The Federalist Society's Top 30 Benefactors of 2022

(donations of $100,000 or more)

from the Federalist Society's 2022 Annual Report

1. Scott & Cyan Banister

Scott Banister was a founding board member of PayPal and invented paid search advertising via keyword auction.[1] Cyan Banister is an angel investor for Uber, Postmates, SpaceX, & Niantic (Pokemon GO)[2], and publicly self-identifies as trans non-binary.[3]

2. DonorsTrust

Called "The Right's Dark-Money ATM", this org helps the ultra-wealthy make anonymous donations to right-wing causes while avoiding public scrutiny.[4]

3. The Gale Foundation

Ed Gale is director of Superior Mineral Resources, LLC (mining), and president of Gale Mineral Resources LLC (petroleum and natural gas), which have operations across Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. [5][6][7]

4. Mark Kolokotrones

Kolokotrones is the founder of an investment firm with an interest in artificial intelligence and e-commerce. As a Heritage Foundation Trustee since 2015, his flagship cause is "school choice" (a.k.a., defunding public education). [8][9]

5. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation

A member of their Board of Directors joined Donald Trump on the famous January 2021 phone call to pressure Georgia election officials to "find" 11,000+ votes & turn the election. [10]

In the early 2000s, the foundation donated millions to three anti-Muslim groups that the Council on American-Islamic Relations described as an "Islamophobic network."[11]

6. The Holman Supporting Foundation

According to their 2020 tax returns, this foundation donates exclusively to the Federalist Society. FedSoc President Eugene Meyer and VP Lee Liberman Otis both serve on the Foundation's five-member board, and are the primary advisors for where & how the funding is to be directed. [12]

7. Roger and Susan Hertog

Roger Hertog founded the Tikvah Fund, which sponsors conservative Jewish education in Israel. Three out of its four leadership programs are located in settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. [13]

8. Hickory Foundation

In 2022 this foundation donated over $850,000 to conservative think tanks and media organizations. [14]

9. Kenneth C. Griffin

Kenneth C. Griffin is a hedge fund billionaire and the 38th richest person in the world. [15]

10. Lilly Endowment

This endowment is associated with pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. [16]

11. The E.L. Craig Foundation

In 2011, donated $500,000 to prevent Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker form being recalled over government union-busting. [17]

12. The J.P. Humphreys Foundation

Also founded by E.L. Craig of the E.L. Craig Foundation, the J.P. Humphreys Foundation was named after Craig's son-in-law. The Humphreys were reported to have donated $17 million to republicans in the 2016 election cycle. [18]

13. Oracle

In 2020, Oracle was the third-largest software company in the world by revenue and market capitalization. [19]

14. Sarah Scaife Foundation

Founded by Sarah Scaife, the heiress of the Mellon family fortune. In 2017 the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that "at least 25 high ranking members" of Donald Trump's transition team were connected to organizations funded by the Scaife Foundation. [20]

15. Robert B. Reingold

Over the last five election cycles (2012-2020), Reingold has donated a cumulative $750,000 to republican campaigns.[21]

16. Searle Freedom Trust

The trust's endowment is money inherited from the pharmaceutical company G.D. Searle, L.L.C., which was acquired by Pfizer. [22]

17. Stand Together Foundation

Current C.E.O. Brian Hooks also serves as President of the Charles Koch Foundation and the Charles Koch Institute. [23]

18. Dunn Foundation

Rebecca Dunn is a real estate developer who is an advisory council member for Turning Point U.S.A., and is on the board of directors for the Cato Institute. Her husband Bill is the head of a major investment company and an outspoken libertarian. [24] [25]

19. The Ed Uihlein Family Foundation

The Washington Post reported in 2018 that the founder Richard Uihlein was the sixth largest donor to all U.S. political campaigns between 2010-2018. He donates almost exclusively to Republicans. [26]

20. The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation

As of 2021, DDSF had $1.4 billion in assets. Donations include $3.7 million to 13 voter suppression groups between 2018-2020, $71.8 million to the State Policy Network and its "affiliates" between 2014-2018, and $1.4 million to the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation between 2019-2021. [27]

21. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Smith

Smith is a Florida hedge fund manager and sits on the board of the Manhattan Institute. In 2019 alone, his foundation reported that it donated more than $12.7 million to organizations fighting to remove anti-racism education from schools. [28]

22. The Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation

The organization was founded with money from the trust of Hazel Darling, a principal shareholder of Berry Petroleum. [29]

23. The Story Garschina Foundation

Co-founded by Republican megadonor Kenneth Garschina, whose hedge fund has been blacklisted by the American Federation of Teachers for his work on the board of the Manhattan Institute. [30]

24-30. Anonymous

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Microsoft

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