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Non-profit

National Right to Life Committee (NRLC)

Location:

Alexandria, VA
Tax ID:

52-0986195
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $4,997,529
Expenses: $4,748,096
Assets: $1,818,415
Type:

Pro-Life Activist Group
Formation:

1974
Executive Director:

Scott Fischbach

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National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) is among the oldest and largest pro-life organizing groups in the United States, with affiliate organizations in 50 states and more than 3,000 local chapters. National Right to Life’s primary goal is to restore and guarantee legal protection to those who are defenseless against the threats of abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. 1

National Right to Life Committee Educational Trust Fund is the charitable arm of NRLC. 2

Activities

Established in 1968, National Right to Life seeks to protect and defend the right to life, which it defines as beginning at conception and ending with natural death. NRLC claims this to be the most fundamental right of humankind and cites the Declaration of Independence as the source for establishing “life” as an unalienable right. National Right to Life promotes respect for the worth and dignity of every individual, born or unborn, especially those who are vulnerable due to disabilities or age, or are otherwise defenseless in protecting their own lives. 3

National Right to Life focuses on opposing abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and the harvesting of embryonic stem cells. National Right to Life supports its pro-life agenda by providing research, educational materials, and leadership training along with legislation advocacy and political action. 4

National Right to Life provides information on abortion alternatives to pregnant women, including resources for reversing the effects of the abortion pill and finding local pregnancy resource centers.  NRLC also provides contact information for pregnancy support resources like the Pregnancy Decision Line, StandUpGirl.com, and Making Life Disciples. 5

National Right to Life works with its state affiliates to draft and pass pro-life legislation at the state level, intended to protect unborn children and their mothers. 6 Since the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision in June 2022, NRLC has compiled a list of pro-life and pro-abortion laws and initiatives that are current in each state. 7 NRLC has additionally proposed a model post-Roe abortion law that would protect unborn life by prohibiting abortion and implementing an effective enforcement regime. 8

Powell Center for Medical Ethics

National Right to Life’s Powell Center for Medical Ethics works to protect vulnerable people, such as the disabled or the elderly, from threats such as euthanasia and denial of lifesaving medical treatment, food, and fluids. 9 The Powell Center’s Will to Live project encourages individuals to prepare not a living will, but a “Will to Live,” an alternative, life-affirming advance directive that it claims could prevent being starved to death or allowed to die due to having a disability. 10

National Right to Life Political Action Committee

National Right to Life Political Action Committee (NRL PAC) was established in 1979 as a single-issue, pro-life political action committee working to elect pro-life candidates to office. NRL PAC has supported pro-life candidates for federal office since Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign in 1980, and focuses on competitive races. 11

National Right to Life Victory Fund

National Right to Life Victory Fund was established in 2012 as an independent expenditure political committee to expand and enhance the political impact of National Right to Life. 12

National Right to Life Victory Fund helps to elect pro-life leaders to advance legislation that protects unborn babies and their mothers from abortion. Following a 2020 election poll, the Victory Fund claims that 79 percent of the 295 candidates supported by National Right to Life won their elections. The Victory Fund provides endorsements for upcoming elections and scorecards showing how representatives voted on pro-life issues. 13

Funding

National Right to Life Committee is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While NRLC does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the American Future Fund ($100,000 in 2018), 14 the Judicial Crisis Network ($50,000 in 2018), 15 and the Brady Foundation ($10,000 in 2017). 16

People

Scott Fischbach is the executive director of NRLC and former executive director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life. Fischbach formerly worked as campaign staff for former Senator Rudy Boschwitz (R-MN), coalitions director for former Senator Bob Dole’s (R-KS) 1996 presidential campaign, and as an advisor to pro-life public officials like former North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) and former Mississippi Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck (R). 17

David N. O’Steen is the former executive director of NRLC and continues to work with the organization as an advisor. O’Steen established the Robert Powell Center for Medical Ethics at NRLC and is credited with expanding NRLC’s outreach efforts to minorities, young people, and women healing from abortion by establishing outreach organizations like Black Americans for Life, National Teens for Life, and American Victims of Abortion. 18

Darla St. Martin is the co-executive director of NRLC and sits on the board of the James Madison Center for Free Speech. 19

James Bopp Jr. serves as general council for NRLC, the James Madison Center for Free Speech, and the American Federation for Children. Bopp is a former vice chair of the Republican National Committee, former co-chair of the Election Law Subcommittee at the Federalist Society. Bopp currently sits on the board of governors of the Republican National Lawyers Association. 20

Board of Directors

According to 2019 tax filings, the following individuals serve on the boards of both the National Right to Life Committee and the National Right to Life Committee Educational Trust Fund. 21 22

Carol Tobias is the president of the NRLC, where she formerly worked as political director. Tobias is a former executive director of North Dakota Right to Life. 23

Geline Williams is the chair emeritus of NRLC, where she sat as an active member of the board for 34 years. Williams is a former mayor of Richmond, Virginia. 24

Lynda Bell is the chair of NRLC and the president of the board of Florida Right to Life. 25 Bell is a former Miami-Dade County Commissioner. 26

Barbara Holt is the vice chair of NRLC and a former president of North Carolina Right to Life. 27

Anthony Lauinger is the vice president of NRLC, the president of Oklahomans for Life, and sits on the board of the Religious Freedom Institute. Lauinger is a former three-time delegate to the Republican National Convention. 28

Bob Emrich sits on the board of the Maine Right to Life Committee. Emrich is a former Northeast Church Ministry representative for the Family Research Council, former chair of the Maine Christian Civic League, and a former Maine State Director for both the Congress Prayer Caucus Foundation and the Maine Legislative Prayer Caucus. 29

Steve Ertelt is the founder and editor of LifeNews.com and the President of Colorado Citizens for Life. Ertelt is a former president of both Right to Life of Wyoming and Students for Life of America, a former executive director of Montana Right to Life, and a former public affairs director for Indiana Right to Life. 30

Jeanne Head is NRLC’s chief representative to the United Nations and sits on the board of the New York State Right to Life Committee. 31

Charles E. James, Sr. is a co-founder of the Gloucester Institute. James formerly worked as director at the Department of Transportation and deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Labor. 32

Brian Johnston is the western regional director of NRLC and the host of Life Matters Radio and Podcast. Johnston formerly worked as commissioner at the California Commission on Aging. 33

Susan Smith Lataif sits on the board of the Georgia Life Alliance. Lataif formerly worked as legislative director at Ohio Right to Life and associate legislative director for NRLC. 34

References

  1. “About NRLC.” National Right to Life. Accessed May 1, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/about/.
  2. National Right to Life Committee Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Schedule R, Part II.
  3. “NRLC’s Mission Statement.” National Right to Life. Accessed May 1, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/about/mission/
  4. “NRLC’s Mission Statement.” National Right to Life. Accessed May 1, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/about/mission/.
  5. “Pregnant? Need Help?” National Right to Life. Accessed May 1, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/help/.
  6. “State Legislative Center.” National Right to Life. Accessed May 1, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/statelegislation/.
  7. “State Pro-Life and Pro-Abortion Laws and Initiatives.” National Right to Life, February 1, 2023. Accessed May 1, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/wp-content/uploads/PostDobbsfactsheetwherestatesstand.pdf.
  8. “NRLC Post-Roe Model Abortion Law.” National Right to Life, July 4, 2022. Accessed May 1, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/uploads/files/NRLCPost-RoeModelAbortionLaw.pdf.
  9. “Robert Powell Center for Medical Ethics at the National Right to Life Committee.” National Right to Life. Accessed May 1, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/medethics/.
  10. “Why Not Sign a Living Will Instead of the Will to Live?” National Right to Life, January 1, 2013. Accessed May 1, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/medethics/willtolive/whynotwtl/.
  11. “About Us.” National Right to Life Political Action Committee. Archived from the original March 7, 2019. Accessed May 1, 2023. http://web.archive.org/web/20190307211732/http://www.nrlpac.org/about_us.htm.
  12. “About Us.” National Right to Life Political Action Committee. Archived from the original March 7, 2019. Accessed May 1, 2023. http://web.archive.org/web/20190307211732/http://www.nrlpac.org/about_us.htm.
  13. “Home.” National Right to Life Victory Fund. Accessed May 1, 2023. https://www.nrlvictoryfund.org/.
  14. American Future Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018, Schedule I, Part II.
  15. Judicial Crisis Network, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018, Schedule I, Part II.
  16. Brady Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017, Part XV, Line 3.
  17. “National Right to Life Announces New Executive Director.” National Right to Life, December 27, 2022. Accessed April 27, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/communications/national-right-to-life-announces-new-executive-director/.
  18. “National Right to Life Announces New Executive Director.” National Right to Life, December 27, 2022. Accessed April 27, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/communications/national-right-to-life-announces-new-executive-director/.
  19. Officers and Directors.” James Madison Center for Free Speech. Accessed April 27, 2023. https://www.jamesmadisoncenter.org/about/officers.html
  20. “Attorney Profiles.” The Bopp Law Firm. Accessed April 27, 2023. https://www.bopplaw.com/attorney-profiles/
  21. National Right to Life Committee Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.
  22. National Right to Life Committee Educational Trust Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.
  23. “National Right to Life President Carol Tobias.” National Right to Life. Accessed April 27, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/6-2/national-right-to-life-president-carol-tobias/.
  24. “Geline Williams To Be Honored.” St. Bridget Catholic Church, July 28, 2015. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://saintbridgetchurch.org/Resources/Announcements/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2253/Geline-Williams-To-Be-Honored
  25. “Our Board of Directors.” Florida Right to Life. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://frtl.org/about/our-board-of-directors/.
  26. “Lynda Bell.” LinkedIn. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynda-bell-02939a7/.
  27. “Barbara Holt.” LinkedIn. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/holt-barbara-5041a82b/.
  28. “Our Board of Directors.” Religious Freedom Institute. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/our-board-of-directors/.
  29. “Bob Emrich.” Truth & Liberty Coalition. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://truthandliberty.net/bio/bob-emrich/.
  30. “About.” LifeNews.com. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://www.lifenews.com/about/.
  31. “Chief UN Representative for National Right to Life, Jeanne Head, R.N., was Presented with the Maximilian Kolbe Friend to the Nations Medal.” National Right to Life, March 16, 2022. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://www.nrlc.org/communications/nrlcs-jeanne-head-presented-with-maximilian-kolbe-medal/.
  32. “Charles E. James, Sr.” LinkedIn. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cejsr/.
  33. “Brian Johnston.” LinkedIn. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-johnston-a29878a/.
  34. “Our Leadership.” Georgia Life Alliance. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://www.georgialifealliance.com/leadership-full.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: April - March
  • Tax Exemption Received: October 1, 1974

    • 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 Apr Form 990 $4,997,529 $4,748,096 $1,818,415 $2,718,377 N $4,989,878 $0 $3,755 $695,239
    2020 Apr Form 990 $3,862,651 $2,765,031 $2,153,847 $3,303,242 N $3,773,326 $0 $121 $698,940 PDF
    2019 Apr Form 990 $4,144,508 $4,068,629 $1,108,788 $3,355,803 Y $3,877,277 $0 $16 $674,444 PDF
    2018 Apr Form 990 $2,849,451 $3,643,695 $325,619 $2,648,513 N $2,798,403 $0 $497 $656,265 PDF
    2017 Apr Form 990 $3,532,072 $3,963,649 $414,503 $1,941,903 Y $3,384,004 $58 $1,374 $643,624
    2016 Apr Form 990 $5,086,018 $5,231,479 $749,540 $1,845,363 N $4,334,062 $88 $4,126 $609,651 PDF
    2015 Apr Form 990 $5,181,355 $4,855,871 $1,436,937 $2,387,299 N $5,066,528 $384 $7,966 $598,779 PDF
    2014 Apr Form 990 $6,443,373 $5,785,915 $905,611 $2,180,665 N $6,395,743 $4,586 $0 $622,366 PDF
    2013 Apr Form 990 $5,717,028 $6,288,548 $1,216,641 $3,118,032 Y $5,433,270 $18,790 $12,914 $723,158 PDF
    2012 Apr Form 990 $5,549,712 $6,425,638 $1,849,416 $3,168,936 Y $5,459,444 $17,987 $17,698 $281,114 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    National Right to Life Committee (NRLC)


    Alexandria, VA