First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute provides pro bono legal services to advance and defend religious liberty for individuals, churches, and other ministries and organizations.
First Liberty Institute at a glance
In short: First Liberty Institute gave $155K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), top state District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $154,918
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,820
- -52.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $21,709
- Total assets
- $25,253,403
- +11.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (43% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who First Liberty Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Family Policy Foundation ($50K). Together the top 6 received $155K.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 23 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How First Liberty Institute gives
- Giving grew 107% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $46K (2021) to $166K (2023). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $155K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Family Policy Foundation Colorado Springs, CO | General Support | $50,000 |
| Council for National Policy Washington, DC | General Support | $36,500 |
| James Wilson Institute Alexandria, VA | General Support | $28,418 |
| US Supreme Court Historical Society Washington, DC | General Support | $15,000 |
| Family Research Council Washington, DC | General Support | $15,000 |
| National Association of Christian Law Makers Conway, AR | General Support | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $25,253,403 | $29,330,476 | $26,422,108 | $154,918 | 6 | $528,479 |
| 2024 | $22,659,438 | $22,142,341 | $24,763,979 | $164,600 | 3 | $586,444 |
| 2023 | $24,695,679 | $24,336,900 | $23,902,426 | $166,000 | 7 | $356,135 |
| 2022 | $21,241,603 | $25,974,312 | $19,847,586 | $75,000 | 5 | $24,778 |
| 2021 | $15,201,181 | $18,813,950 | $14,742,679 | $46,252 | 2 | $47,999 |
| 2020 | $11,084,882 | $14,810,344 | $11,622,940 | $52,000 | 2 | $120,977 |
About First Liberty Institute
Based on IRS filings
First Liberty Institute is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Plano, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $25.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $155K. Net investment income was $528K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
First Liberty Institute is led by Kelly Shackelford, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 8 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kelly Shackelford
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
55 hrs/week
$576K (2020) → $589K (2025)
Mark Cover
Chair Executive Committee & Board Member
Chair Executive Committee & Board → Chair Executive Committee & Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Holmes
COO, CFO & Executive Vice President
On filings since 2020
55 hrs/week
$387K (2020) → $469K (2025)
Hiram S. Sasser
Executive General Counsel
On filings since 2020
55 hrs/week
$293K (2020) → $301K (2025)
Jeremy Dys
Senior Counsel
On filings since 2021
55 hrs/week
$149K (2021) → $201K (2025)
David Hacker
Vice President Litigation & Senior Counsel
On filings since 2022
55 hrs/week
$187K (2022) → $285K (2025)
Jeff Mateer
Clo & Executive Vice President
On filings since 2022
55 hrs/week
$303K (2022) → $428K (2025)
Rebecca Dummermuth
Counsel
On filings since 2022
55 hrs/week
$208K (2022) → $258K (2025)
Steve Purdum
Chief Development Officer
New on the 2025 filing
55 hrs/week
$196K (2025)
Al Angell
Executive Committee & Board Member
Executive Committee & Board → Executive Committee & Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dale Brown
Executive Committee, Board Member & Secretary
Executive Committee, Board & Secretary → Executive Committee, Board Member & Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Muse Carlson
Board Member
Board → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Robertson
Executive Committee & Board Member
Executive Committee & Board → Executive Committee & Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jody Thornton
Board Member
Board → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Dunn
Vice Chair Executive Committee & Board Member
Vice Chair Executive Committee & Board → Vice Chair Executive Committee & Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Moore
Board Member
Board → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Bartley
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pat Cline
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pat Daniels
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: David Tauber (2020–2024) — Board
- Former: Jerry Brown (2020–2024) — Board
- Former: Mike Berry (2020–2024) — Vice President External Affairs & Senior Counsel
- Former: Paco Jordan (2020–2024) — Board
- Former: Justin Butterfield (2021–2024) — Deputy General Counsel
- Former: Jordan Pratt (2023) — Senior Counsel
- Former: Andrew Graham (2020–2021) — Senior Fellow
- Former: Ken Blackwell (2020–2021) — Board
- Former: Roger Byron (2020–2021) — Senior Counsel
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $589K, to Kelly Shackelford (President/CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about First Liberty Institute
How much does First Liberty Institute give each year?
First Liberty Institute gave $155K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $165K across 3 grants.
What is First Liberty Institute's typical grant size?
First Liberty Institute's median grant in 2025 was $21,709, and its average grant was $25,820, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does First Liberty Institute give grants?
First Liberty Institute's top state is District of Columbia, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Colorado (32%) and Virginia (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does First Liberty Institute give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of First Liberty Institute's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are First Liberty Institute's largest grantees?
First Liberty Institute's largest 2025 grantees include Family Policy Foundation ($50,000), Council for National Policy ($36,500) and James Wilson Institute ($28,418), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is First Liberty Institute?
First Liberty Institute reported $25.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $29.3M.
What is First Liberty Institute?
First Liberty Institute is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Plano, TX. It holds $25.3M in total assets as of 2025.
What is First Liberty Institute's EIN?
First Liberty Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-1403169. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 13, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 30, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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