Alliance Defending Freedom
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is a public charity based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Founded in 1993, it is a Christian legal organization whose work includes litigation, legislative policy, legal training, and grants supporting legal advocacy.
Alliance Defending Freedom at a glance
In short: Alliance Defending Freedom gave $10.5M across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $284K), mostly in Virginia. 59% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,491,044
- +1.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- +5.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $283,542
- -3.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $112,233,785
- +9.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 59% first-time grantees (22 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (84% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Alliance Defending Freedom
- How to Apply
-
Attorneys may submit an online grant application; applicants do not have to be Network Attorneys. Applications are reviewed for alignment with ADF’s mission and guidelines, including the case’s merits, potential impact, and strategic-priority alignment. Funding is not guaranteed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 15100 North 90Th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Phone: (480) 444-0020
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Alliance Defending Freedom
Who Alliance Defending Freedom funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Alliance Defending Freedom International ($8.7M). Together the top 10 received $10.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 118 grants of 147 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The program’s stated scope is the United States and internationally. In 2025, 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia and 9% to recipients in Arizona; the remaining reported shares were 1% each for the District of Columbia, North Carolina, and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Alliance Defending Freedom open to new grantees?
59%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 22 of 37 grantees (59%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $419K; repeat grants $85K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $25K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $750K (2021) to $10.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $10.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance Defending Freedom International Lansdowne, VA | Operations Support | $8,715,495 |
| ADF Action Scottsdale, AZ | Operations Support | $900,000 |
| Envisage Law Raleigh, NC | Family Values | $96,852 |
| Consovoy McCarthy PLLC Arlington, VA | Religious Liberty | $80,219 |
| Liberty Counsel Orlando, FL | Religious Liberty | $75,000 |
| Boyden Gray PLLC Washington, DC | Religious Liberty | $55,000 |
| Ethics and Public Policy Center Washington, DC | Family Values and Religious Liberty | $47,800 |
| Dillon PLLC Washington, DC | Religious Liberty | $31,833 |
| Simms Showers LLP Leesburg, VA | Sanctity of Life | $31,637 |
| Fox Rothschild LLP Philadelphia, PA | Religious Liberty | $30,351 |
Ready to take the next step with Alliance Defending Freedom?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
In 2025, ADF reported 37 grants; the 2024 and 2023 filings reported 35 and 29 grants, respectively.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $112,233,785 | $119,839,751 | $108,568,981 | $10,491,044 | 37 | $3,903,311 |
| 2024 | $102,769,051 | $110,713,980 | $106,394,230 | $10,314,959 | 35 | $3,092,282 |
| 2023 | $97,603,306 | $101,821,939 | $97,103,483 | $847,532 | 29 | $-275,965 |
| 2022 | $85,085,772 | $104,490,113 | $81,311,475 | $814,918 | 26 | $2,605,455 |
| 2021 | $78,471,731 | $78,833,050 | $67,142,893 | $750,296 | 20 | $437,775 |
| 2020 | $48,720,562 | $65,187,555 | $59,299,188 | $1,996,204 | 31 | $515,111 |
| 2019 | $45,011,387 | $60,949,233 | $57,262,014 | $1,150,068 | 28 | $510,652 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
ADF says it exists to advance every person’s God-given right to live and speak the truth and to keep the door open for the gospel. Its stated areas of focus include religious freedom, the sanctity of life, free speech, parental rights, and marriage and family.
ADF supports attorneys’ litigation and advocacy work, as well as allied organizations. Examples of 2025 recipients include Alliance Defending Freedom International, whose stated mission is to support a global effort to advance every person’s God-given right to live and speak the truth, and ADF Action, which says it advocates and educates in favor of public policies supporting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life and marriage. The Ethics and Public Policy Center says it applies the Judeo-Christian moral tradition to public-policy issues. Other recipients included legal organizations whose stated missions include protecting children’s health and parental rights, providing free legal representation in landmark cases, and defending faith and freedom through litigation, education, and public policy.
Grantmaking
In 2025, ADF reported 37 grants totaling $10,491,044. Grant amounts ranged from $6,131 to $8,715,495, with a median of $20,000. The largest grants were $8,715,495 to Alliance Defending Freedom International for operations support and $900,000 to ADF Action for operations support. Other notable grants included $96,852 to Envisage Law for family values, $80,219 to Consovoy McCarthy PLLC for religious liberty, and $75,000 to Liberty Counsel for religious liberty.
ADF describes its support as funding for litigation costs, amicus efforts, and advocacy-related projects, with consultation and legal expertise also available. Funding guidelines set target amounts by litigation stage and distinguish among meritorious cases, strategic cases, and cases aligned with organizational priorities. The stated target ranges vary by stage and category; for example, trial-level plaintiff matters from filing through summary judgment have ranges of $30,000–$40,000 for meritorious cases, $45,000–$60,000 for strategic cases, and $63,750–$85,000 for priority-aligned cases. Applications are submitted online and reviewed for adequate information and compliance with the guidelines. Staff review is followed by independent evaluation by senior legal staff, with recommendations based on the request, available resources, and funding targets. The Executive Legal Council consults with the CEO and/or Board of Directors for final authorization. ADF may, subject to client consent, join a funded matter as co-counsel.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kristen Waggoner as CEO, President and Chief Counsel; John Rogers as Chairman; and Mark Maddoux as Secretary/Treasurer. Directors listed are Michael Whitehead, Scott Scharpen, Lisa Fullerton, Caleb Robinson, Michael Tremain, and Kerri Kupec Urb ahn. Rebecca Eggleston is listed as Executive Vice President for part of the year.
Alliance Defending Freedom is led by Kristen Waggoner, CEO, President & Chief Counsel since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 11 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kristen Waggoner
CEO, President & Chief Counsel
General Counsel → CEO, President & General Counsel, 2023
CEO, President & General Counsel → CEO, President & Chief Counsel, 2025
On filings since 2019
60 hrs/week
$232K (2019) → $585K (2025)
Michael Farris
Former President & CEO
President & CEO → President, 2023
President → Former President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2019
$433K (2019) → $525K (2025)
John Rogers
Chairman
Vice Chairman → Vice Chairman & Chairman, 2024
Vice Chairman & Chairman → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2019
7 hrs/week
$3K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Scott Scharpen
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$2K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Michael Whitehead
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$3K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Lisa Fullerton
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$1K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Caleb Robinson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kerri Kupec Urbahn
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Tremain
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Tedesco
Senior Counsel & Senior Vice President Corporate Engagement
Senior Counsel & Vice President of U.s. Advocacy → Senior Counsel & Senior Vice President of Corporate Engagement, 2021
Senior Counsel & Senior Vice President of Corporate Engagement → Senior Counsel & Senior Vice President Corporate Engagement, 2025
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$233K (2019) → $280K (2025)
Tim Chandler
Senior Counsel, Vice President of Church & Ministry Alliance Enga
Senior Counsel & Vice President of Cma Engagement → Senior Counsel, Vice President of Cma Engagement & Strategic Projects, 2024
Senior Counsel, Vice President of Cma Engagement & Strategic Projects → Senior Counsel, Vice President of Church & Ministry Alliance Enga, 2025
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$253K (2019) → $285K (2025)
Lance Bauslaugh
Senior Vice President of Development
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$162K (2020) → $295K (2025)
John Bursch
Vice President of Appellate Advocacy & Senior Counsel
Vice President of Appellate Advocacy & Senior Counsel → Vice President of Appellate Advocacy, 2022
Vice President of Appellate Advocacy → Vice President of Appellate Advocacy & Senior Counsel, 2023
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$218K (2021) → $313K (2025)
Rebecca Eggleston
Executive Vice President -
Chief of Staff to the General Counsel → Executive Vice President, 2023
Executive Vice President → Executive Vice President -, 2025
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$243K (2022) → $364K (2025)
Ryan Bangert
Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
Senior Vice President Strategic Initiatives & Special Counsel to the President → Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, 2025
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$256K (2023) → $291K (2025)
Grant Dawson
Senior Vice President of Information Technology
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$307K (2025)
Jim Campbell
Chief Legal Counsel
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$371K (2025)
Mark Tjernagel
Executive Vice President of Operations -
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$45K (2025)
Mark Maddoux
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (28)
- Former: Glen Lavy (2019–2024) — Former Corporate Counsel
- Former: Jeffrey Ventrella (2019–2024) — Former Senior Counsel & Senior Vice President of Training
- Former: Terry Schlossberg (2019–2024) — Chairman
- Former: Wayne Swindler (2019–2024) — Executive Director & Adf Foundation
- Former: Don Ziel (2024) — Senior Vice President of Church, Ministry Alliance & Assistant General Counsel
- Former: Erin Hawley (2024) — Senior Counsel, Vice President of Center for Life & Regulatory Practice
- Former: James Campbell (2024) — Chief Legal Counsel
- Former: Paul Coleman (2024) — Executive Director & Adf International
- Former: David Cortman (2019–2023) — Senior Counsel & Vice President of U.s. Litigation
- Former: Ruth Ross (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Seth Morgan (2019–2023) — Vice Chairman
- Former: Tony Johnson (2019–2023) — Senior Vice President of Operations & Direct Response
- Former: Gary Smith (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Jeffery Ventrella (2021–2022) — Senior Counsel & Senior Vice President of Training
- Former: Alan Sears (2019–2021) — Founder
- Former: Brett Harvey (2020–2021) — R. Counsel & Vice President of Allied Legal Affairs
- Former: Kelvin Cochran (2021) — Director
- Former: Alfonso Aguilar (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Charles Pickering (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Lisa Reschetnikow (2019–2020) — Adf Foundation President & Corp General Counsel
- Former: Marjorie Dannenfelser (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Mark Crozet (2019–2020) — Senior Vice President of Development
- Former: Tom Minnery (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Amy Shepard (2020) — Former Key Employee
- Former: Gary McCaleb (2020) — Former Officer
- Former: Amy Shepard Former Key Employee (2019) — Vice President of Ecumenical Relations
- Former: Donald Foster (2019) — Chief Information Officer
- Former: Gary McCaleb Former Officer (2019) — Senior Counsel & Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $585K, to Kristen Waggoner (CEO, President & Chief Counsel). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Alliance Defending Freedom
How much does Alliance Defending Freedom give each year?
Alliance Defending Freedom gave $10.5M across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $10.3M across 35 grants.
What is Alliance Defending Freedom's typical grant size?
Alliance Defending Freedom's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $283,542, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Alliance Defending Freedom that year got $419K on average.
Where does Alliance Defending Freedom give grants?
Alliance Defending Freedom gives mostly in Virginia: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Arizona (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (4 grants), Arlington, VA (2 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Alliance Defending Freedom give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 37 grants with a stated purpose on Alliance Defending Freedom's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Religious Liberty" (17 grants), "Family Values" (8 grants) and "Sanctity of Life" (7 grants).
Who are Alliance Defending Freedom's largest grantees?
Alliance Defending Freedom's largest 2025 grantees include Alliance Defending Freedom International ($8,715,495), ADF Action ($900,000) and Envisage Law ($96,852), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Alliance Defending Freedom?
Alliance Defending Freedom reported $112.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $119.8M.
What does Alliance Defending Freedom fund?
ADF says it exists to advance every person’s God-given right to live and speak the truth and to keep the door open for the gospel. Its stated areas of focus include religious freedom, the sanctity of life, free speech, parental rights, and marriage and family. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Alliance Defending Freedom?
Attorneys may submit an online grant application; applicants do not have to be Network Attorneys. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Alliance Defending Freedom's EIN?
Alliance Defending Freedom's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1660459. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 8, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Alliance Defending Freedom funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/alliance-defending-freedom-morg_18b4569aecc74074afe7e369e47a88fd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_541660459_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Alliance Defending Freedom funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/alliance-defending-freedom-morg_18b4569aecc74074afe7e369e47a88fd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Alliance Defending Freedom's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Alliance Defending Freedom down — hundreds of funders to go?