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Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity

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{{#badges:SPN|Koch Exposed|AEX}}'''The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity''', publisher of the site "Watchdog.org," is a national 501(c)(3) journalism organization based in BismarckAlexandria, North Dakota Virginia and started in 2009.<ref>Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, [http://www.franklincenterhq.org/about/ About], organizational website, accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> According to a previous iteration of the organization's website, the group's mission involves "networking and training independent investigative reporters, as well as journalists from state based news organizations, public-policy institutions & watchdog groups."<ref>Franklin Center For Government & Public Integrity, [http://www.franklincenterhq.org/about/mission/ Mission], organizational website, accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> The Franklin Center funded state reporters in more than 40 states as of August 2011,<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, since modified by the organization.</ref> and in 34 states as of May 2013.<ref name="2013_list">Franklin Center, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/e/e5/Franklin_Center_May_2013.pdf Watchdog.org], organizational document, May 2013, obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy June 2013.</ref> In 2017, Watchdog.org employs reporters in five states according to its staff list, although they have 28 Watchdog state sites. Despite their non-partisan description, many of these websites 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'', August 4, 2011.</ref>
At a time when there are fewer and fewer statehouse reporters -- as of the ''American Journalism Review'''s most recent count in 2009, there were 355 in the entire country, down from 524 in 2003,<ref>[http://ajr.org/article.asp?id=4722 AJR's 2009 Count of Statehouse Reporters], ''American Journalism Review'', April/May 2009, accessed November 2013.</ref> bluntly called a "statehouse exodus" by the same journal<ref>Jennifer Dorroh, [http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=4721 Statehouse Exodus], ''American Journalism Review'', April/May 2009, accessed November 2013.</ref> -- former ''Reuters'' chief White House correspondent Gene Gibbons described the rush of groups like the Franklin Center to fill the gap as follows: "an army of Internet start-ups, some practicing traditional journalism in a new medium, others delivering political propaganda dressed up as journalism -- are crawling all over the picnic. . . . At the forefront is the one‐year-old Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity . . ."<ref name="GibbonsKennedy">Gene Gibbons, [http://shorensteincenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/d59_gibbons.pdf Ants at the Picnic: A Status Report on News Coverage of State Government], Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy Discussion Paper Series, #D‐59, June 2010.</ref>
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==News and Controversies==
===Franklin Center Called Out for Blocking Action on Climate Change===
:"shine a little light on the web of climate denial and spotlight the bad actors in the web, who are polluting our American discourse with phony climate denial. This web of denial, formed over decades, has been built and provisioned by the deep-pocketed [[Koch brothers]], by [[ExxonMobil]], by [[Peabody coal]], and by other fossil fuel interests. It is a grim shadow over our democracy in that it includes an electioneering effort that spends hundreds of millions of dollars in a single election cycle and threatens any Republican who steps up to address the global threat of climate change. . . . [I]t is long past time we shed some light on the perpetrators of this web of denial and expose their filthy grip on our political process. It is a disgrace, and our grandchildren will look back at this as a dirty time in America’s political history because of their work.”<ref name="sw"/>
==Franklin Center "at the Forefront of an Effort to Blur the Distinction Between Statehouse Reporting and Political Advocacy"== "For the most part, the people in charge of these would-be watchdog operations are political hacks out to subvert journalism in their quest to grab and keep power using whatever means they have to do so. . . . At the forefront of an effort to blur the distinction between statehouse reporting and political advocacy is the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity," Gibbons wrote in the ''Nieman Reports'' publication of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. He interviewed Franklin Center Executive Director Jason Stverak in March 2010, and Stverak said Franklin sites should be held to the same standard as any news publication -- judged "based upon the content that they produce." But, Gibbons writes, "four months later the Franklin Center cosponsored and played an active role in a two-day conference organized by the [[Americans for Prosperity Foundation]]. The Right Online Agenda conference included such breakout sessions as 'Intro to Online Activism' and 'Killing the Death Tax” and featured speakers such as conservative U.S. Representative [[Michele Bachmann]] of Minnesota and Tea Party activist [[Sharron Angle]], a Republican who was then running against [[Harry Reid]] in the election for U.S. Senate in Nevada. No Democratic legislators were included in the program. The finale of the Las Vegas conference was a November is Coming Rally."<ref name="GibbonsNieman">Gene Gibbons, [http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/102509/Statehouse-Beat-Woes-Portend-Bad-News-for-Good-Government.aspx Statehouse Beat Woes Portend Bad News for Good Government], ''Nieman Report'', Winter 2010.</ref> Conservative columnist [[H. Daniel Glover]] specifically credited the Franklin Center with helping the conservative cause, according to a June 2010 in-depth report by Gibbons written for the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government's Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy. "Once conservatives realize they can conduct great investigations that expose the  flaws of intrusive government and the special interests that corrupt it, you will see more of them embracing that kind of journalism,” Glover said. “Mainstream publications like the ''Washington Examiner'' and organizations like the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, which helps support and fund budding watchdogs, are showing them the way.”<ref>Tony Rogers, [http://journalism.about.com/od/trends/a/gloverinterview.htm Conservatives See Need for More Investigative Reporting], ''About.com'', undated, accessed November 2013.</ref><ref name="GibbonsKennedy"/> Gibbons' 2010 report continues:<ref name="GibbonsKennedy"/> :"Reporters for news sites in Ohio, Illinois and Idaho funded by the Franklin Center or its affiliates have been denied press credentials by accrediting bodies because of the lack of transparency about donors and links to advocacy groups. Veteran journalist John Dougherty, who was briefly on contract to a Nevada group with links to the Franklin Center, said he quit because it became clear to him the journalism was not non‐partisan.  :"'They were clearly looking for gotcha stories to embarrass Democrats in any way they could. That's not what I do,' he said. 'I'm an equal opportunity basher -- I've  written stories that have damaged Democrats as well as Republicans and Independents. I'm apolitical. If it's a story, it's a story; if it's not, it's not,' Dougherty said. (Several weeks after I interviewed him, Dougherty announced he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination to run for the U.S. Senate from Arizona)." == Conflict of Interest in Wisconsin "John Doe" Campaign Finance Investigation ===
In 2013, Franklin Center's "[[Wisconsin Reporter]]" website published over a dozen articles aggressively attacking Wisconsin's "John Doe" probe into possible campaign finance violations during Wisconsin's 2011 and 2012 recall elections, and broke stories about the investigation. The Center for Media and Democracy (publishers of Sourcewatch.org) uncovered in December 2013 that the news outlet may have a conflict of interest, as "Franklin Center has close ties to individuals and groups that may be caught up in the John Doe."
[[Wisconsin Reporter]], which had previously defended O'Keefe and Wisconsin Club for Growth against allegations of improper coordination with Walker and his campaign, made no mention of the pay-to-play allegations in the days following Isikoff's story despite the national news coverage, according to ''Media Matters''. "Their silence on the story highlights the conflicts of interest that surround the outlet's reporting on Walker and the 'John Doe' investigations," ''Media Matters'' wrote.<ref name="media matters menards"/>
===Accusations of Inaccuracy & 'Manufactured News'===
In August 2010, the [[West Virginia Watchdog]] blog quoted an unnamed source claiming that Democratic Governor Joe Manchin's office had been subpoenaed as part of a federal grand jury investigation. The story said that the subpoenas asked for contracts and records for businesses that have done work at the governor’s mansion. "The target may be Manchin himself, according to a source who asked to remain anonymous," the original story said. The governor’s office responded saying that “Neither subpoena was directed to Governor Manchin or the Governor’s Office.... No individual in the Governor’s Office was served with a subpoena…. The State has not been informed that Governor Manchin or any other state employee is under investigation.” The West Virginia Watchdog updated its site with these statements then reported that their "source was ultimately wrong about the purpose of the subpoenas."<ref>[http://westvirginia.watchdog.org/1969/gov-joe-manchins-dept-of-administration-division-of-highways-subpoenaed-in-federal-probe/ Gov. Joe Manchin’s Dept. of Administration, Division of Highways Subpoenaed in Federal Probe], ''West Virginia Watchdog'', August 7, 2010.</ref>
The Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism on a sliding scale of highly ideological, somewhat ideological and non-ideological, ranked the “Watchdog.org” franchise "highly ideological."<ref>Pew Center Project for Excellence in Journalism, [http://features.journalism.org/non-profit-news/#undefined Watchdog.org], ''Assessing a New Landscape in Journalism'', organizational report, July 18, 2011.</ref>
 
==Franklin Center "at the Forefront of an Effort to Blur the Distinction Between Statehouse Reporting and Political Advocacy"==
 
"For the most part, the people in charge of these would-be watchdog operations are political hacks out to subvert journalism in their quest to grab and keep power using whatever means they have to do so. . . . At the forefront of an effort to blur the distinction between statehouse reporting and political advocacy is the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity," Gibbons wrote in the ''Nieman Reports'' publication of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. He interviewed Franklin Center Executive Director Jason Stverak in March 2010, and Stverak said Franklin sites should be held to the same standard as any news publication -- judged "based upon the content that they produce." But, Gibbons writes, "four months later the Franklin Center cosponsored and played an active role in a two-day conference organized by the [[Americans for Prosperity Foundation]]. The Right Online Agenda conference included such breakout sessions as 'Intro to Online Activism' and 'Killing the Death Tax” and featured speakers such as conservative U.S. Representative [[Michele Bachmann]] of Minnesota and Tea Party activist [[Sharron Angle]], a Republican who was then running against [[Harry Reid]] in the election for U.S. Senate in Nevada. No Democratic legislators were included in the program. The finale of the Las Vegas conference was a November is Coming Rally."<ref name="GibbonsNieman">Gene Gibbons, [http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/102509/Statehouse-Beat-Woes-Portend-Bad-News-for-Good-Government.aspx Statehouse Beat Woes Portend Bad News for Good Government], ''Nieman Report'', Winter 2010.</ref>
 
Conservative columnist [[H. Daniel Glover]] specifically credited the Franklin Center with helping the conservative cause, according to a June 2010 in-depth report by Gibbons written for the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government's Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy. "Once conservatives realize they can conduct great investigations that expose the  flaws of intrusive government and the special interests that corrupt it, you will see more of them embracing that kind of journalism,” Glover said. “Mainstream publications like the ''Washington Examiner'' and organizations like the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, which helps support and fund budding watchdogs, are showing them the way.”<ref>Tony Rogers, [http://journalism.about.com/od/trends/a/gloverinterview.htm Conservatives See Need for More Investigative Reporting], ''About.com'', undated, accessed November 2013.</ref><ref name="GibbonsKennedy"/>
 
Gibbons' 2010 report continues:<ref name="GibbonsKennedy"/>
 
:"Reporters for news sites in Ohio, Illinois and Idaho funded by the Franklin Center or its affiliates have been denied press credentials by accrediting bodies because of the lack of transparency about donors and links to advocacy groups. Veteran journalist John Dougherty, who was briefly on contract to a Nevada group with links to the Franklin Center, said he quit because it became clear to him the journalism was not non‐partisan. 
 
:"'They were clearly looking for gotcha stories to embarrass Democrats in any way they could. That's not what I do,' he said. 'I'm an equal opportunity basher -- I've  written stories that have damaged Democrats as well as Republicans and Independents. I'm apolitical. If it's a story, it's a story; if it's not, it's not,' Dougherty said. (Several weeks after I interviewed him, Dougherty announced he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination to run for the U.S. Senate from Arizona)."
 
==Ties to the Koch Brothers==
 
The Franklin Center has ties to the Koch brothers. The organization has received funding from [[DonorsTrust]] and [[Donors Capital Fund]]. Franklin also received funding from the [[Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation]]. (See below.)
{{Template:KochConnection}}
 
==Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council==
 
The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity was a "Vice-Chairman" level sponsor of 2011 [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC) Annual Conference, which in 2010, equated to $25,000. The Franklin Center was one of about 60 companies and institutions represented in the conference exhibition hall.<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, 2011 Conference Sponsors, conference brochure on file with CMD, August 11, 2011.</ref>
 
Franklin Center board member<ref>Franklin Center, [http://franklincenterhq.org/invest/board-of-directors/ Board of Directors], organizational website, accessed July 2013.</ref> and North Dakota Republican Representative [[Blair Thoreson]] chairs ALEC's [[Communications and Technology Task Force]]<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, [http://www.alec.org/task-forces/telecommunications-and-information-technology/ Communications and Technology Task Force], organizational website, accessed July 2013.</ref> and penned an op-ed supporting ALEC in the face of criticism over its role in pushing "[http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Castle_Doctrine Stand Your Ground]" and "[http://alecexposed.org/w/images/d/d9/7G16-VOTER_ID_ACT_Exposed.pdf Voter ID]" legislation in April 2012.<ref>Blair Thoreson, [http://franklincenterhq.org/5152/commentary-progressive-war-on-alec/ Commentary: Progressive War on ALEC], franklincenterhq.org organizational website article, April 18, 2012.</ref> Thoreson was not the only Franklin Center personnel member to publicly defend ALEC. As ''Media Matters'' reported, Franklin President [[Jason Stverak]] and Vice President of Journalism Steven Greenhut joined in as well.<ref>Matt Gertz, [http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/12/flashback-franklin-centers-full-throated-defens/187096 FLASHBACK: Franklin Center's Full-Throated Defense Of ALEC], ''Media Matters'', July 12, 2012.</ref><ref>Jason Stverak, [http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2012/04/27/ALEC-and-Misleading-Journalism-A-Case-Study ALEC AND MISLEADING JOURNALISM: A CASE STUDY], ''Breitbart.com'', April 26, 2012.</ref><ref>Steven Greenhut, [http://franklincenterhq.org/5192/attacks-on-alec-hypocritical-and-unfair/ COMMENTARY: Attacks on ALEC hypocritical and unfair], franklincenterhq.org organizational website article, April 19, 2012.</ref> All three commentaries were posted in the days immediately after an ALEC staffer begged for help from Breitbart bloggers and the rest of the right-wing blogosphere at a [[Heritage Foundation]] "Bloggers Briefing" April 17, 2012.<ref>Rebekah Wilce, [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/04/11458/alec-sends-out-sos-breitbart-bloggers ALEC Sends Out an SOS to Breitbart Bloggers], ''PRWatch.org'', April 18, 2012.</ref>
 
{{about_ALEC}}
==Ties to Other Right-Wing & GOP Organizations==
Connors' Citizens for a Strong America was entirely funded by Wisconsin Club for Growth and has been under investigation in the [[Scott Walker#Second John Doe Investigation, February 2012-Present|"John Doe" campaign finance investigation]]. The Franklin Center was founded in part by Koch operative [[Eric O'Keefe]], head of the [[Wisconsin Club for Growth]].
 
==Support for the American Legislative Exchange Council==
 
The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity was a "Vice-Chairman" level sponsor of 2011 [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC) Annual Conference, which in 2010, equated to $25,000. The Franklin Center was one of about 60 companies and institutions represented in the conference exhibition hall.<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, 2011 Conference Sponsors, conference brochure on file with CMD, August 11, 2011.</ref>
 
Franklin Center board member<ref>Franklin Center, [http://franklincenterhq.org/invest/board-of-directors/ Board of Directors], organizational website, accessed July 2013.</ref> and North Dakota Republican Representative [[Blair Thoreson]] chairs ALEC's [[Communications and Technology Task Force]]<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, [http://www.alec.org/task-forces/telecommunications-and-information-technology/ Communications and Technology Task Force], organizational website, accessed July 2013.</ref> and penned an op-ed supporting ALEC in the face of criticism over its role in pushing "[http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Castle_Doctrine Stand Your Ground]" and "[http://alecexposed.org/w/images/d/d9/7G16-VOTER_ID_ACT_Exposed.pdf Voter ID]" legislation in April 2012.<ref>Blair Thoreson, [http://franklincenterhq.org/5152/commentary-progressive-war-on-alec/ Commentary: Progressive War on ALEC], franklincenterhq.org organizational website article, April 18, 2012.</ref> Thoreson was not the only Franklin Center personnel member to publicly defend ALEC. As ''Media Matters'' reported, Franklin President [[Jason Stverak]] and Vice President of Journalism Steven Greenhut joined in as well.<ref>Matt Gertz, [http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/12/flashback-franklin-centers-full-throated-defens/187096 FLASHBACK: Franklin Center's Full-Throated Defense Of ALEC], ''Media Matters'', July 12, 2012.</ref><ref>Jason Stverak, [http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2012/04/27/ALEC-and-Misleading-Journalism-A-Case-Study ALEC AND MISLEADING JOURNALISM: A CASE STUDY], ''Breitbart.com'', April 26, 2012.</ref><ref>Steven Greenhut, [http://franklincenterhq.org/5192/attacks-on-alec-hypocritical-and-unfair/ COMMENTARY: Attacks on ALEC hypocritical and unfair], franklincenterhq.org organizational website article, April 19, 2012.</ref> All three commentaries were posted in the days immediately after an ALEC staffer begged for help from Breitbart bloggers and the rest of the right-wing blogosphere at a [[Heritage Foundation]] "Bloggers Briefing" April 17, 2012.<ref>Rebekah Wilce, [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/04/11458/alec-sends-out-sos-breitbart-bloggers ALEC Sends Out an SOS to Breitbart Bloggers], ''PRWatch.org'', April 18, 2012.</ref>
 
{{about_ALEC}}
==Funding "Fellows" at "Statehouses Across the Nation"==
In 2009, the Franklin Center announced its "Benjamin Franklin Fellows" program beginning January 1, 2010 and lasting 21 weeks, for "enterprising journalists seeking the hands-on experience of a statehouse beat," advertising that "Franklin Fellows will work in a variety of statehouses across the nation with seasoned correspondents to produce daily news as well investigative pieces" and that "[f]ellows also will have unique networking opportunities with a nationwide collection of state capital bureaus."<ref>Bill McMorris, Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, [http://franklincenterhq.org/604/benjamin-franklin-fellows/ Benjamin Franklin Fellows], organizational publication, October 2, 2009.</ref>
 
==Finances and Funding Sources==
 
===Franklin's "Commercial Fundraiser," ClearWord Communications===
 
Gibbons wrote in June 2010, "The Franklin Center is headquartered in Bismarck, ND, but its mailing address is a law office in Stafford, Texas, and its fundraising agent is a Bristow, VA firm that also raises funds for the Republican Party and the [[Heritage Foundation]]."<ref name="GibbonsKennedy"/> That agent is [[ClearWord Communications Group, Inc.]],<ref>Washington State Office of the Secretary of State, [http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/search_detail.aspx?charity_id=28070 Charitable Solicitations Program Charity Profile Report: Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity], state governmental agency website, accessed November 19, 2013.</ref> a "donor strategies firm" or "commercial fundraiser" that also raises funds for:<ref>Washington State Office of the Secretary of State, [http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/search_detail_cfr.aspx?cfr_id=23483 Commercial Fundraiser Profile Report: ClearWord Communications Group, Inc.], state governmental agency website, accessed November 19, 2013.</ref>
 
* [[American Council on Science and Health]], Inc.
* [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC)
* [[American Majority]], Inc.
* [[Bill of Rights Institute]]
* [[Claremont Institute]] For The Study Of Statesmanship & Political Philosophy
* [[Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow]]
* [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]]
* EndPoverty.org
* [[FreedomWorks]], Inc.
* [[Illinois Policy Institute]] (a [[SPN Members|State Policy Network (SPN) member]])
* [[Institute for Energy Research]]
* James Partnership
* Lincoln Institute for Research and Education
* [[Mackinac Center]] (another [[SPN Members|SPN member]])
* [[Morton Blackwell]]'s [[Leadership Institute]]
* [[Pacific Legal Foundation]]
* [[Sam Adams Alliance]], Inc.
* [[State Policy Network]] (SPN)
 
===Funders===
[[Image:Donors Trust Infographic.jpg|thumb|right|550px|Donors Trust Money Trail (Source: [http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/02/14/12151/following-donors-trust-money-trail Center for Public Integrity])]]
Known funders of the Franklin Foundation include:
 
*[[Walton Family Foundation]]:
**2013: $200,000
 
*[[Searle Freedom Trust]]:
**2010: $125,000
**2011: $87,500
 
*[[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]:
**2010: $190,500
**2011: $50,000
 
*[[Dunn's Foundation for the Advancement of Right Thinking]]:
**2011: $50,000
 
====DonorsTrust====
In 2011 [[DonorsTrust]] provided $6.3 million in funding for the Franklin Center. <ref>Joe Strupp,[http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/02/22/franklin-center-top-donor-is-right-wings-dark-m/192770 Franklin Center Top Donor Is Right-Wing's "Dark Money" ATM], ''Media Matters'', Feb. 22, 2013.</ref> One of the major contributors to Donors Trust is the [[Knowledge and Progress Fund]] founded and run by Charles Koch. The foundation gave almost $8 million to [[DonorsTrust]] (DT) between 2005 and 2011.<ref>Paul Abowd, "[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: Nonprofit group lets donors fly 'totally under the radar],'" Center for Public Integrity, February 14, 2013.</ref> The fund began its contributions to DT in 2005, with a $390,000 contribution.<ref>Knowledge and Progress Fund, [http://207.153.189.83/EINS/541899251/541899251_2005_029E8809.PDF 2005 Form 990], organization's annual Internal Revenue Service filing, November 13, 2006.</ref> In both 2007 and 2008, the foundation gave $1.25 million per year to DT<ref name="Independent">Steve Connor, "[http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/exclusive-billionaires-secretly-fund-attacks-on-climate-science-8466312.html Exclusive: Billionaires Secretly Fund Attacks on Climate Science]," ''The Independent'', January, 24, 2013.</ref> and another $2 million in 2010.<ref>Knowledge and Progress Fund, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/541/899/2010-541899251-07b9608e-F.pdf 2010 Form 990], organization's annual Internal Revenue Service filing, November, 21, 2011.</ref>
 
====Majority of Funding Comes from "the Dark-Money ATM of the Conservative Movement," Donors Trust====
 
Franklin Center Director of Communications Michael Moroney told the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) 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 DonorsTrust's second-largest donation in 2011.<ref name="Abowd"/>
 
===Recipients of Franklin Center Funding===
 
According to an in-depth report on the Franklin Center and related "news" websites by Gene Gibbons, "Len Lazarick, editor of the [[Maryland Reporter]] (www.marylandreporter.com) told a public radio interviewer he received $100,000 in start‐up funding from the Franklin Center. 'That interview got me in a little hot water with them,' he told me. 'They would just prefer that everything be as anonymous as possible. They really don't want us to talk about our business models very much.'"<ref name="GibbonsKennedy"/>
 
The Franklin Center is required by law to disclose the groups to which it gives money, however. In 2011, the Franklin Center funded the following groups:<ref name="2011_990"/>
 
* [[Cause of Action]] and Freedom Through Justice Foundation (Cause of Action's former name): '''$994,000'''
* [[Citizen Outreach Foundation]]: $25,000
* [[Small Business Hawaii Foundation]] (an [[SPN Members|State Policy Network (SPN) associate member]]): $5,500
* [[Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity]] (an SPN member): $7,500
* [[Foundation for Ethics in Public Service]]: $7,500
* [[Nevada News Bureau]]: $77,500
* [[Cowboy State Free Press]]: $6,000
 
In 2010, the Franklin Center funded:<ref name="2010_990"/>
 
* [[Maryland Reporter]]: $25,000
* [[American Majority]]: $25,000
* [[Pelican Institute]] (an SPN member): $36,000
* [[Tennessee Center for Policy Research]] (an SPN member): $25,000
* [[Cowboy State Free Press]]: $76,600
* [[Foundation for Ethics in Public Service]]: $85,000
* [[Nevada News Bureau]]: $17,000
 
In 2009, the Franklin Center funded:<ref name="2009_990"/>
 
* [[Lucy Burns Institute]] (publisher of Ballotpedia.org): $43,413
* [[Small Business Hawaii Foundation]]: $45,000
* [[Maryland Reporter]]: $7,500
 
===Core Finances===
 
'''2011''':<ref name="2011_990">Franklin Center, [https://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2011/264/066/2011-264066298-08cf2db3-9.pdf 2011 Form 990], organizational annual IRS filing, November 12, 2012.</ref>
 
* Total Revenue: $6,614,542
* Total Expenses: $6,672,066
* Net Assets: $473,964
 
'''2010''':<ref name="2010_990">Franklin Center, [https://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/264/066/2010-264066298-07c0c161-9.pdf 2010 Form 990], organizational annual IRS filing, October 25, 2011.</ref>
 
* Total Revenue: $3,775,771
* Total Expenses: $3,942,844
* Net Assets: $531,248
 
'''2009''':<ref name="2009_990">Franklin Center, [https://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2009/264/066/2009-264066298-068fdb77-9.pdf 2009 Form 990], organizational annual IRS filing, October 20, 2011.</ref>
 
* Total Revenue: $2,378,965
* Total Expenses: $1,689,442
* Net Assets: $690,913
==Franklin Center-Funded and Affiliated Sites==
==="Watchdog Bureaus"===
As of May 2013January 2017:<ref>Watchdog.org, [http://watchdog.org/ Watchdog.org], ''Watchdog.org'', 2017.</ref><br>(The bureaus in bold have full-time staff listed)<ref name="2013_listStaff"/>*Alabama Watchdog*California Watchdog*Colorado Watchdog*'''[[Florida Watchdog]]'''*Idaho Watchdog*[[Illinois Watchdog]]*[[Iowa Watchdog]]*[[Kansas Watchdog]]*Louisiana Watchdog*[[Minnesota Watchdog]]*'''Mississippi Watchdog'''*[[Missouri Watchdog]]*[[Montana Watchdog]]*[[Nebraska Watchdog]]*Nevada Watchdog*[[New Jersey Watchdog]]*New Mexico Watchdog*North Dakota Watchdog*[[Ohio Watchdog]]*[[Oklahoma Watchdog]]*Oregon Watchdog*[[Pennsylvania Watchdog]]*[[Tennessee Watchdog]]*'''[[Texas Watchdog]]'''*'''Vermont Watchdog'''*Virginia Watchdog*Washington Watchdog*'''[[Wisconsin Watchdog]]'''
*[[Colorado Watchdog]], Colorado, coloradowatchdog.org*[[Florida Watchdog]], Florida, floridawatchdog.org'''Former Bureaus'''
*[[Hawaii Reporter]], Hawaii, hawaiireporter.com
*[[Illinois Watchdog]], Illinois, illinoiswatchdog.org
*[[Iowa Watchdog]], Iowa, iowawatchdog.org
*[[Kansas Watchdog]], Kansas, kansaswatchdog.org
*[[Minnesota Watchdog]], Minnesota, minnesotawatchdog.org
*[[Missouri Watchdog]], Missouri, missouriwatchdog.org
*[[Montana Watchdog]], Montana, montanawatchdog.org
*[[Nebraska Watchdog]], Nebraska, nebraskawatchdog.org
*[[New Jersey Watchdog]], New Jersey, newjerseywatchdog.org
*[[Rio Grande Foundation|New Mexico Watchdog]], New Mexico, newmexicowatchdog.org
*[[Ohio Watchdog]], Ohio, ohiowatchdog.org
*[[Oklahoma Watchdog]], Oklahoma, oklahomawatchdog.org
*[[Northwest Watchdog]], Oregon, northwestwatchdog.org
*[[Pennsylvania Independent]], Pennsylvania, [http://www.paindependent.com paindependent.com]
*[[Tennessee Watchdog]], Tennessee, tennesseewatchdog.org
*[[Texas Watchdog]], Texas, http://watchdog.org/category/texas/
*[[Watchdog.org Virginia]], Virginia, watchdog.org/category/virginia
*[[Wisconsin Reporter]], Wisconsin, wisconsinreporter.com
==="Watchdog Partners"===
As of May 2013(In 2017, Watchdog does not list its partners):<ref name="2013_list"/>
*[[Goldwater Institute]], Arizona, [http://goldwaterinstitute.org/ goldwaterinstitute.org]
===Former Statehouse "News Bureaus"===
 
As of March 2012:<ref>[http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/e/e4/Franklin_Center_Statehouse_News_Bureaus.jpg Statehouse News Bureaus], ''SourceWatch.org'', accessed March 23, 2012.</ref>
*[[Pacific Research Institute]], California, [http://www.calwatchdog.com calwatchdog.com]
===Formerly Listed as Hosting "Investigative Reporters"===
 
As of March 2012:<ref>[http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/e/e4/Franklin_Center_Statehouse_News_Bureaus.jpg Statehouse News Bureaus], ''SourceWatch.org'', accessed March 23, 2012.</ref>
*[[Alabama Policy Institute]], Alabama, [http://www.alabamarighttoknow.org alabamarighttoknow.org]
One of the Franklin Center's sites, the [[Wisconsin Reporter]], was launched in January, and it's articles have been featured in weekly newspapers across the state. In February, the outlet supported a poll that claimed 71% of Wisconsin residents thought Governor [[Scott Walker]]'s budget proposal to cut the collective bargaining rights of most of the state's public sector workers was 'fair.'<ref>Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. [http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=6d195a77b46a877ab2b3a62b1&id=aae9b36e46&e= BREAKING: Poll Shows 71% of Wiscosnites Think Walker's Budget Changes are "Fair]," organizational press release, February 24, 2011.</ref> The suspiciously high percentage caused some to question the source of the poll.<ref>[http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/group_pushing_the_group_behind_the_conservative_poll_of_walkers_budget_plan_wisconsin_poll_has_gop_ba.php The Conservative Group Behind The Poll of Walker's Budget Plan], ''Talking Points Memo'', accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> But a lot of local and national news outlets cited the poll without investigation, including MSNBC.<ref>Talking Points Memo TV, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMlyFVp3Kxg&feature=player_embedded MSNBC Pushes Right-Wing Wisconsin Poll], ''YouTube'', accessed August 19, 2011.</ref> Data from the poll of 500 likely voters was managed by Pulse Opinion Research, owned by Scott Rasmussen, a trustee of the [[Property and Environment Research Center]], which has ties to the [[Koch Brothers]] and [[Exxon Mobil]].<ref>American Bridge 21st Century Foundation, [http://bridgeproject.com/?organization&id=274486 Recipient: Property and Environment Research Center], ''Bridge Project'' profile, accessed June 2013.</ref> The Rasmussen Poll also released a poll that "showed 48% of American voters supported Walker, while just 38% supported the unions,” said Evan McMorris-Santoro writing for ''TPMuckracking''. “That poll was criticized for asking leading questions that seemed to point respondents toward opposing the unions.”<ref> Evan McMorris-Santoro, [http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/mysterious-conservative-poll-of-walkers-budget-plan-hits-wisconsin.php Mysterious Conservative Poll of Walker’s Budget Plan Hits Wisconsin], ''Talking Points Memo'', February 24, 2011.</ref>
==PersonnelRecipients of Franklin Center Funding== According to an in-depth report on the Franklin Center and related "news" websites by Gene Gibbons, "Len Lazarick, editor of the [[Maryland Reporter]] (www.marylandreporter.com) told a public radio interviewer he received $100,000 in start‐up funding from the Franklin Center. 'That interview got me in a little hot water with them,' he told me. 'They would just prefer that everything be as anonymous as possible. They really don't want us to talk about our business models very much.'"<ref name="GibbonsKennedy"/> The Franklin Center is required by law to disclose the groups to which it gives money, Since 2009, the Franklin Center funded the following groups: '''2014'''<ref name="2014_990"/>* Hard Boiled Film LLC: $556,550* [[Talent Market]]: $6,000 '''2013'''<ref name="2013_990"/>* Oregon Capital: $250,000 '''2012'''<ref name="2012_990"/>* American Phoenix Foundation: $25,000* [[Cause of Action]]: $250,000* [[Foundation for Ethics in Public Service]]: $30,000* Frontier Lab: $235,000* [[Government Accountability Institute]]: $2,000,000* [[Independence Institute]]: $6,750* [[James Madison Institute]]: $75,000* [[Nevada News Bureau]]: $162,851* Small Business Hawaii Foundation: $21,000* [[Texas Watchdog]]: $322,500* TN Report.com News Service: $50,000* [[True the Vote]]-Houston: $50,000 '''2011'''<ref name="2011_990"/>* [[Cause of Action]] and Freedom Through Justice Foundation (Cause of Action's former name): $994,000* [[Citizen Outreach Foundation]]: $25,000* [[Cowboy State Free Press]]: $6,000* [[Foundation for Ethics in Public Service]]: $7,500* [[Nevada News Bureau]]: $77,500* [[Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity]]: $7,500* Small Business Hawaii Foundation: $5,500 '''2010'''<ref name="2010_990"/> * [[American Majority]]: $25,000* [[Cowboy State Free Press]]: $76,600* Foundation for Ethics in Public Service: $85,000* [[Maryland Reporter]]: $25,000* [[Nevada News Bureau]]: $17,000* [[Pelican Institute]]: $36,000* [[Tennessee Center for Policy Research]]: $25,000 '''2009'''<ref name="2009_990"/>* Cowboy Free Press: $74,000* [[Idaho Freedom Foundation]]: $60,000* [[Lucy Burns Institute]] (publisher of Ballotpedia.org): $43,413* [[Maryland Reporter]]: $68,000* Missouri News Network: $200,000* Pershing Center: $45,000* Small Business Hawaii Foundation: $45,000* TN Watch: $150,000 ==Funding==Franklin Center Director of Communications Michael Moroney told the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) that the source of the Franklin Center's funding "is 100 percent anonymous."<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> Its major foundation funders, however, can be found through a search of the IRS filings. Here are some of the known funders of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity:*[[Charles G. Koch Foundation]]: [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Koch_Family_Foundations $96,107] (2012-2015)*[[DonorsTrust]] and [[Donors Capital Fund]]: [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/DonorsTrust_and_Donors_Capital_Fund_Grant_Recipients $29,177,389] (2010-2014)*[[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]: [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Contributions_of_the_Bradley_Foundation $795,500] (2010-2015)*[[Searle Freedom Trust]]: [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Searle_Freedom_Trust $387,500] (2010-2013)*[[State Policy Network]]: [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Contributions_of_the_State_Policy_Network $100,000] (2010) ===Franklin's "Commercial Fundraiser," ClearWord Communications=== Gibbons wrote in June 2010, "The Franklin Center is headquartered in Bismarck, ND, but its mailing address is a law office in Stafford, Texas, and its fundraising agent is a Bristow, VA firm that also raises funds for the Republican Party and the [[Heritage Foundation]]."<ref name="GibbonsKennedy"/> That agent is [[ClearWord Communications Group, Inc.]],<ref>Washington State Office of the Secretary of State, [http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/search_detail.aspx?charity_id=28070 Charitable Solicitations Program Charity Profile Report: Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity], state governmental agency website, accessed November 19, 2013.</ref> a "donor strategies firm" or "commercial fundraiser" that also raises funds for:<ref>Washington State Office of the Secretary of State, [http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/search_detail_cfr.aspx?cfr_id=23483 Commercial Fundraiser Profile Report: ClearWord Communications Group, Inc.], state governmental agency website, accessed November 19, 2013.</ref> * [[American Council on Science and Health]], Inc.* [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC)* [[American Majority]], Inc.* [[Bill of Rights Institute]]* [[Claremont Institute]] For The Study Of Statesmanship & Political Philosophy* [[Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow]]* [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]]* EndPoverty.org* [[FreedomWorks]], Inc.* [[Illinois Policy Institute]] (a [[SPN Members|State Policy Network (SPN) member]])* [[Institute for Energy Research]]* James Partnership* Lincoln Institute for Research and Education* [[Mackinac Center]] (another [[SPN Members|SPN member]])* [[Morton Blackwell]]'s [[Leadership Institute]]* [[Pacific Legal Foundation]]* [[Sam Adams Alliance]], Inc.* [[State Policy Network]] (SPN) ==Core Financials== '''<big>2014</big>'''<ref name="2014_990">Franklin Center, [http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2015_10_EO/26-4066298_990_201412.pdf 2014 Form 990], organizational annual IRS filing, September 18, 2015.</ref> * Total Revenue: $10,049,984* Total Expenses: $9,847,101* Net Assets: $23,891 '''<big>2013</big>'''<ref name="2013_990">Franklin Center, [http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2014_12_EO/26-4066298_990_201312.pdf 2013 Form 990], organizational annual IRS filing, November 17, 2014.</ref> * Total Revenue: $8,118,913* Total Expenses: $8,678,265* Net Assets: -$178,992 '''<big>2012</big>'''<ref name="2012_990">Franklin Center, [http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2013_12_EO/26-4066298_990_201212.pdf 2012 Form 990], organizational annual IRS filing, November 8, 2013.</ref> * Total Revenue: $11,625,189* Total Expenses: $11,773,324* Net Assets: $380,360
'''<big>2011</big>'''<ref name===Board of Directors==="2011_990">Franklin Center, [https://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2011/264/066/2011-264066298-08cf2db3-9.pdf 2011 Form 990], organizational annual IRS filing, November 12, 2012.</ref>
As of September 2013* Total Revenue:<ref>Franklin Center$6, [http614,542* Total Expenses://franklincenterhq.org/invest/board-of-directors/ Board of Directors]$6, organizational website672,066* Net Assets: $473, accessed September 2013.</ref>964
*Jason Stverak, Chairman and President*Rudie Martinson, Director and Secretary*Doug Loen, Director'''<big>2010</big><refname="2010_990">GuidestarFranklin Center, [httphttps://www.guidestar.org/ReportOrganizationFinDocuments/2010/264/066/2010-264066298-07c0c161-9.aspx?ein=26-4066298 FRANKLIN CENTER FOR GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC INTEGRITY: Peoplepdf 2010 Form 990], non-profit organization profileorganizational annual IRS filing, October 25, accessed February 20132011.</ref>*[[Blair Thoreson]], Director (R-ND 44, [[North Dakota ALEC Politicians|American Legislative Exchange Council member]] from North Dakota, current member of [[ALEC Board of Directors]], former [[ALEC State Chairs|ALEC State Chair]], [[ALEC Award Winners|ALEC Award Winner]] 2009)
===Advisory Board===* Total Revenue: $3,775,771* Total Expenses: $3,942,844* Net Assets: $531,248
As of September 2013:'''<big>2009</big>'''<refname="2009_990">Franklin Center, [httphttps://franklincenterhqwww.guidestar.org/investFinDocuments/advisory2009/264/066/2009-264066298-committee/ Advisory Committee068fdb77-9.pdf 2009 Form 990], organizational websiteannual IRS filing, October 20, accessed September 20132011.</ref>
* [[Tucker Carlson]]Total Revenue: $2, Editor-in-Chief378, ''[[The Daily Caller]]''965* Jack FowlerTotal Expenses: $1, Publisher689, ''[[National Review]]''442* Ashley LandessNet Assets: $690, President, [[South Carolina Policy Council]]* [[Joseph Lehman]], President, [[Mackinac Center for Public Policy]]* [[Mark Tapscott]], Executive Editor, ''The [[Washington Examiner]]''913
==Personnel==
===Staff===
As of January 2017:<ref name="Staff">Franklin Center, [http://franklincenterhq.org/about/staff/ Staff], organizational website, accessed January 2017.</ref>
As '''Leadership Team'''*Nicole Neily, President*Mary Ellen Beatty, Chief of April 2015:<ref name="Staff">Franklin Center*Carter DeWitt, [http://franklincenterhq.org/about/staff/ Staff], organizational websiteVice President of Development*Steve Mullins, accessed April 2015.</ref>Chief Financial Officer
====Leadership Team===='''Communications, Marketing & Outreach'''*Laurel Patrick, Director of Communications and Media Outreach*Kevin Glass, Director of Outreach and Policy*Josh Kaib, Marketing and Communications Manager*Joseph Camardo, Social Media and Graphic Design Manager*Kristen Hawley, Digital Marketing Manager
'''Development'''
*Kathleen Hampton, National Director of Donor Relations
*John Courts, Development Operations and Research Manager
 
'''Operations/Administration'''
*Becky Wessels, Director of Operations
 
'''Watchdog.org'''
*Will Swaim, Senior Advisor and Contributing Editor
*John Bicknell, Executive Editor of Watchdog
*Johnny Kampis, Content Editor
*Ashe Schow, Higher Education and Campus Culture – Reporter
*James Wigderson, Education Watchdog – Reporter
*William Patrick, Florida Watchdog – Reporter
*Erin Clark, Florida Watchdog – Reporter
*Steve Wilson, Mississippi Watchdog – Reporter
*Kathy Hoekstra, Watchdog Regulations – Reporter
*Jon Cassidy, Texas Watchdog – Reporter
*Kenric Ward, Texas Watchdog – Reporter
*Lou Varricchio, Vermont Watchdog – Bureau Chief
*Emma Lamberton, Vermont Watchdog – Reporter
*Michael Bielawski, Vermont Watchdog – Reporter
*Bruce Parker, Vermont Watchdog – Reporter
*Matt Kittle, Wisconsin Watchdog – Bureau Chief and Reporter
 
'''Former Staff'''
*Erik Telford, President
*Will Swaim, Vice President of Journalism
*Paul Olivett, Vice President of Investor Relations
 
====Communications and Outreach====
 
*Kevin Glass, Director of Outreach and Policy
*Paul Alfonse, Outreach Coordinator
*Breyana Franklin, Public Affairs Manager
*Victor Nava, Staff Writer
 
====Development====
 
*Shana Davidson, Direct Marketing Manager
*Matthew Hauck, Director of Development
*Christina Pajak, Manager of Investor Relations
*Megan Ritter, Grants Manager and Development Writer
*John Courts, Development Operations and Research Manager
 
====Marketing and Special Projects====
 
*Kristen Hawley, Digital Marketing Manager
*Scott Kocen, Technology Adviser
*Andrew Collins, Digital Media Manager
 
====Operations/Administration====
 
* Becky Wessels, Director of Operations
 
====Watchdog Arena====
 
*Jackie Moreau, Managing Editor, Watchdog Arena
*Josh Kaib, Assistant Editor, Watchdog Arena
 
====Watchdog.org Staff====
 
*Mary Ellen Beatty, Director of Journalism Operations
*Mark Lisheron, Deputy Editor of Watchdog
*John Trump, Content Editor
*Johnny Kampis, Content Editor
*Arthur Kane, [[Colorado Watchdog]] and [[Oklahoma Watchdog]] – Reporter
*Moriah Costa, Education Reporter
*Paul Brennan, [[Iowa Watchdog]] - Reporter
*Tom Steward, [[Freedom Foundation of Minnesota|Watchdog.org Minnesota]] Bureau – Reporter
*Steve Wilson, [[Mississippi Watchdog]] – Reporter
*Evan Grossman, National Reporter
*Yaël Ossowski, National Reporter
*Brigette Russell, [[New Mexico Watchdog]] – Reporter
*Jason Hart, [[Ohio Watchdog]] – Reporter
*Jon Cassidy,[[Texas Watchdog]] – Bureau Chief and Reporter
*Eric Boehm, Pennsylvania Independent – Managing Editor
*Chris Butler, [[Tennessee Watchdog]] – Reporter
*Kenric Ward, [[Virginia Watchdog]] – Bureau Chief and Reporter
*Kathryn Watson, [[Virginia Watchdog]] – Investigative Reporter
*Matt Kittle, [[Wisconsin Watchdog]] – Bureau Chief and Reporter
 
====Former Staff====
 
*[[Gwen Beattie]] (Executive Vice President)
*Steven Greenhut (Vice President of Journalism)
*Kevin Lee (Statehouse reporter, Wisconsin Reporter)
==Contact Details=Board of Directors===
'''As of January 2017:<ref>Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity'''<br>1229 King Street, 3rd Floor<br>Alexandria, VA 22314<br>Phone[http: (571) 384//franklincenterhq.org/invest/board-2090<br>Fax: (571) 384of-2093directors/ Board of Directors], organizational website, accessed January 2017.<br/ref>Email: Info@FranklinCenterHQ*John J.org OR Media@FranklinCenterHQ.orgMiller*[[Erik Telford]]*Jack Fowler*Ed McFadden
'''Former AddressesDirectors'''*Jason Stverak, Chairman and President*Rudie Martinson, Director and Secretary*Doug Loen, Director<ref>Guidestar, [http://www.guidestar.org/ReportOrganization.aspx?ein=26-4066298 FRANKLIN CENTER FOR GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC INTEGRITY: People], non-profit organization profile, accessed February 2013.</ref>*[[Blair Thoreson]], Director (R-ND 44, [[North Dakota ALEC Politicians|American Legislative Exchange Council member]] from North Dakota, current member of [[ALEC Board of Directors]], former [[ALEC State Chairs|ALEC State Chair]], [[ALEC Award Winners|ALEC Award Winner]] 2009)
DC Office<br>127 S. Peyton Street, Suite 200<br>Alexandria, VA, 22314<br>Office Phone: 571-384-2090===Advisory Board===
North Dakota OfficeAs of September 2013 (No advisory board posted as of January 2017):<brref>547 SFranklin Center, [http://franklincenterhq. 7th Storg/invest/advisory-committee/ Advisory Committee], organizational website, accessed September 2013. #176<br>Bismarck, ND 58504<br/ref>Office Phone: 701-214-5612
Email: Meghan Tisinger at Meghan.Tisinger@FranklinCenterHQ.org* [[Tucker Carlson]], Editor-in-Chief, ''[[The Daily Caller]]''* Jack Fowler, Publisher, ''[[National Review]]''* Ashley Landess, President, [[South Carolina Policy Council]]* [[Joseph Lehman]], President, [[Mackinac Center for Public Policy]]* [[Mark Tapscott]], Executive Editor, ''The [[Washington Examiner]]''
Gibbons wrote in June 2010, "The ==Contact Information==Franklin Center is headquartered in Bismarckfor Government & Public Integrity'<br>107 S. West St., ND, but its mailing address is a law office in Stafford, Texas, and its fundraising agent is a BristowSuite 718<br>Alexandria, VA firm that also raises funds for the Republican Party and the [[Heritage Foundation]]22314<br>Phone: 571-384-2090<br>Website: http://franklincenterhq.org<br>Email: media@franklincenterhq."org<ref name="GibbonsKennedy"br>Twitter:https://twitter.com/franklincenter<br>Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FranklinCenterHQ<br>
==Articles and Resources==
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