Alliance Defending Freedom 
The information on this page was last updated 4/13/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Alliance Defending Freedom is the world's largest legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, marriage and family, parental rights, and the sanctity of life. We defend your most cherished liberties in Congress, state legislatures, and courtrooms across the country-all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
We don't just stand for freedom-we win. ADF has won 12 victories at the Supreme Court since 2011, and we're winning nearly 80 percent of all our cases-but we don't do it alone.
When 35 Christian leaders came together to build a ministry that would defend religious liberty and keep the doors open for the Gospel, they knew it would take an alliance.
Like the Body of Christ, the alliance is one body made up of many parts. Attorneys play different roles than church and ministry leaders. Non-profit volunteers play different roles than legislators. And business professionals play a different role than grassroots advocates. Each person must play his or her particular role, under one shared vision, to ensure that religious freedom thrives.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Alliance Defending Freedom
15100 North 90th Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85260-5260
Website: adflegal.org
Phone: (800) 835-5233
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 541660459
CEO/President: Kristen K. Waggoner
Chairman: Terry Schlossberg
Board size: 8
Founder: Bill Bright, Don Wildmon, & et al
Ruling year: 1993
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1995
Purpose
Alliance Defending Freedom (fka Alliance Defense Fund, Inc.) ("ADF") was formed in 1993 to serve and litigate on behalf of those individuals and charities that promote religious liberty, sanctity of human life, and family values. ADF provides individuals and charities with strategic planning, training, educational materials, and funding to coordinate and expand their ability to fight legal cases.
ADF's mission is to fund the legal defense and advocacy of religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and family values. ADF aims to dismantle the wall of legal precedents that negatively affect Christians. A seven-member Grants and Review Committee of volunteer attorneys reviews and evaluates each request for funding.
Mission statement
ADF is a servant organization that provides the resources that will keep the door open for the spread of the Gospel through the legal defense and advocacy of religious freedom, sanctity of life, and family values.
Statement of faith
Based on our adherence to the inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God in Scripture, we profess with the Christian Church throughout time and around the world the faith expressed in the Apostles' Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Advocacy
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 885 of 1123 | 26 of 38 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 828 of 1124 | 27 of 38 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 598 of 1124 | 22 of 38 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 838 of 1123 | 25 of 38 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 9% | 12% | 10% | 12% | 13% | 15% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 7% | 11% | 9% | 12% | 13% | 14% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 96% | 94% | 93% | 96% | 96% | 94% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 8% | 12% | 12% | 14% | 14% | 15% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 4% | 6% | 7% | 4% | 4% | 6% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 80% | 79% | 78% | 76% | 75% | 72% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 95% | 95% | 78% | 85% | 91% | 94% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 76% | 76% | 61% | 65% | 68% | 68% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 5% | 5% | 22% | 15% | 9% | 6% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 8% | 6% | 31% | 20% | 14% | 10% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 11% | 13% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.98 | 0.99 | 0.96 | 0.86 | 1.22 | 1.27 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.31 | 2.70 | 2.62 | 2.78 | 2.36 | 2.56 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.73 | 2.68 | 2.50 | 2.38 | 2.87 | 3.26 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 16.14 | 3.74 | 3.50 | 4.02 | 4.23 | 2.66 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.06 | 0.27 | 0.29 | 0.25 | 0.24 | 0.38 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.22 | 3.28 | 3.43 | 3.79 | 3.19 | 2.30 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 20% | 15% | 12% | 27% | 12% | 17% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 17% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 69% | 85% | 92% | 85% | 72% | 65% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $19,675,576 | $18,818,255 | $17,515,594 | $5,602,192 | $3,560,360 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $4,461,859 | $5,067,737 | $1,716,008 | $1,679,289 | $3,438,787 |
| Short-term investments | $12,048,497 | $8,600,503 | $9,027,947 | $13,360,275 | $10,582,762 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $36,185,932 | $32,486,495 | $28,259,549 | $20,641,756 | $17,581,909 |
| Long-term investments | ($147,225) | ($138,762) | ($136,989) | ($130,237) | ($132,123) |
| Fixed assets | $33,878,394 | $33,218,284 | $32,521,021 | $15,541,126 | $15,554,702 |
| Other long-term assets | $27,686,205 | $19,519,755 | $17,828,150 | $12,667,917 | $12,006,899 |
| Total long-term assets | $61,417,374 | $52,599,277 | $50,212,182 | $28,078,806 | $27,429,478 |
| Total assets | $97,603,306 | $85,085,772 | $78,471,731 | $48,720,562 | $45,011,387 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $8,313,773 | $8,073,812 | $6,179,514 | $4,383,634 | $6,192,252 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,366,419 | $1,204,380 | $848,902 | $501,227 | $405,710 |
| Total current liabilities | $9,680,192 | $9,278,192 | $7,028,416 | $4,884,861 | $6,597,962 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $13,125,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $5,422,285 | $809,256 | $929,938 | $1,022,002 | $1,083,823 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $5,422,285 | $809,256 | $14,054,938 | $1,022,002 | $1,083,823 |
| Total liabilities | $15,102,477 | $10,087,448 | $21,083,354 | $5,906,863 | $7,681,785 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $73,764,264 | $70,692,845 | $56,650,476 | $40,281,593 | $34,840,957 |
| With donor restrictions | $8,736,565 | $4,305,479 | $737,901 | $2,532,106 | $2,488,645 |
| Net assets | $82,500,829 | $74,998,324 | $57,388,377 | $42,813,699 | $37,329,602 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $95,442,827 | $96,806,543 | $76,026,674 | $62,651,682 | $57,373,863 |
| Program service revenue | $2,996,320 | $2,261,762 | $1,639,151 | $1,071,563 | $440,982 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | ($275,965) | $2,605,455 | $437,775 | $515,111 | $510,652 |
| Other revenue | $3,658,757 | $2,816,353 | $729,450 | $949,199 | $2,623,736 |
| Total other revenue | $6,379,112 | $7,683,570 | $2,806,376 | $2,535,873 | $3,575,370 |
| Total revenue | $101,821,939 | $104,490,113 | $78,833,050 | $65,187,555 | $60,949,233 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $77,014,354 | $63,622,240 | $51,041,730 | $44,605,083 | $41,454,382 |
| Management and general | $8,921,298 | $8,006,844 | $6,661,765 | $6,422,866 | $7,188,442 |
| Fundraising | $11,167,831 | $9,682,391 | $9,439,398 | $8,271,239 | $8,619,190 |
| Total expenses | $97,103,483 | $81,311,475 | $67,142,893 | $59,299,188 | $57,262,014 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $4,718,456 | $23,178,638 | $11,690,157 | $5,888,367 | $3,687,219 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $4,718,456 | $23,178,638 | $11,690,157 | $5,888,367 | $3,687,219 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Michael Farris (Part Year) | President through 09/2022, Counselor to President through 12/2022 | $880,781 |
| Kristen Waggoner | CEO, President, & General Counsel | $509,754 |
| Tony Johnson (Part Year) | SVP of Operations & Direct Response through 09/2022 | $383,299 |
| Tim Chandler | Sr. Counsel, VP of CMA Engagement | $346,220 |
| Lance Bauslaugh | SVP of Development | $343,445 |
| John Bursch | VP of Appellate Advocacy, Sr. Counsel | $341,348 |
| Wayne Swindler | Executive Director, ADF Foundation | $333,602 |
| Rebecca Eggleston | Executive Vice President (Chief of Staff through 08/2022) | $321,882 |
| Ryan Bangert | SVP Strategic Initiatives & Special Counsel to the President | $293,659 |
| Jeremy Tedesco | Sr. Counsel, SVP of Corporate Engagement | $280,421 |
| David Cortman | Sr. Counsel, VP of U.S. Litigation | $277,193 |
| Jeffrey Ventrella | Sr. Counsel, SVP of Training | $269,659 |
| Glen Lavy | Corporate Counsel through 03/2023 | $241,777 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2023
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 4/13/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
ADF uses the following to express its history:
Responding to the urgent need for the legal defense and advocacy of religious freedom, the leaders of more than 30 ministries came together in 1993 to launch ADF. These leaders included the late Dr. Bill Bright, the late Larry Burkett, Dr. James Dobson, Dr. D. James Kennedy, and Marlin Maddoux. Their prime concern was the dramatic loss of religious freedom in America's courts and the resulting challenges to people of faith to live and proclaim the Gospel.
Program accomplishments
Alliance Defending Freedom provides strategic planning and coordination for attorneys and like-minded groups in preparation for and during litigation, trains attorneys to effectively argue court cases involving religious freedom, family values, and the sanctity of life, and provides grants to attorneys arguing cases that have a high likelihood of establishing positive precedents in areas of law consistent with ADF's mission.