The Family Leader (TFL) Foundation

The Family Leader Foundation (TFL Foundation, styled The FAMiLY Leader Foundation) is a right-of-center nonprofit organization that seeks to promote and protect traditional values like marriage, family, and religious liberty. 1

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(4)
Issue Areas: Multi-Issue Advocacy
Website: thefamilyleader.com
Formation:

1997

President:

Bob Vander Plaats

President’s Salary:

$0 2

President’s Salary from Related Organization:

$177,715 2

Location: Urbandale, IA View on map
Tax ID: 42-1461169
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2025): Assets: $10,513,502 Revenue: $7,036,762 Expenses: $5,022,970

Contents

    The Family Leader is the sister advocacy organization of the Family Leader Foundation. 3

    Grantmaking

    The Family Leader Foundation provides grants to like-minded organizations, including Texas Values, the Center for Christian Virtue, and the Indiana Family Institute in support of the Daniel Impact (TDI, formerly called the Daniel Initiative). 4 TDI is a ministry effort led by the Family Leader that intends to inspire the church to engage in government, in an effort to, “advance the kingdom of God.” 5

    According to an interview with Greg Baker, who leads TDI, the Daniel Impact has expanded its church-state partnerships in Iowa and into other states, including Texas. Baker claims that he and his team have spent over 16,000 hours bringing ministry into the Iowa State House. 6 According to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R), the Daniel Impact has impacted elections, influenced policy decisions, and encouraged government officials through engagement with the church. 5

    The Family Leader Foundation also provides grants to like-minded organizations like Power to Change International and Holy Land Missions to assist with missionary activity and church-building. 7

    Funding

    The Family Leader Foundation is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While the Family Leader Foundation does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from Wallbuilder Presentations ($500,000 in 2016), 8 the Servant Foundation ($25,000 in 2019), 9 and the Mercer Family Foundation ($25,000 in 2017). 10

    People

    Bob Vander Plaats is the president of the Family Leader Foundation and the president and CEO of the Family Leader. Vander Plaats ran for the Republican nomination for governor of Iowa in 2002, 2006, and 2010 and was the Iowa chair for former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee‘s (R) 2008 presidential campaign. 11

    Chuck Hurley is the vice president of TFL Foundation 2 and former president of the Iowa Family Policy Center. Hurley is a former Republican member of the Iowa Legislature, where he was the chair of the House Judiciary Committee. 12

    Greg Baker is executive vice president of TFL, founding director of the Church Ambassador Network, and leads Daniel Impact. 12

    Board of Directors

    Monte and Peggy Knudsen are senior pastors at the Faith Christian Outreach Church. 13

    Other members of the board include Dave and Cheryl Kutscher, board chairs; Todd and Mary Troll, vice chairs; Dave and Gina Van Wyk; Mark Gilbreath; Steve and Janet Boender, secretary and treasurer; and Mike and Jody Wohlenhaus, treasurers. 2

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2025 $10,513,502 $7,036,762 $5,022,970
    2024 $8,589,840 $5,030,119 $4,282,625 View
    2023 $6,955,056 $4,789,552 $3,537,823 View
    2022 $5,474,058 $7,391,726 $3,183,241 View
    2021 $1,203,376 $2,715,296 $2,778,181 View
    2020 $1,678,233 $2,162,047 $2,391,270

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $14,320,852
    • Number of Grants: 88
    • Number of Funders: 38

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $2,150,0002022 Arlan J Van Wyk Family FoundationMinistry to strengthen families
    $1,262,5502022 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $1,000,0002023 The Mitchell FoundationTHE DANIEL IMPACT
    $750,0002024 The Mitchell FoundationTHE DANIEL IMPACT
    $577,8002024 National Christian Charitable Foundation, Inc.LEGAL SERVICES
    $554,2002020 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $505,0002022 Erickson Foundation IncCHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
    $500,0002022 The Mitchell FoundationTHE DANIEL IMPACT
    $500,0002021 The Mitchell FoundationTHE DANIEL IMPACT
    $500,0002020 The Mitchell FoundationTHE DANIEL IMPACT
    $455,3002021 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $378,7002022 National Christian Charitable Foundation, Inc.CULTURE
    $250,4002024 The SignatryCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
    $250,0002021 Arlan J Van Wyk Family FoundationMinistry to strengthen families
    $205,6002023 National Christian Charitable Foundation, Inc.CULTURE
    $200,0002022 UsatransformTo support and encourage the mission.
    $187,4272023 Arlan J Van Wyk Family FoundationMinistry to strengthen families
    $157,1502023 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $155,2002024 The SignatryCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
    $150,0002020 Arlan J Van Wyk Family FoundationMinistry to strengthen families
    $129,9502021 National Christian Charitable Foundation, Inc.CULTURE
    $102,7522022 Kahr Foundation-ImaGENERAL SUPPORT
    $101,6002020 National Christian Charitable Foundation, Inc.CULTURE
    $100,0002024 Saving TexasTO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
    $100,0002022 The Lloyd and Vivian Noble FoundationOPERATING FUND

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $4,663,500
    • Number of Grants: 72
    • Number of Recipients: 21

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $200,0002022 Texas ValuesDANIEL IMPACT
    $135,0002023 Frontline Policy CouncilDANIEL IMPACT
    $125,0002024 Frontline Policy CouncilDANIEL IMPACT
    $125,0002021 Texas ValuesDANIEL IMPACT
    $100,0002024 Pennsylvania Family CouncilDANIEL IMPACT
    $100,0002021 Scriptura (formerly Cambridge Digital Bible Research)DANIEL IMPACT
    $100,0002020 Center for Arizona Policy ActionDaniel impact
    $100,0002020 Citizens for Community ValuesDaniel impact
    $100,0002020 Indiana Family Institute IncDaniel impact
    $100,0002020 Minnesota Family InstituteDaniel impact
    $100,0002020 Pennsylvania Family InstituteDaniel impact
    $100,0002020 Wisconsin Family CouncilDaniel impact
    $90,0002022 Pennsylvania Family InstituteDANIEL IMPACT
    $85,0002023 Indiana Family Institute IncDANIEL IMPACT
    $85,0002022 Minnesota Family InstituteDANIEL IMPACT
    $82,5002022 CENTER FOR ARIZONA POLICY INCDANIEL IMPACT
    $82,5002022 Wisconsin Family CouncilDANIEL IMPACT
    $75,0002024 Pennsylvania Family InstituteDANIEL IMPACT
    $75,0002024 Wisconsin Family CouncilDANIEL IMPACT
    $75,0002023 The Family Foundation of VirginiaDANIEL IMPACT
    $75,0002022 Center for Christian VirtueDANIEL IMPACT
    $75,0002022 Florida Family Voice IncDANIEL IMPACT
    $75,0002022 Indiana Family Institute IncDANIEL IMPACT
    $75,0002021 Center for Christian VirtueDANIEL IMPACT
    $75,0002021 Indiana Family Institute IncDANIEL IMPACT

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1.  “Donate.” The Family Leader, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://thefamilyleader.com/donation/.
    2. The Family Leader Foundation Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.
    3. The Family Leader Foundation Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Schedule R, Part II, Line 1a.
    4. The Family Leader Foundation Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Schedule I, Part II.
    5. “The Daniel Impact.” The Family Leader, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://thefamilyleader.com/tdi/.
    6. “The Growth of the Daniel Impact and Church State Partnerships in Iowa with Greg Baker.” YouTube, September 9, 2022. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hviyl7jzr5U.
    7.  The Family Leader Foundation Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2015, Schedule I, Part II.
    8. Wallbuilder Presentations, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2016, Schedule I, Part II.
    9. The Servant Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Schedule I, Part II.
    10. Mercer Family Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017, Part XV, Line 3.
    11. “Bob Vander Plaats.” Ballotpedia. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://ballotpedia.org/Bob_Vander_Plaats.
    12. “TFL Team.” The Family Leader, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://thefamilyleader.com/about/tfl-team-2/.
    13. “Leadership.” Faith Christian Outreach Church. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.fcoc.net/leadership.