Alliance Defending Freedom
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal organization headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Founded in 1994, ADF operates as a faith-based legal advocacy group with a global presence, including offices in Washington, D.C., New York, and international locations. The organization maintains a network of approximately 5,000 allied attorneys and employs over 450 staff members, including 107 staff attorneys.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$102.8M
+5.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.3M
+1117.1% YoY
Grant Count
35
+20.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$295K
+908.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
ADF's mission is to advocate for religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, the sanctity of life, and marriage and family. The organization describes itself as an "alliance-building legal ministry" committed to transforming law and culture so that true freedom can flourish.
Primary focus areas include:
- Legal Advocacy: Constitutional law and international human rights law, with particular emphasis on First Amendment protections
- Religious Freedom: Protecting the right of people to freely live out their faith
- Free Speech: Advancing free speech rights in public discourse
- Parental Rights: Defending parental authority and family-related legal matters
- Sanctity of Life: Legal advocacy related to life issues
- Education Programs: Including the Blackstone Legal Fellowship, Legal Academy, Young Lawyers Academy, and Journalism Academy
Grantmaking
ADF functions as both a legal advocacy organization and a grantmaker. According to recent tax filings, the organization distributed $14,107,398 in total giving in 2024.
Grant Range
**: Typical awards range from $5,265 to $8,611,085.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ADF maintains a global footprint with offices in multiple locations and an international subsidiary, Alliance Defending Freedom International, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, operating in over 100 countries.
Domestic presence includes:
- Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona
- Washington, D.C.
- New York
- Additional offices in various U.S. locations
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of June 2024 Tax Filing:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $111,000,000 |
| Total Expenses | $106,394,230 |
| Total Assets | $102,769,051 |
| Total Liabilities | $12,600,000 |
| Total Giving | $14,107,398 |
Organization Status:
- Tax-exempt since July 1993
- EIN: 54-1660459
- Member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)
Charity Navigator Rating: Four-Star rating with a 98% overall score, reflecting strong performance in Accountability & Finance, Leadership & Adaptability, and Culture & Community.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $102,769,051 | $97,603,306 | $85,085,772 |
| Revenue | $110,713,980 | $101,821,939 | $104,490,113 |
| Expenses | $106,394,230 | $97,103,483 | $81,311,475 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $3,092,282 | $-275,965 | $2,605,455 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
140 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Alliance Defending Freedom
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- CEO/President/Chief Counsel: Kristen K. Waggoner
- Chairman: Terry Schlossberg
- Board Size: 8 members
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Rogers | Vice Chairman / Chairman as of June 2024 | 2 | $3,272 |
| Mark Maddoux | Secretary/Treasurer | 4 | — |
| Terry Schlossberg | Chairman ( Part Year) | 7 | $3,977 |
| Lisa Fullerton | Director | 2 | $1,313 |
| Michael Whitehead | Director | 2 | $2,782 |
| Scott Scharpen | Director | 2 | $2,263 |
| Kristen Waggoner | CEO, President & General Counsel | 60 | $593,419 |
| Rebecca Eggleston | Executive Vice President | 50 | $334,286 |
| James Campbell | Chief Legal Counsel | 50 | $305,604 |
| Lance Bauslaugh | SVP of Development | 50 | $279,649 |
| Paul Coleman | Executive Director, ADF International | — | — |
| Ryan Bangert | SVP Strategic Initiatives & Special Counsel to the President | 50 | $266,701 |
| Don Ziel | SVP of Church and Ministry Alliance & Assistant General Counsel | 50 | $256,318 |
| Erin Hawley | Sr. Counsel, VP of Center for Life & Regulatory Practice | 50 | $272,673 |
| John Bursch | VP of Appellate Advocacy, Sr. Counsel | 50 | $317,982 |
| Tim Chandler | Sr. Counsel, VP of CMA Engagement & Strategic Projects | 50 | $294,414 |
| Wayne Swindler | Executive Director, ADF Foundation ( Part Year) | — | $272,174 |
| Glen Lavy | Former Corporate Counsel | — | $216,443 |
| Jeffrey Ventrella | Former Sr. Counsel, SVP of Training | — | $233,279 |
| Michael Farris | Former President and CEO | — | $864,014 |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
ADF maintains active litigation and advocacy efforts across multiple legal matters. The organization has reported:
First-class or charter travel provided to key employees or officers
Conflict of interest transactions reported on Schedule L
Ongoing Supreme Court representation and advocacy
The organization has established itself as a significant player in constitutional law, with attorneys invited to testify before Congress and state legislatures, and engagement with corporate America on free speech and religious liberty matters.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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