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Non-profit

The Family Leader

Website:

thefamilyleader.com
Location:

Urbandale, IA
Tax ID:

42-1469051
Budget (2020):

Revenue: $286,894
Expenses: $300,101
Assets: $1,065,522
Type:

Nonprofit
Formation:

1999
President and CEO:

Bob Vander Plaats
President and CEO's Salary:

$196,000 1

References

  1. The Family Leader Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.

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The Family Leader (TFL, styled The FAMiLY Leader) is a right-of-center nonprofit organization that seeks to strengthen families by advocating for Christ-like leadership in government. Formed in 1996 as the Iowa Family Policy Center, an organization that was focused on public policy, the Family Leader changed its approach in 2010 to a gospel-first mission to transform American culture by making the church more prominent in the home, community, and government. 1

The Family Leader Foundation is the 501(c)(3) sister organization of the Family Leader. 2

Activities

The Family Leader encourages the election of Christ-like leaders to promote righteous public policy, reflecting biblical values. 3 TFL is most concerned with issues like education, the value of life, marriage and sexuality, and religious liberty. To this end, the Family Leader advocates for policies that support school choice; oppose abortion, physician-assisted suicide, and euthanasia; promote traditional marriages and oppose homosexuality; and protect freedoms of religion and conscience. 4

The Family Leader sponsors “If 7:14,” a movement calling for individuals to pray twice daily for revival. The name derives from the Biblical passage 2 Chronicles 7:14 and is supported by the book If 7:14 – An Urgent Call for Revival…It’s Time, written by TFL president and CEO Bob Vander Plaats. The book claims that the passage can be used as a template for revival. 5

Funding

The Family Leader is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While the Family Leader does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the Susan B. Anthony List ($100,000 in 2018), 6 the Family Policy Alliance ($70,833 in 2014), 7 and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation ($15,000 in 2014). 8

People

Bob Vander Plaats is the president and CEO of the Family Leader and the president of the Family Leader Foundation. 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. 9

Chuck Hurley is the vice president and chief counsel of TFL 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. 10

Denise Bubeck is the deputy director of the Church Ambassador Network at TFL. Bubeck is a Christian delegate to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and sits on the AIPAC National Council. 11

Danny Carroll represents TFL as a family advocate at the Iowa Legislature. Carroll is a former Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives, here he was assistant majority leader and speaker pro tem. 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 chair and treasurer; Todd and Mary Troll, vice chairs; Steve and Janet Boender, secretary; Dr. Chad and Amanda Carlson; and Mike and Jody Wohlenhaus, treasurers. 14

References

  1. “About Us.” The Family Leader, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://thefamilyleader.com/about/.
  2. [1] The Family Leader Foundation Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Schedule R, Part II, Line 1a.
  3. “Elections and Policy.” The Family Leader, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://thefamilyleader.com/elections-and-policy/.
  4. “Issues.” The Family Leader, 2023. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://thefamilyleader.com/issues/.
  5. “Home.” If714.org. Accessed February 2, 2023. http://www.if714.org/.
  6. Susan B. Anthony List, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018, Schedule I, Part II.
  7. Family Policy Alliance, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2014, Schedule I, Part II.
  8. Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2014, Part XV, Line 3.
  9. “Bob Vander Plaats.” Ballotpedia. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://ballotpedia.org/Bob_Vander_Plaats.
  10. “TFL Team.” The Family Leader, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://thefamilyleader.com/about/tfl-team-2/.
  11. “TFL Team.” The Family Leader, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://thefamilyleader.com/about/tfl-team-2/.
  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.
  14.  The Family Leader Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: September - August
  • Tax Exemption Received: February 1, 1999

    • 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
    2020 Sep Form 990 $286,894 $300,101 $1,065,522 $21,762 N $271,155 $0 $2,389 $44,448
    2019 Sep Form 990 $1,525,249 $535,196 $1,326,073 $19,106 N $1,523,537 $0 $1,340 $40,301 PDF
    2018 Sep Form 990EZ $172,138 $284,187 $394,936 $78,022 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2017 Sep Form 990 $312,106 $642,308 $490,762 $61,799 N $286,759 $0 $0 $83,146
    2016 Sep Form 990 $901,637 $498,998 $842,551 $83,386 N $855,956 $9,000 $0 $79,098
    2015 Sep Form 990 $1,362,828 $914,323 $467,132 $110,606 N $1,176,125 $186,491 $0 $161,672 PDF
    2014 Sep Form 990 $468,926 $667,686 $143,594 $235,573 N $284,566 $182,373 $0 $146,830 PDF
    2013 Sep Form 990 $983,046 $791,789 $199,285 $92,504 N $863,954 $117,281 $0 $120,865 PDF
    2012 Sep Form 990 $814,817 $836,176 $52,750 $137,226 N $698,549 $113,559 $0 $119,510 PDF
    2011 Sep Form 990 $323,081 $435,878 $20,289 $39,826 N $314,039 $9,042 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    The Family Leader


    Urbandale, IA