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.
Key facts about Alliance Defending Freedom
- EIN
- 54-1660459
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,491,044
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- Average grant
- $283,542
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 59% first-time grantees (22 of 37, 2025)
- Total assets
- $112,233,785
- Primary geography
- Virginia (84% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Alliance Defending Freedom funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Alliance Defending Freedom's 37 itemized 2025 grants were Virginia (84%) and Arizona (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (4 grants), Arlington, VA (2 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants). None of its 37 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Religious Liberty" (17 grants), "Family Values" (8 grants) and "Sanctity of Life" (7 grants).
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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Alliance Defending Freedom
- How to evaluate Alliance Defending Freedom as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$112.2M
+9.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.5M
+1.7% YoY
Grant Count
37
+5.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$284K
-3.8% 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.
Ready to take the next step with Alliance Defending Freedom?
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
Share of all 37 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
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 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $112,233,785 | $102,769,051 | $97,603,306 |
| Revenue | $119,839,751 | $110,713,980 | $101,821,939 |
| Expenses | $108,568,981 | $106,394,230 | $97,103,483 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $3,903,311 | $3,092,282 | $-275,965 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Alliance Defending Freedom
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Alliance Defending Freedom International ($8,715,495), Adf Action ($900,000), Envisage Law ($96,852).
| 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 |
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 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kristen Waggoner | CEO, President & Chief Counsel | 60 | $584,869 |
| John Rogers | Chairman | 7 | — |
| Mark Maddoux | Secretary/Treasurer | 4 | — |
| Michael Whitehead | Director | 2 | — |
| Scott Scharpen | Director | 2 | — |
| Lisa Fullerton | Director | 2 | — |
| Caleb Robinson | Director | 2 | — |
| Michael Tremain | Director | 2 | — |
| Kerri Kupec Urbahn | Director | 2 | — |
| Rebecca Eggleston | Executive Vice President - Part Year | 50 | $363,537 |
| Mark Tjernagel | EVP of Operations - Part Year | 50 | $45,316 |
| Jim Campbell | Chief Legal Counsel | 50 | $370,542 |
| Lance Bauslaugh | SVP of Development | 50 | $295,379 |
| Ryan Bangert | SVP of Strategic Initiatives | 50 | $291,418 |
| John Bursch | VP of Appellate Advocacy, Sr Counsel | 50 | $312,710 |
| Grant Dawson | SVP of Information Technology | 50 | $306,967 |
| Tim Chandler | Sr Counsel, VP of Church & Ministry Alliance Enga | 50 | $284,954 |
| Jeremy Tedesco | Sr Counsel, SVP Corporate Engagement | 50 | $280,202 |
| Michael Farris | Former President and CEO | — | $525,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Alliance Defending Freedom fund?
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 …
How do I apply for a grant from Alliance Defending Freedom?
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 Programs:** • Grants to Individuals Program: Fellowships for law students demonstrating outstanding achievements, aptitude, leadership, and career potential • Grants focused on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services **Grant Range**: Typical awards range from $5,265 to $8,611,085. **Geograp…
Where does Alliance Defending Freedom make 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
What size grants does Alliance Defending Freedom award?
In 2025, Alliance Defending Freedom awarded 37 grants totaling $10.5M — an average of about $284K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Alliance Defending Freedom's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.