypes=all&amtRanges=all&minGrantAmt=0&maxGrantAmt=0&gmTypes=all&minAssetsAmt=0&maxAssetsAmt=0&minGivingAmt=0&maxGivingAmt=0&andOr=0&includeGov=1&custom=all&customArea=all&indicator=&dataSource=oecd&chartType=bars&multiSubject=1&listType=gm&zoom=0
  9. “Foundation Funding for U.S. Democracy.” Candid. Accessed May 28, 2022. https://maps.foundationcenter.org/?_gl=1*20gwg4*_ga*MTEwNDA4Njk5Mi4xNjUxNjkzMTg5*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTY1MzY3MjExMy40LjEuMTY1MzY3MjIyNi42MA..#/list/?subjects=all&popgroups=all&years=all&location=6252001&excludeLocation=0&geoScale=ADM0&layer=recip&boundingBox=-188.7890625,-66.65297740055277,189.140625,76.10079606754579&gmOrgs=all&recipOrgs=all&tags=all&keywords=&pathwaysOrg=&pathwaysType=&acct=democracy&typesOfSupport=all&transactionTypes=all&amtRanges=all&minGrantAmt=0&maxGrantAmt=0&gmTypes=all&minAssetsAmt=0&maxAssetsAmt=0&minGivingAmt=0&maxGivingAmt=0&andOr=0&includeGov=1&custom=all&customArea=all&indicator=&dataSource=oecd&chartType=bars&multiSubject=1&listType=grant&zoom=0&_ga=2.82149269.2078121296.1653672137-1104086992.1651693189
  10. “National Christian Charitable Foundation.” Candid: Foundation Funding for U.S. Democracy. Accessed May 28, 2022. https://maps.foundationcenter.org/?_gl=1*nf1su5*_ga*MTEwNDA4Njk5Mi4xNjUxNjkzMTg5*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTY1MzY3MjExMy40LjEuMTY1MzY3MjEzMy40MA..#/list/?subjects=all&popgroups=all&years=all&location=6252001&excludeLocation=0&geoScale=ADM0&layer=recip&boundingBox=-188.7890625,-66.65297740055277,189.140625,76.10079606754579&gmOrgs=all&recipOrgs=all&tags=all&keywords=&pathwaysOrg=&pathwaysType=&acct=democracy&typesOfSupport=all&transactionTypes=all&amtRanges=all&minGrantAmt=0&maxGrantAmt=0&gmTypes=all&minAssetsAmt=0&maxAssetsAmt=0&minGivingAmt=0&maxGivingAmt=0&andOr=0&includeGov=1&custom=all&customArea=all&indicator=&dataSource=oecd&chartType=bars&multiSubject=1&listType=gm&zoom=0
  11. “National Christian Charitable Foundation.” Candid: Foundation Funding for U.S. Democracy. Accessed May 28, 2022. https://maps.foundationcenter.org/?_gl=1*nf1su5*_ga*MTEwNDA4Njk5Mi4xNjUxNjkzMTg5*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTY1MzY3MjExMy40LjEuMTY1MzY3MjEzMy40MA..#/list/?subjects=all&popgroups=all&years=all&location=6252001&excludeLocation=0&geoScale=ADM0&layer=recip&boundingBox=-188.7890625,-66.65297740055277,189.140625,76.10079606754579&gmOrgs=all&recipOrgs=all&tags=all&keywords=&pathwaysOrg=&pathwaysType=&acct=democracy&typesOfSupport=all&transactionTypes=all&amtRanges=all&minGrantAmt=0&maxGrantAmt=0&gmTypes=all&minAssetsAmt=0&maxAssetsAmt=0&minGivingAmt=0&maxGivingAmt=0&andOr=0&includeGov=1&custom=all&customArea=all&indicator=&dataSource=oecd&chartType=bars&multiSubject=1&listType=gm&zoom=0
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 2001

    • 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
    2018 Dec Form 990 $1,521,671,969 $1,548,245,914 $2,220,030,143 $17,008,304 N $1,437,418,669 $6,390,699 $47,148,368 $2,258,028 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $1,579,256,751 $1,341,910,285 $2,388,495,401 $16,977,157 N $1,533,089,792 $3,499,438 $38,876,000 $1,818,337 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $1,413,857,674 $1,107,401,888 $2,051,198,898 $16,295,451 N $1,396,381,203 $1,154,826 $24,328,811 $4,281,741 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $1,161,740,793 $1,001,592,651 $1,698,831,596 $14,765,834 Y $1,145,574,907 $685,108 $23,457,647 $3,313,731 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $1,013,153,358 $898,438,126 $1,579,287,998 $13,633,464 Y $989,344,405 $300,621 $23,802,553 $3,301,380 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $854,391,346 $682,088,408 $1,448,126,635 $11,944,689 Y $832,458,379 $330,868 $20,723,693 $3,572,326 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $769,641,232 $625,262,287 $1,240,771,328 $10,848,357 N $753,192,591 $737,169 $16,374,836 $2,011,497 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $635,243,854 $521,881,489 $1,062,637,922 $9,454,829 N $612,381,924 $3,707,240 $18,204,568 $1,835,021 PDF
    2010 Dec Form 990 $541,223,647 $410,571,219 $955,484,781 $6,613,079 N $528,277,576 $237,880 $11,632,446 $2,064,416 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    National Christian Charitable Foundation


    Alpharetta, GA