Top Ten Power Brokers of the Religious Right

According to a post on Alternet, for the past two years, numerous media pundits have been all abuzz over the so-called “death” of the Religious Right. There is one problem, however: Someone forgot to tell the Religious Right.

A recent Americans United study of the finances and influence of the Religious Right shows a movement that is very much alive and kicking. Indeed, our research shows that the nation’s leading Religious Right organizations took in more than half a billion dollars over a recent 12-month period. Several of the organizations reported dramatic increases in their budgets; only a few showed a drop.

For budgetary data, Church & State relied on Internal Revenue Service Form 990, a document that most 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) tax-exempt groups are required to file. In most cases, the figures come from a period spanning the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007.

1. Christian Broadcasting Network

Founder and Chairman: The Rev. Pat Robertson

2006 Revenue: $246,986,289

Location: Virginia Beach, Va.

Web site: www.cbn.org

2. Focus on the Family

Founder and Chairman: James C. Dobson

2006 Revenue: $156,972,266

Location: Colorado Springs, Colo.

Web site: www.focusonthefamily.org

3. American Center for Law and Justice/Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism

Founders: Pat Robertson (ACLJ) and Jay Sekulow (CASE)

2007 Revenue: $42,658,159

Location: Virginia Beach, Va., Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Ga.

Web site: www.aclj.org

4. Alliance Defense Fund

President, CEO and General Counsel: Alan Sears

2007 Revenue: $31,674,124

Location: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Web site: www.alliancedefensefund.org

5. American Family Association

Founder and Chairman: The Rev. Donald Wildmon

2007 Revenue: $22,547,087

Location: Tupelo, Miss.

Web site: www.afa.net

6. Family Research Council

President: Tony Perkins

2007 Revenue: $11,783,971

Location: Washington, D.C.

Web site: www.frc.org

7. Concerned Women for America

Founders: Tim and Beverly LaHaye

2007 Revenue: $10,640,810

Location: Washington, D.C.

Web site: www.cwfa.org

8. Jerry Falwell Ministries

Founder: The Rev. Jerry Falwell

2007 Revenue: $4,208,989

Location: Lynchburg, Va.

Web site: www.falwell.com

9. Southern Baptist Convention/Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

2007 Revenue: $205,716,834; ERLC Revenue: $3,394,327

Location: Nashville, Tenn., and Washington, D.C.

Web site: www.sbc.net

10. Council for National Policy

Executive Director: Steve Baldwin

2007 Revenue: $1,680,914

Location: Washington, D.C.

Web site: None