Becket
Becket, formerly the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is a non-profit, public-interest legal and educational institute which states its mission as to "protect the free expression of all faiths."[1] The Washington D.C. based organization was founded in 1994 by Kevin Hasson. Becket has been called "one of the most successful litigators seeking to curtail LGBTQ rights and abortion access."[2]
Becket is an associate member of the State Policy Network (SPN), a web of state pressure groups and "Think Tanks" that drive a right-wing agenda in statehouses nationwide.
Contents
News and Controversies
LGTBQ Adoption
Since 2018, in Sharonell Fulton, et al. v. City of Philadelphia Becket has represented the plaintiff, Catholic Social Services, in a case about adoptions. Becket argues that "the City then abruptly barred Catholic Social Services ... from placing any children ... simply because the City disagrees with Catholic Social Services’ longstanding beliefs about marriage."[3] Those on the side of the defendant argues that Catholic Social Services' actions are discriminatory against LGBTQ people, not allowing them to adopt children using their services. City officials cut some ties with Catholic Social Services upon hearing of these practices, prompting a suit on the grounds of religious discrimination.[4]
Trump Administration
Donald Trump appointed Roger Severino to head the department’s Office of Civil Rights, in 2018. Severino was previously chief operations officer and legal counsel for Becket.[2]
Ties to the Bradley Foundation
The Bradley Foundation has contributed $1,435,000 to Becket since 1998, mostly for general operations.[5]
| Bradley Files |
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In 2017, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), publishers of SourceWatch, launched a series of articles on the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, exposing the inner-workings of one of America's largest right-wing foundations. 56,000 previously undisclosed documents laid bare the Bradley Foundation's highly politicized agenda. CMD detailed Bradley's efforts to map and measure right wing infrastructure nationwide, including by dismantling and defunding unions to impact state elections; bankrolling discredited spin doctor Richard Berman and his many front groups; and more. |
Ties to the Koch Family Foundation
In 2009, The Koch Family Foundation gave $6,644 for "Educational Programs" to Becket and $20,538 in 2012. [6]
| Koch Wiki |
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Charles Koch is the right-wing billionaire owner of Koch Industries. As one of the richest people in the world, he is a key funder of the right-wing infrastructure, including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the State Policy Network (SPN). In SourceWatch, key articles on Charles Koch and his late brother David include: Koch Brothers, Americans for Prosperity, Stand Together Chamber of Commerce, Stand Together, Koch Family Foundations, Koch Universities, and I360. |
Ties to the State Policy Network
Becket is an associate member of the State Policy Network. [7]
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Learn more about how the State Policy Network aids ALEC and spins disinformation in the states. |
Funding
Becket receives grants from the following groups:
- Koch Family Foundations gave $6,644 and $20,538 in 2012.[8]
- Randolph has given $25,000 in 2008[9]
- Donors Trust gave $401,800 from 2010-2015[10]
- Atlas Network gave $9,000 in 2015.[11]
Core Financials
2014[12]
- Total Revenue: $6,396,572
- Total Expenses: $5,708,752
- Net Assets: $12,161,828
- Gave $1,600,000 to Stanford Law School for the Religous Libery Clinic
2013[12]
- Total Revenue: $5,016,058
- Total Expenses: $4,552,542
- Net Assets: $1,474,470
2012[12]
- Total Revenue: $4,752,560
- Total Expenses: $4,672,475
- Net Assets: $1,521,591
- Gave $432,000 to Stanford University for its law center
2011[12]
- Total Revenue: $4,268,119
- Total Expenses: $3,628,662
- Net Assets: $908,465
2010[12]
- Total Revenue: $2,684,403
- Total Expenses: $2,463,660
- Net Assets: $1,070,718
2009[12]
- Total Revenue: $2,684,403
- Total Expenses: $2,684,050
- Net Assets: $850,354
2008[12]
- Total Revenue: $2,430,891
- Total Expenses: $2,281,041
- Net Assets: $841,413
2007[12]
- Total Revenue: $2,060,872
- Total Expenses: $1,957,105
- Net Assets: $691,544
2006[12]
- Total Revenue: $1,800,797
- Total Expenses: $1,969,995
- Net Assets: $58,7777
2005[12]
- Total Revenue: $2,574,235
- Total Expenses: $2,535,820
- Net Assets: $756,975
2004[12]
- Total Revenue: $2,450,230
- Total Expenses: $2,551,200
- Net Assets: $716,160
2003[12]
- Total Revenue: $2,638,261
- Total Expenses: $2,198,778
- Net Assets: $817,130
2002[12]
- Total Revenue: $1,734,967
- Total Expenses: $1,681,367
- Net Assets: $400,714
2001[12]
- Total Revenue: $1,536,626
- Total Expenses: $1,685,147
- Net Assets: $347,114
2000[12]
- Total Revenue: $1,543,651
- Total Expenses: $1,244,446
- Net Assets: $495,635
Personnel
As of July 2018:
Management
- William P. Mumma, CEO & Board Chairman
- Montse Alvarado, VP & Executive Director
- Mark Rienzi, President
- Dermaine Isaacs, Director of Finance
- Kevin “Seamus” Hasson, Founder & President Emeritus
Counsel
- Luke Goodrich, VP & Senior Counsel
- Eric Rassbach, VP & Senior Counsel
- Eric Baxter, VP & Senior Counsel
- Lori Windham, Senior Counsel
- Daniel Blomberg, Senior Counsel
- Stephanie Barclay, Counsel
- Joe Davis, Counsel
- Adèle Keim, Counsel
- Nick Reaves, Counsel
- Diana Verm, Counsel
- Daniel Ortner, Constitutional Law Fellow
Governent Affairs
- Amy Vitale, Government Affairs Counsel
Communications
- Melinda Skea, Communications Director
- Stephanie Keenan, Communications Associate
- Ryan Colby, Media Relations Associate
- Caleb Lyman, Graphic Designer
- Katie Geary, Canterbury Fellow
Operations
- Hyewon Kraemer, Director of Development
- Julie Riggs, Director of External Relations
- Eric Hines, Major Gifts Officer
- Lucy Nolan, Development Associate
- Marina Golovkina, Development Associate
- Darlene Calandra, Senior Paralegal
- Chelise Fox, Legal Assistant
- Marie Peralta, Legal and Operations Manager
- Derringer Dick, Strategic Research Associate
- Matthew Lang, Executive Assistant
Fellows
- Kristina Arriaga, Senior Advisor to the Board
- Emily Hardman, Canterbury Fellow
- Angela Wu Howard, International Law Fellow
- Ashley McGuire, Neuhaus Fellow
- Hannah Smith, Senior Fellow
Board
- Clayton Christensen
- Sean Fieler
- John H. Garvey
- Robert P. George
- Mary Ann Glendon
- Kevin J. “Seamus” Hasson
- Leonard Leo
- Russell D. Moore
- Robert Neal
- William P. Mumma
- David N. Weidman
- Elder Lance Wickman
Contact Information
Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
1200 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: 202.955.0095 Fax: 202.955.0090
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BecketLaw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/becketlaw/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becketlaw/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BecketFundVideo
Media and Website Inquires- Ryan Colby
Email: rcolby@becketlaw.org
Phone: (202)-349-7219
References
- ↑ Becket Our Mission organization website, accessed June 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Abby Scher "No Healthcare for You" The Progressive, June 1, 2018
- ↑ Becket Sharonell Fulton, et al. v. City of Philadelphia Becket Fund for Religous Liberty] accessed June 2018
- ↑ Dana Liebelson Adoption, Foster Care Agencies That Shun LGBTQ People Get Millions From Taxpayers HuffPost News, June 10, 2018
- ↑ Sourcewatch Contributions of the Bradley Foundation Center for Media and Democracy, accessed June of 2018
- ↑ Sourcewatch Contributions of the Koch Family Foundation Center for Media and Democracy, accessed June of 2018
- ↑ SPN Directory organizational website, accessed June 2018
- ↑ Sourcewatch Contributions of the Koch Family Foundation Center for Media and Democracy, accessed June 2018
- ↑ Sourcewatch Contributions of the Randolph Foundation Center for Media and Democracy, accessed June 2018
- ↑ Sourcewatch DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund Grant Recipients Center for Media and Democracy, accessed June 2018
- ↑ Sourcewatch Atlas Network Center for Media and Democracy, accessed June 2018
- ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 12.14 Nonprofit Explorer, 990s ProPublica accessed June 2018.
