Difference between revisions of "Sutherland Institute"

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The '''Sutherland Institute''' describes itself as "a conservative public policy think tank committed to shaping Utah law and policy based on a core set of governing principles" including "private initiative, self-reliance, and family as the fundamental unit of society. The Institute seeks to influence law and society, and provide an effective vehicle for fellow Utahns to influence public policy as well."<ref>[http://www.sutherlandinstitute.org/SitePages/index.asp?section=pages&page=aboutus "About Us"], accessed March 2008.</ref> It is a member of the [[State Policy Network]], an umbrella organization for "free market" state think tanks that has ties to the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC).
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The '''Sutherland Institute''' describes itself as "a conservative public policy think tank committed to shaping Utah law and policy based on a core set of governing principles," including "private initiative, self-reliance, and family as the fundamental unit of society. The Institute seeks to ''influence law'' and society, and provide an effective vehicle for fellow Utahns to influence public policy as well" (emphasis added).<ref>Sutherland Institute, [http://www.sutherlandinstitute.org/SitePages/index.asp?section=pages&page=aboutus About Us], organizational website, accessed March 2008.</ref> It is a member of the [[State Policy Network]] (SPN), an umbrella organization for "free market" state think tanks that has ties to the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC).
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==Direct Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council==
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The Sutherland Institute was a co-sponsor of [[ALEC]]'s 2012 annual meeting in Salt Lake City.<ref>Sutherland Institute, [http://sutherlandinstitute.org/blog/mero-moment-alec-besieged-by-the-left/ "ALEC Besieged by the Left"], organizational website, accessed December 2012.</ref> Sutherland also has ties to ALEC through its membership in SPN, which itself is an ALEC member.
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{{about_ALEC}}
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==Ties to the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity==
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The API is listed as hosting [[Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity]] "investigative journalists."<ref>Franklin Center, [http://franklincenterhq.org/2376/think-tank-journalism-the-future-of-investigative-reporting/ Franklin Affiliates in Your State], organizational website, accessed October 2012.</ref> The Franklin Center funds reporters in over 40 states.<ref>The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, [http://www.franklincenterhq.org/2376/think-tank-journalism-the-future-of-investigative-reporting/ Think tank Journalism: The Future of Investigative Journalism], organizational website, accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> Despite their non-partisan description, many of the websites funded by the Franklin Center have received criticism for their conservative bias<ref>Rebekah Metzler, [http://www.pressherald.com/news/watchdog-website-puts-a-new-spin-on-politics_2010-10-02.html 'Watchdog' website puts a new spin on politics], ''The Portland Press Herald'', accessed August 19, 2011.</ref><ref>Allison Kilkenny, [http://www.truth-out.org/koch-spider-web/1312231636 The Koch Spider Web], ''Truthout'', accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> On its website, the Franklin Center claims it "provides 10 percent of all daily reporting from state capitals nationwide."<ref> Sara Jerving, [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/10/10971/franklin-center-right-wing-funds-state-news-source Franklin Center: Right-Wing Funds State News Source], ''[http://www.prwatch.org PRWatch.org]'', October 27, 2011.</ref>
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===Franklin Center Funding===
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Franklin Center Director of Communications Michael Moroney told the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) in 2013 that the source of the Franklin Center's funding "is 100 percent anonymous." But 95 percent of its 2011 funding came from [[DonorsTrust]], a spin-off of the [[Philanthropy Roundtable]] that functions as a large "donor-advised fund," cloaking the identity of donors to right-wing causes across the country (CPI did a review of Franklin's Internal Revenue Service records).<ref name="Abowd">Paul Abowd, Center for Public Integrity, [http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/02/14/12181/donors-use-charity-push-free-market-policies-states Donors use charity to push free-market policies in states], organizational report, February 14, 2013.</ref> ''Mother Jones'' called DonorsTrust "the dark-money ATM of the conservative movement" in a February 2013 article.<ref>Andy Kroll, [http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/02/donors-trust-donor-capital-fund-dark-money-koch-bradley-devos Exposed: The Dark-Money ATM of the Conservative Movement], ''Mother Jones'', February 5, 2013.</ref> Franklin received DonorTrust's second-largest donation in 2011.<ref name="Abowd"/>
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The Franklin Center also receives funding from the Wisconsin-based [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]],<ref>The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. [http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/127259723.html Franklin Center boss wants apology from Democratic staffer]. News website. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> a conservative grant-making organization.<ref>The Bradley Foundation. [http://www.bradleyfdn.org/ The Bradley Foundation]. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref>
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The Franklin Center was launched by the Chicago-based [[Sam Adams Alliance]] (SAM),<ref>Sam Adams Alliance. [http://www.samadamsalliance.org/media/5148/sam_adams_alliance_media_kit.pdf Sam Adams Alliance Media Kit]. Organizational PDF. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> a 501(c)(3) devoted to pushing free-market ideals. SAM gets funding from the [[State Policy Network]],<ref>Media Matters Action Network. [http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/Sam_Adams_Alliance/funders Sam Adams Alliance]. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> which is partially funded by The Claude R. Lambe Foundation.<ref>Media Matters Action Network. [http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/State_Policy_Network/funders State Policy Network]. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> [[Charles Koch]], one of the billionaire brothers who co-own Koch Industries, sits on the board of this foundation.<ref>Media Matters Action Network. [http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/Claude_R_Lambe_Charitable_Foundation Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation]. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> SAM also receives funding from the [[Rodney Fund]].
  
 
==Funding==
 
==Funding==
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In its 2006 annual report the [[Cato Institute]] stated that it provided a grant of $40,000 to the Sutherland Institute.<ref>Cato Institute, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/237/432/2006-237432162-02d95084-9.pdf 2006 Annual Report], pages 19-23.</ref>
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In its 2006 annual report, the [[Cato Institute]] stated that it provided a grant of $40,000 to the Sutherland Institute.<ref>Cato Institute, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/237/432/2006-237432162-02d95084-9.pdf 2006 Annual Report], pages 19-23.</ref>
  
 
==Core Financials==
 
==Core Financials==
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'''<big>2009</big>'''<ref>Sutherland Institute, IRS form 990, 2009. [http://www.guidestar.org/ GuideStar].</ref>:
 
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*Total Revenue: $1,335,989.00
 
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*Total Expenses: $1,273,550.00
 
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*Net Assets: $214,469.00
 
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'''<big>2010</big>'''<ref>Sutherland Institute, IRS form 990, 2010. [http://www.guidestar.org/ GuideStar].</ref>:
 
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*Total Revenue: $1,453,952.00
 
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*Total Expenses: $1,321,873.00
 
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*Net Assets: $346,548.00
 
  
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==Ties to the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity==
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'''<big>2011</big>'''<ref>Sutherland Institute, [https://bulk.resource.org/irs.gov/eo/2013_02_EO/87-0531727_990_201206.pdf IRS Form 990], organizational tax filing, February 4, 2013.</ref>
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Sutherland Institute is listed as hosting [[Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity]] "investigative journalists." <ref>[http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/e/e4/Franklin_Center_Statehouse_News_Bureaus.jpg Statehouse News Bureaus], [http://www.sourcewatch.org Source Watch], accessed March 23, 2012 </ref> The Franklin Center funds reporters in over 40 states.<ref>The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. [http://www.franklincenterhq.org/2376/think-tank-journalism-the-future-of-investigative-reporting/ Think tank Journalism: The Future of Investigative Journalism]. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> Despite their non-partisan description, many of the websites funded by the Franklin Center have received criticism for their conservative bias.<ref>The Portland Press Herald. [http://www.pressherald.com/news/watchdog-website-puts-a-new-spin-on-politics_2010-10-02.html 'Watchdog' website puts a new spin on politics']. News website. Accessed August 19, 2011. </ref><ref>Truthout. [http://www.truth-out.org/koch-spider-web/1312231636 The Koch Spider Web]. News website. Accessed August 19, 2011. </ref> On it's website, the Franklin Center claims that it "provides 10 percent of all daily reporting from state capitals nationwide." <ref> Sara Jerving, [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/10/10971/franklin-center-right-wing-funds-state-news-source http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/10/10971/franklin-center-right-wing-funds-state-news-source], [http://www.prwatch.org PR Watch], October 27, 2011 </ref>
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* Total Revenue: $1,309,705
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* Total Expenses: $1,511,379
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* Net Assets: $144,874
  
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===Funding===
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'''<big>2010</big>'''<ref>Sutherland Institute, IRS form 990, 2010. [http://www.guidestar.org/ GuideStar].</ref>:
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The Franklin Center was launched by the Chicago-based [[Sam Adams Alliance]] (SAM),<ref>Sam Adams Alliance. [http://www.samadamsalliance.org/media/5148/sam_adams_alliance_media_kit.pdf Sam Adams Alliance Media Kit]. Organizational PDF. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> a 501(c)(3) devoted to pushing free-market ideals. SAM gets funding from the [[State Policy Network]],<ref>Media Matters Action Network. [http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/Sam_Adams_Alliance/funders Sam Adams Alliance]. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> which is partially funded by The Claude R. Lambe Foundation.<ref>Media Matters Action Network. [http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/State_Policy_Network/funders State Policy Network]. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> [[Charles Koch]], one of the billionaire brothers who co-own Koch Industries, sits on the board of this foundation.<ref>Media Matters Action Network. [http://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/Claude_R_Lambe_Charitable_Foundation Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation]. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> SAM also receives funding from the [[Rodney Fund]]. The Franklin Center also receives funding from the Wisconsin-based [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]],<ref>The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. [http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/127259723.html Franklin Center boss wants apology from Democratic staffer]. News website. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> a conservative grant-making organization.<ref>The Bradley Foundation. [http://www.bradleyfdn.org/ The Bradley Foundation]. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.</ref>
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*Total Revenue: $1,453,952
 +
*Total Expenses: $1,321,873
 +
*Net Assets: $346,548
  
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==Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council==
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'''<big>2009</big>'''<ref>Sutherland Institute, IRS form 990, 2009. [http://www.guidestar.org/ GuideStar].</ref>:
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The Sutherland Institute was a co-sponsor of [[ALEC]]'s 2012 annual meeting in Salt Lake City.<ref>Sutherland Institute. [http://sutherlandinstitute.org/blog/mero-moment-alec-besieged-by-the-left/ "ALEC Besieged by the Left"], organizational website, accessed December 2012.</ref>
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*Total Revenue: $1,335,989
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{{about_ALEC}}
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*Total Expenses: $1,273,550
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*Net Assets: $214,469.00
  
 
==Personnel==
 
==Personnel==
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===Board of Directors===
 
===Board of Directors===
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*Stanford D. Swim, Chairman
 
*Stanford D. Swim, Chairman
 
*Paul T. Mero, President
 
*Paul T. Mero, President
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==Contact Details==
 
==Contact Details==
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Sutherland Institute<br>
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Gateway Tower West Building<br>
 
Gateway Tower West Building<br>
 
15 West South Temple, Suite 200<br>
 
15 West South Temple, Suite 200<br>
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==Articles and Resources==
 
==Articles and Resources==
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===Sources===
 
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<references/>
 
  
 
===Related SourceWatch Articles===
 
===Related SourceWatch Articles===
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*[[Think tanks]]
 
*[[Think tanks]]
  
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===External Articles===
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===References===
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<references/>
  
 
[[Category:Think tanks]][[Category:United States]][[Category:Politics (US)]]
 
[[Category:Think tanks]][[Category:United States]][[Category:Politics (US)]]
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Revision as of 17:14, 2 April 2013

{{#badges:AEX}} The Sutherland Institute describes itself as "a conservative public policy think tank committed to shaping Utah law and policy based on a core set of governing principles," including "private initiative, self-reliance, and family as the fundamental unit of society. The Institute seeks to influence law and society, and provide an effective vehicle for fellow Utahns to influence public policy as well" (emphasis added).[1] It is a member of the State Policy Network (SPN), an umbrella organization for "free market" state think tanks that has ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

Direct Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council

The Sutherland Institute was a co-sponsor of ALEC's 2012 annual meeting in Salt Lake City.[2] Sutherland also has ties to ALEC through its membership in SPN, which itself is an ALEC member.

About ALEC
ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our ExposedbyCMD.org site.

Ties to the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity

The API is listed as hosting Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity "investigative journalists."[3] The Franklin Center funds reporters in over 40 states.[4] Despite their non-partisan description, many of the websites funded by the Franklin Center have received criticism for their conservative bias[5][6] On its website, the Franklin Center claims it "provides 10 percent of all daily reporting from state capitals nationwide."[7]

Franklin Center Funding

Franklin Center Director of Communications Michael Moroney told the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) in 2013 that the source of the Franklin Center's funding "is 100 percent anonymous." But 95 percent of its 2011 funding came from DonorsTrust, a spin-off of the Philanthropy Roundtable that functions as a large "donor-advised fund," cloaking the identity of donors to right-wing causes across the country (CPI did a review of Franklin's Internal Revenue Service records).[8] Mother Jones called DonorsTrust "the dark-money ATM of the conservative movement" in a February 2013 article.[9] Franklin received DonorTrust's second-largest donation in 2011.[8]

The Franklin Center also receives funding from the Wisconsin-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation,[10] a conservative grant-making organization.[11]

The Franklin Center was launched by the Chicago-based Sam Adams Alliance (SAM),[12] a 501(c)(3) devoted to pushing free-market ideals. SAM gets funding from the State Policy Network,[13] which is partially funded by The Claude R. Lambe Foundation.[14] Charles Koch, one of the billionaire brothers who co-own Koch Industries, sits on the board of this foundation.[15] SAM also receives funding from the Rodney Fund.

Funding

In its 2006 annual report, the Cato Institute stated that it provided a grant of $40,000 to the Sutherland Institute.[16]

Core Financials

2011[17]

  • Total Revenue: $1,309,705
  • Total Expenses: $1,511,379
  • Net Assets: $144,874

2010[18]:

  • Total Revenue: $1,453,952
  • Total Expenses: $1,321,873
  • Net Assets: $346,548

2009[19]:

  • Total Revenue: $1,335,989
  • Total Expenses: $1,273,550
  • Net Assets: $214,469.00

Personnel

Board of Directors

  • Stanford D. Swim, Chairman
  • Paul T. Mero, President
  • Brent A. Andrewsen
  • Brent McKinley
  • Mark Stoddard
  • Jan Macfarlane Zogmaister

Contact Details

Gateway Tower West Building
15 West South Temple, Suite 200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Phone: 801-355-1272
Fax: 801-355-1705
Email: si at sutherlandinstitute.org Web: http://www.sutherlandinstitute.org

Articles and Resources

Related SourceWatch Articles

References

  1. ↑ Sutherland Institute, About Us, organizational website, accessed March 2008.
  2. ↑ Sutherland Institute, "ALEC Besieged by the Left", organizational website, accessed December 2012.
  3. ↑ Franklin Center, Franklin Affiliates in Your State, organizational website, accessed October 2012.
  4. ↑ The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, Think tank Journalism: The Future of Investigative Journalism, organizational website, accessed August 19, 2011.
  5. ↑ Rebekah Metzler, 'Watchdog' website puts a new spin on politics, The Portland Press Herald, accessed August 19, 2011.
  6. ↑ Allison Kilkenny, The Koch Spider Web, Truthout, accessed August 19, 2011.
  7. ↑ Sara Jerving, Franklin Center: Right-Wing Funds State News Source, PRWatch.org, October 27, 2011.
  8. ↑ Jump up to: 8.0 8.1 Paul Abowd, Center for Public Integrity, Donors use charity to push free-market policies in states, organizational report, February 14, 2013.
  9. ↑ Andy Kroll, Exposed: The Dark-Money ATM of the Conservative Movement, Mother Jones, February 5, 2013.
  10. ↑ The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Franklin Center boss wants apology from Democratic staffer. News website. Accessed August 19, 2011.
  11. ↑ The Bradley Foundation. The Bradley Foundation. Organizational website. Accessed August 19, 2011.
  12. ↑ Sam Adams Alliance. Sam Adams Alliance Media Kit. Organizational PDF. Accessed August 19, 2011.
  13. ↑ Media Matters Action Network. Sam Adams Alliance. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.
  14. ↑ Media Matters Action Network. State Policy Network. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.
  15. ↑ Media Matters Action Network. Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation. Conservative Transparency. Accessed August 19, 2011.
  16. ↑ Cato Institute, 2006 Annual Report, pages 19-23.
  17. ↑ Sutherland Institute, IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, February 4, 2013.
  18. ↑ Sutherland Institute, IRS form 990, 2010. GuideStar.
  19. ↑ Sutherland Institute, IRS form 990, 2009. GuideStar.
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