Consumers Defense
Consumers Defense is the 501(c)(4) arm of Consumers' Research, one of the main players in the manufactured crisis against “woke capitalism;” environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment standards; and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Consumers Defense was formed in 2022, and is legally domiciled in Wyoming.
Consumers Defense claims that ESG policies work “against the self-interest of the state’s hardworking citizens and the state itself.”[1] Will Hild, the group’s executive director, said in an interview with Politico that “we decided it made sense to launch a 501(c)4 that can endorse legislation, that can be very specific about how we talk to legislators and government officials.”[2]
It has two main projects according to its website and its initial IRS filing:
- Tracking ESG legislation: this project tracks ESG legislation in the legislative years in 2022 and 2023. According to the website, Consumers Defense is “currently tracking 315 bills.”[3]
- Promoting model anti-ESG legislation: the two pieces of model legislation as of December 2023 include model bills to “protect” “your state’s pensions, retirements, and investments” and “your state’s contracts.”[1]
Consumer Defense’s total expenses in its founding year were used to engage in “educational efforts,” including creating its organizational website, publishing its ESG legislation tracker, the “drafting and sharing of model legislation,” and distributing $100,000 in grants to “other organizations,” which was entirely sent to Heritage Action.[4] Hild has said in an interview that the group aims to operate with an $8 million budget, similar in size to that of Consumers Research.[2]
Contents
News and Controversies
Founded to Take On ESG Investing
Consumers Defense was launched with the explicit intent to combat ESG investing policies. “We needed a vehicle by which we could be very explicit in the ways in which consumers’ interests should be protected from ESG,” executive director Will Hild said in an interview a few days after the nonprofit’s founding.[2] Its initial efforts have been focused on tracking ESG legislation, promoting model anti-ESG legislation, and funding anti-ESG groups such as Heritage Action.
Funding
Consumers Defense is not required to disclose its funders but major foundation supporters can be found through their IRS filings. Here are some known contributors:
- The Concord Fund: $350,000 (2022)
Grants Distributed
According to its most recent tax filings, Consumers Defense has distributed the following grants:
2022
- Heritage Action for America: $100,000
Core Financials
2022
- Total Revenue: $175,153
- Total Expenses: $118,194
- Net Assets: $56,959
Personnel
As of December 2022:[4]
- Will Hild: President, Treasurer, and Director
- Keith Lamphier: Secretary and Director
- Alexander McCobin: Vice President and Director
Contact Information
EIN: 92-0672074
Principle Office:
[5]
11921 Freedom Drive
Two Fountain Square, Suite 550
Reston, VA 20190
Mailing Address:
Consumers Defense
1801 F. St.
Washington, DC 20006
Email: whild@consumersresearch.org
Phone: 202-907-4685
Website: www.consumersdefense.com
Resources and Articles
IRS Filings
2022
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Consumers Defense, Model Legislation, organizational website, Accessed December 18, 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jordan Wolman, New Anti-ESG Group Aims to Amplify Attacks on ‘Woke’ Investing, Politico, November 15, 2022.
- ↑ Consumers Defense, ESG Legislation Tracker, organizational website, Accessed December 18, 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Consumers Defense, 2022 IRS 990 Filing, organizational filing, Accessed December 18, 2023.
- ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, Consumers' Defense, Business Entity Detail, Accessed December 18, 2023.
