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Non-profit

The Institute on Religion and Democracy

Website:

theird.org/
Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

52-1265221
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $1,433,062
Expenses: $1,300,273
Assets: $441,731
Formation:

1985
Type:

Nonprofit
President:

Mark Tooley
President's Salary:

$170,001 1

References

  1. The Institute on Religion & Democracy Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.

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The Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) is a nonprofit Christian think tank that seeks to protect religious freedom and advance public policy that supports biblical and historical Christian teachings. IRD concerns itself with issues that include marriage, religious liberty (both domestic and abroad), sexuality, immigration, and the environment. 1

Activities

Founded in 1981 by United Methodists and other Christians concerned that church officials were supporting Marxist causes that opposed democracy and human rights, the Institute on Religion and Democracy serves as a watchdog of the religious and evangelical left. IRD is especially concerned with advocates who push a liberal policy agenda while claiming to represent the values of their church members. The Institute on Religion and Democracy notes that many church elites, while claiming to speak on the half of their Christian members, lobby for issues that the church does not support, including abortion rights, LGBT interests, extreme environmentalism, and big government. IRD aims to be a voice for church members by connecting them with renewal groups and empowering them to work for change in their denominations. 2

The Institute on Religion and Democracy’s blog, Juicy Ecumenism, includes posts revealing denominations that support political issues which conflict with IRD’s principles. A July 2022 post states that the General Convention of the Episcopal Church reaffirmed its support for legal abortion, a stance it has held since 1967; 3 a July 2021 post states that the United Church of Christ not only proposed resolutions that followed a left-leaning agenda at its General Synod, but made specific endorsements for the Green New Deal 4; a May 2021 post states that the Church of Scotland, which officially affirms a traditional understanding of marriage, has been working to develop legislation which would allow ministers and deacons to marry same-sex couples. 5

The Institute on Religion and Democracy conducts policy research using its expertise in mainline denominations, para-church organizations, and church renewal movements. IRD claims to research topics important for national and international debate that are often overlooked by other policy institutes. IRD’s recent publications include papers on defending traditional marriage and Christians and the environment. 6

The Institute on Religion and Democracy is committed to international religious freedom and intends to speak on behalf of persecuted Christians. IRD claims that American church elites are more likely to allow for the repression of religion and human rights by Marxists, Islamists, and others than to advocate for the repressed. 7

Funding

The Institute on Religion and Democracy is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While IRD does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the Sarah Scaife Foundation ($300,000 in 2020), 8 Donors Capital Fund ($250,000 in 2014), 9 and the Philos Project ($100,000 in 2019). 10

People

Mark Tooley is the president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy. Tooley formerly worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. 11

Paul Marshall is the chair of the board of IRD and a senior fellow at both the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom and the Leimena Institute. 12

Graham Walker is the vice-chair of the board of IRD and the executive director of the Independent Institute. Walker is a former senior research scholar at the Witherspoon Institute and a former visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. 13

Fred Barnes is co-founder and executive editor of The Weekly Standard and former senior editor and White House correspondent for The New Republic. 14

Matt Blunt is the president of the American Automotive Policy Council and a former Republican governor of Missouri. 15

Janice Shaw Crouse is a senior fellow at the Concerned Women for America’s Beverly LaHaye Institute. 16

Emilie Kao is a vice president and senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom and the former director of the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at the Heritage Foundation. 17

Craig Vincent Mitchell is a senior fellow at the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation and the president of the Ethics and Political Economy Center. 18

Eric Patterson is the former associate director of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. 19

Jim Robb is the vice president of operations at NumbersUSA. 20

William Saunders, Sr. is a program director at the Institute for Human Ecology, the chair of the Religious Liberties Group of the Federalist Society, and the president of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars. Saunders is also of counsel at Americans United for Life. 21

Wendy Wright is the former president of Concerned Women for America. 22

Other members of the board include Sara Anderson, Kenneth J. Collins, Mateen Elass, John Guernsey, Hans Jacobse, Martin Nicholas, and Ed Stewart. 23

References

  1. “About.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 18, 2022. https://theird.org/about/.
  2. “Letter from the President.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 18, 2022. https://theird.org/about/letter-from-the-president/.
  3. Walton, Jeffrey. “‘No Restriction’ on Abortion, Episcopalians Resolve at General Convention.” Juicy Ecumenism, July 14, 2022. Accessed July 18, 2022. https://juicyecumenism.com/2022/07/14/episcopal-abortion/.
  4. Walton, Jeffrey. “‘Who Will Speak for the Trees?’ Asks United Church of Christ Resolution.” Juicy Ecumenism, July 13, 2021. Accessed July 18, 2022. https://juicyecumenism.com/2021/07/13/who-will-speak-for-the-trees-united-church-of-christ/.
  5. Walton, Jeffrey. “Church of Scotland Moves Towards Redefinition of Marriage.” Juicy Ecumenism, May 26, 2021. Accessed July 18, 2022. https://juicyecumenism.com/2021/05/26/church-of-scotland-redefinition-marriage/.
  6.  “Letter from the President.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 18, 2022. https://theird.org/about/letter-from-the-president/.
  7. “Letter from the President.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 18, 2022. https://theird.org/about/letter-from-the-president/.
  8. Sarah Scaife Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2020, Part XV, Line 3.
  9. Donors Capital Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2014, Schedule I, Part II.
  10. The Philos Project, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Schedule I, Part II.
  11. “Mark Tooley.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/person/mark-tooley/.
  12. “Dr. Paul Marshall.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/person/dr-paul-marshall/.
  13. “Dr. Graham H. Walker.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/person/graham-h-walker/.
  14. “Mr. Fred Barnes.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/person/mr-fred-barnes/.
  15. Gov. Matt Blunt.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/person/gov-matt-blunt/.
  16. “Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/person/dr-janice-shaw-crouse/.
  17. “Emilie Kao.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/person/emilie-kao/.
  18. “Dr. Craig Vincent Mitchell.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/person/dr-craig-vincent-mitchell/.
  19. “Dr. Eric Patterson.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/person/dr-eric-patterson/.
  20. “Mr. James Robb.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/person/mr-james-robb/.
  21. “Mr. William Saunders, Sr.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/person/mr-william-saunders-sr/.
  22. Wendy Wright.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/person/wendy-wright/.
  23. “Board of Directors.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2022. Accessed July 15, 2022. https://theird.org/board-of-directors/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: November 1, 1985

    • 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 Dec Form 990 $1,433,062 $1,300,273 $441,731 $173,423 N $1,427,644 $0 $2,115 $169,282
    2019 Dec Form 990 $1,599,122 $1,744,961 $504,942 $373,075 N $1,586,867 $0 $5,054 $170,001 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $1,775,645 $1,672,766 $393,592 $120,058 Y $1,762,767 $0 $4,242 $166,731 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $1,546,320 $1,730,684 $342,037 $167,734 N $1,538,544 $0 $2,138 $158,461 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $1,408,098 $1,497,231 $480,863 $124,580 N $1,402,660 $0 $752 $152,087 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $1,450,717 $1,336,685 $533,970 $89,623 N $1,448,667 $0 $2,018 $136,881 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $1,057,789 $1,111,268 $386,084 $53,026 N $1,054,538 $0 $2,260 $111,395 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $967,361 $1,036,556 $438,368 $51,035 N $962,926 $0 $1,032 $108,150 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $982,845 $1,111,662 $491,338 $36,541 N $978,650 $0 $1,306 $103,001 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,011,310 $824,343 $603,092 $27,517 N $1,007,839 $0 $2,175 $140,289 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    The Institute on Religion and Democracy


    Washington, DC