The 85 Fund
The 85 Fund, formerly the Judicial Education Project (JEP), is a well-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit connected to a powerful network of dark money right-wing groups that influenced the shaping of the federal judiciary during Donald Trump's presidency. In early 2020, the Judicial Education Project was rebranded by Leonard Leo as The 85 Fund, but appears to be a legal alias of the group.[1]
Contents
News and Controversies
Sen. Whitehouse Highlights JEP's Involvement in Supreme Court Amici Briefs and Justice Nominations
During the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court Justice nominee Amy Coney Barrett, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) made remarks concerning the dark money funding her nomination. About the Federalist Society, the Judicial Crisis Network, and the Judicial Education Project, Whitehouse said, "This more and more looks like it's not three schemes, but it's one scheme with the same funders selecting judges, funding campaigns for the judges, and then showing up in court in these orchestrated amicus flotillas to tell the judges what to do."[2]
In 2014, the grant officer of the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation had met with Leonard Leo at the Federalist Society about funding two Supreme Court amicus projects.[3]
Leo connected the Bradley foundation to Neil Corkery, who led the Judicial Education Project at the time. Corkery also served as president of the since-disbanded Wellspring Committee, which gave Judicial Crisis Network $14.8 million in 2017 and $23.5 million in 2016.[3][4]
The Judicial Crisis Network received $17.9 million from a single anonymous donor to block the nomination of Merrick Garland and support the nomination of Neil Gorsuch, then a $17.1 million donation from a single anonymous donor in support of Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation.[5] The organization spent five figures on ads opposing Merrick Garland in 2016,[6] $1.4 million on ads in favor of Brett Kavanaugh in 2018,[7] and $3 million in favor of Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation in 2020.[8]
Honest Elections Project
Like JEP, the Honest Elections Project is a legal alias of The 85 Fund.
In August 2020, Jason Snead, HEP's executive director, discussed voter fraud messaging in a webinar with other State Policy Network members. [9]
In April 2020, HEP spent $250,000 on ads warning against voting by mail and accusing Democrats of planning to cheat in the November 2020 U.S. presidential election.[10][11] These ads .
The group also sent letters threatening legal action against Colorado, Florida, and Michigan, states with jurisdictions with voter rolls that it claimed were "suspiciously high, sometimes exceeding the number of voting-age adults there"[12] as well as filing briefs supporting voting restrictions in Minnesota, Nevada, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.[11]
CMD Files Suit to Acquire JEP's IRS Filing
In April 2020, the Center for Media and Democracy filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service for refusing to release the tax records for eighteen rightwing groups, including the Judicial Education Project.[13]
Judicial Education Project and Honest Election Project Rebranded as 85 Fund
In early 2020, Leonard Leo began creating a conservative network inspired by the liberal consulting firm Arabella Advisors.[1]
As part of creating this conservative network, Leo and his business partner Greg Mueller rebranded Judicial Education Project and Honest Elections Project as The 85 Fund.[1][14][15]
Funding
Judicial Education Project is not required to disclose its funders but major foundation supporters can be found through their IRS filings. Here are some known contributors:
- Bradley Impact Fund: $2,500,000 (2020)
- Center for Independent Thought: $10,000 (2015)
- Considine Family Foundation: $30,000 (2015-2016)
- Diana Davis Spencer Foundation: $450,000 (2020)
- DonorsTrust: $48,712,856 (2020)
- Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund: $1,870,000 (2019)
- Ed Uihlein Family Foundation: $125,000 (2015)
- Hickory Foundation: $20,000 (2015)
- John William Pope Foundation: $50,000 (2014)
- Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation: $150,000 (2015)
- National Christian Charitable Foundation: $2,000,000 (2020)
- National Philanthropic Trust: $12,270,000 (2015-2022)
- Story Garschina Foundation: $200,000 (2018)
- Thomas W Smith Foundation: $300,000 (2020)
- Wellspring Committee: $186,000 (2008-2011)
DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund
Since its founding in 2011, the Judicial Education Project has received a large majority of its funding from DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund.
| Year | Total Revenue | DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund Grant | Percentage of Funding from DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $7,837,050 | $6,964,550 | 88.8% |
| 2017 | $9.469.500 | $8,790,000 | 92.8% |
| 2016 | $12,375,000 | $10,230,000 | 82.6% |
| 2015 | $11,335,700 | $9,523,000 | 84.0% |
| 2014 | $9.077,000 | $8,007,000 | 88.2% |
| 2013 | $2,520,110 | $2,420,000 | 96.0% |
| 2012 | $1,525,000 | $1,175,000 | 77.1% |
Grants Distributed
2022[16]
- American Conservative Union Foundation: $25,000
- American Legislative Exchange Council: $379,500
- American Juris Link: $100,000
- Americans for Limited Government Foundation: $110,000
- Americans for Tax Reform: $25,000
- Becket Fund for Religious Liberty: $400,000
- Centennial Institute: $25,000
- Center for Equal Opportunity: $250,000
- Chicago Freedom Trust: $20,000
- CO2 Coalition: $100,000
- Conscience Project: $32,000
- Cornell University: $80,000
- Center for Law and Policy: $125,000
- DonorsTrust: $92,000,000
- Faith Wins: $20,000
- Federalist Society: $2,300,000
- Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression: $2,066,667
- Energy & Environment Legal Institute: $55,000
- Ethics and Public Policy Center: $1,298,182
- Freedom Foundation: $640,000
- Free State Foundation: $40,000
- Georgia Community Foundation: $47,500
- Hawthorn Foundation: $600,000
- Health Markets Policy Network: $150,000
- Heritage Foundation: $150,000
- Independent Women's Forum: $350,000
- Legal Insurrection Foundation: $50,000
- Manhattan Institute: $450,000
- March for Life Defense: $10,000
- National Civic Art Society: $50,000
- National Review Institute: $110,000
- Neuro Kids: $200,000
- Paragon Health Institute: $1,000,000
- Property and Environment Research Center: $200,000
- State Policy Network: $50,000
- Tholos Foundation: $68,500
- Vanguard Charitable: $350,000
- Witherspoon Institute: $39,338
- Young Americans for Liberty Foundation: $15,000
2021[17]
- American Conservative Union Foundation: $145,000
- American Juris Link: $100,000
- American Legislative Exchange Council: $155,000
- Americans for Limited Government Foundation: $40,000
- Becket Fund: $400,000
- Center for Equal Opportunity: $125,000
- Chicago Freedom Trust: $25,000
- Club for Growth Foundation: $250,000
- Concerned Women for America: $25,000
- Conscience Project: $9,500
- Cornell University: $30,000
- DonorsTrust: $71,145,000
- Douglas Leadership Institute: $7,000
- Ethics and Public Policy Center: $1,381,818
- Faith Wins: $70,000
- Federalist Society: $3,550,000
- Freedom Foundation: $333,330
- Georgia Community Foundation: $40,000
- Hawthorn Foundation: $600,000
- Independent Women's Forum: $350,000
- Legal Insurrection Foundation: $50,000
- Library of Congress: $250,000
- March for Life Defense: $25,000
- National Civic Art Society: $50,000
- National Review Institute: $310,000
- Network for Enlightened Women: $50,000
- Speech First: $250,000
- Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty: $150,000
2020[18]
- American Juris Link: $100,000
- Americans of Faith: $100,000
- Americans for Limited Government Research: $75,000
- Becket Fund for Religious Liberty: $150,000
- Center for Equal Opportunity: $150,000
- CO2 Coalition: $100,000
- Colorado Christian University: $50,000
- Committee for Justice Foundation: $50,000
- Committee to Unleash Prosperity: $500,000
- Competitive Enterprise Institute: $250,000
- Concerned Women for America: $100,000
- Cornell University: $30,000
- DonorsTrust: $12,482,846
- Energy and Environment Legal Institute: $350,000
- Ethics and Public Policy Center: $488,000
- Equal Voting Rights Institute: $350,000
- Faith and Freedom Coalition: $100,000
- Faith Wins: $50,000
- Federalist Society: $5,615,445
- Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust: $450,000
- Foundation for Government Accountability: $2,000,000
- Foundation for Individual Rights in Education: $300,000
- Fraternity and Sorority Action Fund: $100,000
- George Mason University Foundation: $200,000
- Georgia Community Foundation: $40,000
- Heritage Action for America: $50,000
- Independent Women's Forum: $310,000
- Institute for Free Speech: $500,000
- Job Creators Network: $500,000
- Legacy Foundation: $750,000
- Legal Insurrection Foundation: $50,000
- Mercatus Center: $750,000
- National Civic Art Society: $50,000
- Network of Enlightened Women: $100,000
- New Civil Liberties Alliance: $1,000,000
- Orrin Hatch Foundation: $100,000
- Passages Israel: $1,000,000
- Public Interest Legal Foundation: $400,000
- Real Clear Foundation: $750,000
- Speech First: $500,000
- Students for Fair Admissions: $250,000
- Susan B. Anthony List Education Fund: $175,000
- Turning Point USA: $2,750,000
- Vanguard Charitable: $150,000
2019[19]
- Fraternity and Sorority Action Fund: $95,000
- Free to Choose Network: $300,000
- George Mason University Foundation: $700,000
- Legal Insurrection Foundation: $50,000
- Library of Congress: $375,000
- Sophia Institute Press: $75,000
- Speech First: $500,000
2018[20]
- Center for Individual Rights: $556,285
- Center for Security Policy: $25,000
- George Mason University Foundation: $800,000
- Independent Women's Forum: $300,000
- Private Citizen: $400,000
- Speech First: $750,000
- Unconstrained Analytics: $50,000
2017[21]
- American Conservative Union Foundation: $50,000
- Concerned Women for America: $125,000
- Ethics and Public Policy Center: $100,000
- George Mason University Foundation: $800,000
- Judicial Evaluation Institute: $150,000
- NRA Freedom Action Foundation: $750,000
- Orin Hatch Foundation: $250,000
- Private Citizen: $502,036
- Speech First: $250,000
- Susan B Anthony List Education Fund: $100,000
- The Legacy Foundation: $20,000
2016[22]
- Center for Rule of Law: $760,000
- Center for Security Policy: $128,000
- Citizens for Self-Governance: $400,000
- Equal Voting Rights Institute: $50,000
- George Mason University Foundation: $350,000
- Judicial Evaluation Institute: $150,000
- NFIB Small Business Legal: $32,000
- Private Citizen: $550,000
- RJ Johnson Legal Defense Fund: $445,000
2015[23]
- Center for Rule of Law: $760,000
- Ethics and Public Policy Center: $5,000
- The Frontier Lab: $75,000
- RJ Johnson Legal Defense Fund: $795,000
2014[24]
- Center for Rule of Law: $650,000
- Chabad Housing Corporation: $20,000
- Franklin News Foundation: $100,000
- MO Forward Foundation: $100,000
- RJ Johnson Legal Defense Fund: $690,000
2013[25]
- Center for Rule of Law: $325,000
- Education and Research Institute: $75,000
- Lucy Burns Institute: $25,000
2012[26]
- Catholic Association Fund: $50,000
- George Mason University: $15,000
- Legacy Foundation: $50,000
- Pershing Center: $145,000
Core Financials
2022[16]
- Total Revenue: $134,753,000
- Total Expenses: $138,818,674
- Net Assets: $6,212,890
2021[17]
- Total Revenue: $117,315,050
- Total Expenses: $113,588,711
- Net Assets: $10,278,564
2020[18]
- Total Revenue: $65,777,856
- Total Expenses: $59,753,082
- Net Assets: $6,552,225
2019[19]
- Total Revenue: $13,498,500
- Total Expenses: $13,033,961
- Net Assets: $527,452
2018[20]
- Total Revenue: $7,837,050
- Total Expenses: $7,945,679
- Net Assets: $62,913
2017[21]
- Total Revenue: $9,469,500
- Total Expenses: $11,525,413
- Net Assets: $171,542
2016[22]
- Total Revenue: $12,375,000
- Total Expenses: $10,208,605
- Net Assets: $2,227,455
2015[23]
- Total Revenue: $11,335,700
- Total Expenses: $11,491,063
- Net Assets: $61,060
2014[24]
- Total Revenue: $9,077,000
- Total Expenses: $9,352,378
- Net Assets: $216,423
2013[25]
- Total Revenue: $2,520,110
- Total Expenses: $2,247,325
- Net Assets: $491,801
2012[26]
- Total Revenue: $1,525,000
- Total Expenses: $1,306,239
- Net Assets: $219,015
Personnel
As of December 2022:[16]
Staff
- Ormal Skinner, Counsel
- Jason Snead, Counsel
- Trent England, Counsel
- Ann Corkery, Counsel
Board of Directors
- Carie Severino, Secretary
- Gary Marx, Treasurer
- Todd Graves, Chairman
Former Personnel
- Neil Corkery, Treasurer (2013-2014)
- Daniel Casey, President (2013-2017)
Contact Information
The 85 Fund
3220 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20007
EIN: 20-2466871
Phone: (561) 563-3547
Articles and Resources
IRS Form 990 Filings
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
Articles
- David Armiak, Revealed: The Biggest Voter Suppressor You’ve Never Heard Of, ExposedbyCMD, March 28, 2022.
- Alex Kotch, The Dirty Dozen: The Biggest Nonprofit Funders of Climate Denial ExposedbyCMD, March 21, 2022.
Related SourceWatch
- American Conservative Union
- Center for Individual Rights
- Center for Security Policy
- Citizens for Self-Governance
- Concerned Women for America
- Donald Trump
- Donors Capital Fund
- DonorsTrust
- DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund Grant Recipients
- Ed Uihlein Family Foundation
- Ethics and Public Policy Center
- Federalist Society
- Franklin News Foundation
- George Mason University
- Honest Elections Project
- Independent Women’s Forum
- John William Pope Foundation
- Judicial Crisis Network
- Leonard Leo
- Lucy Burns Institute
- Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
- National Rifle Association
- Speech First
- State Policy Network
- Supreme Court
- Wellspring Committee
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jonathan Swan and Alyson Treene, "Leonard Leo to shape new conservative network", Axios, January 7, 2020, accessed December 7, 2020.
- ↑ PRWatch Editors, "Senator Whitehouse Calls Out Dark-Money Networks Behind Amy Coney Barrett’s SCOTUS Nomination", PRWatch", October 13, 2020, accessed December 11, 2020.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lisa Graves, "Snapshot of Secret Funding of Amicus Briefs Tied to Leonard Leo–Federalist Society Leader, Promoter of Amy Barrett", PRWatch, October 10, 2020, accessed December 14, 2020/
- ↑ Anna Massoglia and Andrew Perez, "Secretive conservative legal group funded by $17 million mystery donor before Kavanaugh fight", OpenSecrets, May 17, 2019, accessed December 14, 2020.
- ↑ John Kruzel, "It’s true: millions in dark money has been spent to tilt courts right", Politifact, September 11, 2019, accessed December 14, 2020.
- ↑ Judicial Crisis Network, "Judicial Crisis Network Launches Digital Ad Campaign Exposing Merrick Garland’s Record as a Liberal", organizational website, March 23, 2016, accessed December 14, 2020
- ↑ Judicial Crisis Network, "Judicial Crisis Network Launches Confirm Brett Kavanaugh, a $1.4 Million Ad Buy (National, AL, IN, ND, WV)", organizational website, July 10, 2018, accessed December 14, 2020.
- ↑ Marianne Levine, "Judicial Crisis Network launches $3 million ad campaign for Barrett", Politico, September 26, 2020, accessed December 14, 2020.
- ↑ David Armiak, "Right-Wing Groups Push Fraud Narrative to Undermine COVID-19 Vote-by-Mail Measures", PRWatch, September 3, 2020, accessed December 14, 2020.
- ↑ Alex Kotch, "An All-Out Assault: GOP-Aligned Groups Attack Voting Rights From All Angles", PRWatch, September 16, 2020, accessed December 14, 2020.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Sam Levine and Anna Massoglia, "Revealed: conservative group fighting to restrict voting tied to powerful dark money network", Guardian, May 27, 2020, accessed December 6, 2020.
- ↑ James Varney, "Watchdog demands purge of 'suspiciously' bloated voter rolls in 3 battleground states", Washington Times, February 27, 2020, accessed December 6, 2020.
- ↑ PRWatch Editors, "CMD Files Lawsuit Against IRS for Refusing to Release Tax Records for 18 Right-Wing Groups", PRWatch, April 20, 2020, accessed December 14, 2020.
- ↑ The 85 Fund, Fictitious Name Certificate: Judicial Education Project, Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission, filed February 7, 2020, accessed December 7, 2020.
- ↑ The 85 Fund, Fictitious Name Certificate: Honest Elections Project, Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission, filed February 7, 2020, accessed December 7, 2020.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 The 85 Fund, 2022 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, 2023.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 The 85 Fund, 2021 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, 2022.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 The 85 Fund, 2020 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, November 15, 2021.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 The 85 Fund, 2019 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, November 16, 2020.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Judicial Education Project, 2018 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, November 11, 2019.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Judicial Education Project, 2017 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, November 6, 2018.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Judicial Education Project, 2016 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, November 5, 2017.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Judicial Education Project, 2015 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, November 15, 2016.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Judicial Education Project, 2014 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, November 15, 2015.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Judicial Education Project, 2013 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, November 15, 2014.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Judicial Education Project, 2012 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, November 15, 2013.
