Family Research Council

The Family Research Council (FRC) is a Christian Right activist organization based in Washington, D.C. that grew out of Ronald Reagan's neoconservative "pro-family" domestic agenda. FRC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded in 1983. FRC claims that it “seeks to inform the news media, the academic community, business leaders, and the general public about family issues that affect the nation from a biblical worldview.” In reality, FRC targets LGBTQ individuals, opposes and lobbies against access to pornography, embryonic stem-cell research, abortion, and divorce. In particular, FRC opposes rights for LGBTQ people, including protective anti-discrimination laws, same-sex marriage, same-sex civil unions, and LGBT adoption: “Family Research Council does not believe that “sexual orientation” should be included as a protected category in non-discrimination laws or policies, as it is not comparable to inborn, immutable characteristics such as race or sex.”

FRC focuses on four primary issue areas, according to its website:

• Life and Human Dignity, which opposes reproductive freedoms, access to abortion, and end-of-life care.
• Marriage, Family, and Sexuality, which demonizes LGBTQ individuals and gender-affirming care.
• Religious Liberty and Conscience, which generally posits that Christians are being persecuted.
• Civil Society, wherein FRC proposes public policy changes such as those around pornography, abortion bans, gender-affirming care, and the court system.

FRC has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which says that “the group’s real specialty is defaming LGBTQ people.”

FRC maintains a publication called The Washington Stand, which runs the podcast Outstanding!. They are “Family Research Council's outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview.” The Washington Stand has ten editorial staff and over a dozen contributors. President and CEO Tony Perkins also hosts a syndicated TV and radio program called Washington Watch with Tony Perkins, which “presents Washington news from a conservative Christian perspective.”

News and Controversies

Ties to Far-Right House Speaker Mike Johnson

After becoming House Speaker in late 2023, Louisiana Representative Mike Johnson came under criticism for his ties to Josh Duggar, who has been accused of sexually abusing children and convicted on charges of possessing child pornography. Duggar had previously worked as a lobbyist for FRC from 2013 to 2015.

Speaker Johnson also co-organized “a National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance” in conjunction with FRC’s president, Tony Perkins. Johnson has said of Perkins that he “is like my big brother.” In May 2023, Johnson hosted Perkins on his podcast, Truth Be Told with Mike & Kelly Johnson, in which he said: “The neat thing about Tony, for our audience, is that he also happens to be my original mentor.” Perkins responded, “I could not be prouder of what you’re doing and how the lord has used you. Amazing to watch your career.”

Johnson continued that Perkins was “probably the single greatest influence on my life and my professional trajectory.” According to Johnson, he used to carry Perkins’s bag.

Johnson is “the most conservative speaker that we’ve seen in modern times — probably ever,” Perkins said in an interview with The New York Times. A lot of conservative legislation “is making it through the courts, and it’s in large part because of litigation from attorneys like Mike.”

Connections to Project 2025

The Family Research Council is an advisory board member of Project 2025, also known as the “2025 Presidential Transition Project,” a right-wing project to transform the White House and the United States if a conservative is elected president. The project makes right-wing policy and personnel recommendations.

Gay Escort Controversy

In May, 2010, the Miami New Times reported that on April 13, FRC co-founder George Rekers was photographed arriving at the Miami International Airport with a male escort after having taken a ten day trip to Europe. The services of Rekers' companion, identified only by the name Lucien, were found to have been advertised solely on the Web site RentBoy.com, a gay escort/masseur Web site. Lucien's profile on the site was only accessible after the viewer acknowledged he is over age 18 and clicks a button saying he is aware that the site contains "content and materials that are of a graphic and/or sexual nature." Rekers claimed that the man was there to help him carry his luggage, since he had recently had surgery and was unable to carry it himself. Rekers was pushing his own luggage cart when he and Lucien were spotted at the airport. Rekers denied knowing Lucien's line of work, to which Lucien expressed his surprise.

Following the April, 2010 scandal regarding Rekers being caught with a young professional male escort in Miami, the Family Research Council eliminated Rekers from the organization's history and their website at http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?c=HISTORY_ABOUT.

Opposition to Health Care Reform

On December 16, 2009, FRC held a one-hour "prayercast" to oppose health care reform. The press release promoting the event announced it would be attended by a number of Republican elected representatives who have been among the most vocal opponents of health care reform including Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), Senator Jim DeMint, (R-South Carolina) Rep. Randy Forbes, (R-Virginia) and Rep. Michele Bachmann, (R-Minnesota).

James Dobson of Focus on the Family, speaking at the prayercast, referred to President Obama as the “Evil One,“ saying "I just pray that you will frustrate the plans of the Evil One and revive us again with conviction and forgiveness,” said Dobson. Pastor Jim Garlow of Skyline Church in San Diego, California made the case that the proposed health care reform bill violated nearly all Ten Commandments. Bachmann led the group in a prayer asking for forgiveness of governmental leaders who have not looked to God in crafting healthcare reform legislation.

History

According to the organization’s website, "the Family Research Council (FRC) champions marriage and family as the foundation of civilization, the seedbed of virtue, and the wellspring of society. FRC shapes public debate and formulate public policy that values human life and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family. Believing that God is the author of life, liberty, and the family, FRC promotes the Judeo-Christian worldview as the basis for a just, free, and stable society."

"The idea of the Family Research Council originated at the 1980 White House Conference on Families. Among the conferees, James Dobson stood out because of his rare combination of Christian social values and academic and professional credentials. A practicing clinical psychologist and noted author, Dobson had recently transitioned into radio broadcasting and also launched a nonprofit, family service organization. He felt that the time was ripe to establish an organization that would drive the national debate on family issues. In 1983, the Family Research Council incorporated as a nonprofit educational institution in the District of Columbia; its founding board included Dobson and two noted psychiatrists, Armand Nicholoi. Jr. of Harvard University and George Rekers of the University of South Carolina," it states.

"Under the leadership of Gerry Regier, a former Reagan Administration official at the Department of Health and Human Services, FRC began to link policy makers with researchers and professionals from a variety of disciplines. Gary Bauer, a domestic policy advisor to President Reagan, succeeded Regier in 1988 and by the mid-1990s the organization had grown into a $10 million operation with a nationwide network of support...", it states.

The FRC is associated with James Dobson's Focus on the Family and William J. Bennett.

Documents Contained at the Anti-Environmental Archives

Documents written by or referencing this person or organization are contained in the Anti-Environmental Archive, launched by Greenpeace on Earth Day, 2015. The archive contains 3,500 documents, some 27,000 pages, covering 350 organizations and individuals. The current archive includes mainly documents collected in the late 1980s through the early 2000s by The Clearinghouse on Environmental Advocacy and Research (CLEAR), an organization that tracked the rise of the so called "Wise Use" movement in the 1990s during the Clinton presidency. Access the index to the Anti-Environmental Archives here.

State Family Policy Councils

Family Policy Council state chapters are “independent entities with no corporate or financial relationship to each other or to Family Research Council,” according to FRC.

As of November 2023:

• AL - Alabama Policy Institute
• AK - Alaska Family Council
• AZ - Center for Arizona Policy
• AR - Arkansas Family Council
• CA - California Family Council
• CT - Family Institute of Connecticut
• DE - Delaware Family Policy Council
• FL - Florida Family Policy Council
• GA - Frontline Policy Council
• HI - Hawaii Family Forum
• ID - Idaho Family Policy Center
• IN - Indiana Family Institute
• IA - The Family Leader of Iowa
• KS - Kansas Family Voice
• KY - The Family Foundation of Kentucky
• LA - Louisiana Family Forum
• ME - Christian Civic League of Maine
• MA - Massachusetts Family Institute
• MI - Michigan Family Forum
• MN - Minnesota Family Institute
• MT - Montana Family Foundation
• NE - Nebraska Family Alliance
• NH - Cornerstone Action
• NJ - New Jersey Family Policy Center
• NM - New Mexico Family Action
• NY - New Yorkers Family Research Foundation
• NC - North Carolina Family Policy Council
• ND - North Dakota Family Alliance
• OH - Center for Christian Virtue
• PA - Pennsylvania Family Institute
• SC - Palmetto Family Council of South Carolina
• SD - Family Heritage Alliance
• TN - Family Action Council of Tennessee
• TX - Texas Values
• VA - The Family Foundation of Virginia
• WA - Family Policy Institute of Washington
• WV - Family Policy Council of West Virginia
• WI - Wisconsin Family Council, Inc.
• WY - Wyoming Family Alliance

Ties to the Council for National Policy

FRC has provided funding to the Council for National Policy.

Council for National Policy

The Council for National Policy (CNP) is a secretive, Christian Right organization of funders and activists founded in 1981 by activist Morton Blackwell, commentator Paul Weyrich, direct-mail pioneer Richard Viguerie, right-wing activist Phyllis Schlafly and Left Behind author Tim LaHaye. Anne Nelson's book about CNP, Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right, describes how the organization connects "the manpower and media of the Christian right with the finances of Western plutocrats and the strategy of right-wing Republican political operatives.” CNP membership as of September 2020 is available here.

Funding

FRC is not required to disclose its funders. Major funders of FRC, however, can be found through a search of publicly available IRS 990 filings. Here are a few of FRC’s known funders:

• Acorn Alcinda Foundation: $76,000 (2014-2021)
• American Endowment Foundation: $41,338 (2016-2022)
• American Gift Fund: $10,000 (2020)
• American Values: $41,500 (2020-2021)
• Anchor Foundation: $10,000 (2010)
• Anderson Foundation: $1,185,000 (2011-2021)
• Andrew Wommak Ministries Inc: $25,000 (2018-2019)
• Ayco Charitable Foundation: $68,400 (2020-2021)
• Bengard Foundation: $125,000 (2010)
• Bethel College And Seminary Foundation Pooled Common Fund: $80,000 (2020-2022)
• Billy And Ruby Hale Family Foundation: $10,000 (2019)
• Bradley Foundation: $470,000 (1998-2016)
• Burkholder Family Foundation: $100,000 (2021)
• Cantrell Group Trust: $45,100 (2010-2020)
• Carl H And Edyth B Lindner Foundation: $50,000 (2022)
• Carlton Family Foundation: $80,000 (2015-2020)
• Chc Creating Healthier Communities: $17,349 (2021)
• Chicago Community Trust: $503,000 (2021)
• Christian Community Foundation Inc: $2,961,310 (2010-2021)
• Christian Healthcare Ministries Inc: $20,000 (2021-2022)
• Christian Service Charities Inc: $33,770 (2018-2020)
• Columbus Foundation: $50,000 (2021)
• Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Inc: $324,335 (2020-2021)
• Constable Family Foundation: $165,000 (2018-2022)
• Cornerstone Legacy Foundation: $44,875 (2014-2019)
• Covenant Foundation Inc: $120,000 (2013-2020)
• Dallas Seminary Foundation Vision Fund: $135,000 (2020-2021)
• Daniel & Joylene Hegel Family Foundation: $50,000 (2020)
• David & Elaine Lozier Foundation: $25,000 (2021)
• Deramus Family Foundation: $30,000 (2012)
• Do Right Foundation: $15,500 (2010-2014)
• Donors Capital Fund: $150,000 (2010)
• Donors Trust: $11,100 (2020)
• Dr Albert R Gillespie And Louise Gillespie Charitable Trust: $134,118 (2013-2022)
• Dunbar Family Foundation: $95,000 (2018-2022)
• Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation: $1,052,000 (2014-2019)
• Ensio Family Foundation: $725,000 (2013-2021)
• Esther Foundation: $20,000 (2018-2019)
• Fhg Armstrong Foundation: $40,000 (2015-2016)
• Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund: $1,462,744 (2016-2021)
• Floyd Foundation: $24,500 (2014-2021)
• Foundation At Highland Park Presbyterian Church: $15,000 (2019)
• Fricks Private Foundation Tr: $30,000 (2020-2022)
• Fwg Foundation: $32,000 (2017-2022)
• Gaius Foundation Inc: $84,340 (2010-2021)
• Gianforte Family Charitable Trust: $240,000 (2013-2021)
• Global Compassion Services: $60,500 (2019-2021)
• Gods Gift: $25,000 (2016-2018)
• Grey Sparrow Foundation: $40,000 (2021)
• HIlls Bank Donor Advised Gift Fund: $285,000 (2020-2021)
• Horst Foundation: $60,000 (2016-2022)
• In His Steps Foundation: $10,000 (2014)
• Ingram Family Foundation: $10,000 (2022)
• International Generosity Foundation Trust: $184,103 (2021)
• It Takes a Family Foundation Inc: $1,536,200 (2012-2021)
• James and Joan Lindsey Family Foundation: $652,500 (2020-2022)
• James and Sharon Walker Charitable Foundation: $80,000 (2015-2022)
• John and Judy Spoelhof Foundation: $166,500 (2014-2022)
• Judicial Crisis Network: $25,000 (2020)
• Ken W Davis Foundation: $30,000 (2020-2021)
• Kenneth and Alice Martin Family Foundation Inc: $52,500 (2014-2021)
• Kenneth Heinz Family Foundation: $120,000 (2020-2022)
• Kindt Christian Charitable Tr: $19,000 (2022)
• Krislynn Foundation: $79,623 (2014-2021)
• Lampstand Foundation: $11,500 (2020)
• Larson Foundation: $30,000 (2017)
• Leo Daniel Foundation: $15,000 (2014-2020)
• Lewis Family Charitable Foundation: $10,000 (2021)
• Lighthouse Foundation: $70,900 (2020-2021)
• Little Family Foundation: $29,000 (2016-2022)
• Lloyd and Vivian Noble Foundation Tr: $325,000 (2021-2022)
• Lothlorien Foundation: $18,000 (2019-2022)
• Lynn P Demarco Charitable Foundation: $71,000 (2014-2021)
• Macneal Foundation: $23,750 (2018-2021)
• Mark H & Blanche M Harrington Foundation: $162,500 (2020)
• Masters Table Inc: $285,000 (2012-2021)
• Matthew Six Foundation: $12,000 (2012-2019)
• Mills Family Foundation: $53,050 (2013-2021)
• Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc: $27,500 (2016-2020)
• Moriah Foundation: $802,000 (2014-2020)
• Mr And Mrs James A Stroud Foundation: $22,000 (2010-2012)
• Natan Foundation: $1,060,000 (2013-2021)
• National Christian Charitable Foundation Inc: $21,903,128 (2012-2021)
• National Philanthropic Trust: $22,500 (2020-2021)
• One Foundation Incorporated: $95,000 (2020-2021)
• Peak Benevolent Foundation Tr: $10,000 (2015-2019)
• Percy Fund: $116,000 (2018-2021)
• Psalms Foundation: $300,041 (2015-2017)
• Quest Family Foundation: $15,000 (2021-2022)
• Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund: $116,725 (2014-2020)
• Reimer Foundation: $12,100 (2013-2014)
• Rhs Foundation: $75,000 (2014-2021)
• Ron And Suzanne Harris Family Foundation: $10,000 (2021-2022)
• Samaritans Purse: $20,000 (2020)
• Schwab Charitable Fund: $1,260,298 (2014-2021)
• Servant Foundation: $355,250 (2019-2021)
• Servants Heart Foundation: $125,000 (2021)
• Stephen Harold Schimmel Foundation: $482,740 (2018-2021)
• Strong Foundation Inc: $27,000 (2011-2016)
• Sundet Foundation: $13,000 (2020-2022)
• Swenson Family Foundation: $35,000 (2020-2021)
• Thank Heaven Foundation: $170,000 (2013-2022)
• Troesh Family Foundation: $325,000 (2020-2021)
• Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program: $130,844 (2020-2021
• Venner Family Foundation: $32,000 (2016-2022
• Vince J And Jane A Flynn Family Foundation: $10,000 (2014-2015)
• Webb Family Foundation: $19,096 (2014-2020)
• Westran Foundation: $12,500 (2014-2020)
• Wormald Family Foundation Inc: $70,000 (2013-2021)
• Zembrodt Family Foundation: $15,000 (2020-2022)

Core Financials

2021

• Total Revenue: $24,332,689
• Total Expenses: $21,217,016
• Total Assets: $12,384,847

2020

• Total Revenue: $22,630,464
• Total Expenses: $19,542,128
• Total Assets: $8,707,838

2019

• Total Revenue: $17,890,303
• Total Expenses: $17,572,783
• Net Assets: $5,619,502

2018

• Total Revenue: $17,403,327
• Total Expenses: $17,188,410
• Net Assets: $5,301,982

2017

• Total Revenue: $16,430,644
• Total Expenses: $15,543,961
• Net Assets: $5,087,065

2016

• Total Revenue: $16,048,141
• Total Expenses: $16,227,932
• Net Assets: $4,200,382

2015

• Total Revenue: $12,065,844
• Total Expenses: $11,689,966
• Net Assets: $4,380,173

Grants Distributed

2021

• Family Faith and Freedom Foundation: $165,000
• IRF Secretariat: $50,000
• Freedom Seekers International: $35,000
• Samaritans Purse: $15,837
• CIVF – USA: $10,000

2020

• Family Faith and Freedom Foundation: $160,000
• Generation Joshua: $290,528

2019

• Family Faith and Freedom Foundation: $165,000

2018

• Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty: $5,000
• Coalition for America: $5,000
• Family Faith and Freedom: $165,000
• National Day of Prayer Task Force: $5,000
• No Greater Love Foundation: $6,000
• Samaritan's Purse: $10,000
• Women Impacting the Nation: $15,000

2017

• Family Faith and Freedom: $160,000
• David's Tent USA: $10,000

2016

None

2015

• Coalition for America: $5,500

Personnel

Staff

As of November 2023, the Family Research Council has about 40 staff members:

• Tony Perkins, President
• Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin, Executive Vice President
• Joshua Arnold, Media Coordinator
• Joseph Backholm, Senior Fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement
• George Barna, Senior Research Fellow for the Center for Biblical Worldview
• Jennifer Bauwens, Director of the Center for Family Studies
• Ken Blackwell, Senior Fellow for Human Rights and Constitutional Governance
• Suzanne Bowdey, Editorial Director and Senior Writer, The Washington Stand
• Jared Bridges, Vice President, Brand Advancement
• Andrew Brunson, Special Advisor for Religious Freedom
• Randy Burt, Special Assistant to the President
• Kenneth Chan, Director of Communications
• Alice Chao, Communications Manager
• David Closson, Director of the Center for Biblical Worldview
• Kenyn Cureton, Vice President, Christian Resources
• Chris Curry, Director of Broadcast Relations
• Arielle Del Turco, Assistant Director, Center for Religious Liberty
• JP Duffy, Vice President, Communications
• Bob Fu, Sr. Fellow for International Religious Freedom
• Chris Gacek, Coalitions Senior Research Fellow
• Claire Gatzke, Manager of Annual Giving
• Lela Gilbert, Senior Fellow for International Religious Freedom
• Quena Gonzalez, Senior Director of Government Affairs
• Laura Grossberndt, Editor and Manager of Strategic Policy Engagement
• Nathan Hall, Video Producer
• Dan Hart, Senior Editor, The Washington Stand
• Walt Heyer, Senior Fellow
• Chantel Hoyt, Legislative Assistant
• Jody Hice, Senior Vice President
• Scott Hurley, Vice President, Development
• Chrysta Johnson, Assistant Director of Programs
• Andrew Johannesen, Vice President for Finance and Business Services
• Katherine Beck Johnson, Research Fellow for Legal and Policy Studies
• Meg Kilgannon, Senior Fellow for Education Studies
• Chris Martin, Senior Producer
• Brad Pikkaart, Vice President for Information Technology
• Mary Szoch, Director of the Center for Human Dignity
• Mary Beth Waddell, Director of Federal Affairs - Family and Religious Liberty
• Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs
• Randy Wilson, Director of Men's Ministries

Former Staff

• Chuck Donovan, Executive Vice President
• Tom McClusky, Vice President for Government Affairs
• Charmaine Yoest, Vice President for Communications
• Robert Morrison, Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Peter Sprigg, Vice President for Policy
• David Prentice, Senior Fellow for Life Sciences, Center for Human Life and Bioethics
• Patrick F. Fagan, Senior Fellow and Director for Marriage and Religion Center
• Hannah Eichelberger, Creative Director
• Brad Goodale, Senior Director of Development
• Alyson Gritter, Events Coordinator
• Sharon Helton, Senior Director of Events
• Michelle Humphreys, National Director of Development
• Marjorie Jackson, Digital Media Specialist
• Macie Malone, Marketing Project Manager
• Gil Mertz, Director of Strategic Giving
• Staci Pedersen, Director of Annual Giving
• Nicolas Reynolds, Legislative Assistant for State and Local Affairs
• Jay Riemersma, Senior Director of Development
• Abby Ross, Digital Content Editor
• Caleb Seals, Director of Interns
• Connor Semelsberger, Director of Federal Affairs - Life and Human Dignity
• Terri Shepherd, Integrated Development Manager
• Paul Tripodi, Vice President, Administration

Board of Directors

As of April 2023, when the most recent IRS filing was filed:

• Anthony R. Perkins, President and CEO
• Michele Bachmann, Chairman
• Carter Conlon, Director
• Paavo Ensio, Director
• Anne Marie Farrell, Director
• Allan Hoekstra, Director
• Paul Kepes, Director

Contact Information

EIN: 52-1792772

Family Research Council
801 G Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: 800-225-4008
Website: http://www.frc.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FRCdc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/familyresearchcouncil

Articles and Resources

IRS Form 990 Filings

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Financial Audits

June 2020

Articles

• David Armiak, ALEC Cozies Up with Designated Hate Group Promoting Anti-Abortion Policies, ExposedbyCMD, April 14, 2022.
• David Armiak, Christian Right to Redeploy Astroturf Strategy Used in Virginia to Win Midterms, ExposedbyCMD, March 2, 2022.
• David D. Kirkpatrick, "Giuliani Inspires Threat of a Third-Party Run", The New York Times, October 1, 2007.
• Bill Berkowitz, "Ken Blackwell, Ohio's defeated GOP gubernatorial candidate, lands in D.C. Despite former secretary of state's role in multiple election mishaps, he signs on with Tony Perkins," WorkingForChange, May 24, 2007.
• John Aravosis, "Religious right misleads its followers in massive email blitz about weekend peace march," AMERICAblog, February 1, 2007.
• Bill Berkowitz, "'Where's the outrage?': Another fracture in the conservative evangelical movement", Media Transparency, April 14, 2006.
• Bill Berkowitz, "The Family Research Council's Tony Perkins Is a Rising Star in a Crowded Universe of Evangelical Christian Leaders," MediaTransparency.org, July 17, 2005.
• MinistryWatch's opinion

SourceWatch Resources

• Justice Sunday
• The Bush Theocracy
• theocracy
• Robert Knight
• George Rekers