Difference between revisions of "Lucy Burns Institute"

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[[Image:LucyBurnsHighlightedflat_2.jpg|250px|right]]The '''Lucy Burns Institute (LBI)''' is a Madison-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2006.<ref>[http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/20-8036372/lucy-burns-institute.aspx ''Guidestar,'' "Lucy Burns Institute"]</ref> LBI is named after [[Wikipedia:Lucy Burns|Lucy Burns]], a significant leader of the women's suffrage movement. The organization sponsors two websites: [[Wikipedia:Ballotpedia|Ballotpedia]], which tracks elections and ballot measures at the state level; and [[Wikipedia:Judgepedia|Judgepedia]], which provides information on America's judges and court systems.
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[[Image:LucyBurnsHighlightedflat_2.jpg|250px|right]]The '''Lucy Burns Institute''' is a Madison-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and named after a significant leader of the women's suffrage movement.  It is also an associate member of the [[State Policy Network]] (SPN).<ref>State Policy Network, [https://spn.org/directory/ Directory], organizational website, accessed September 5, 2016.</ref> The organization sponsors three websites: Ballotpedia, which tracks elections and ballot measures at the state level; WikiFOIA, which provides information on how to use Freedom of Information laws at the state and local level; and Judgepedia, which provides information on the nation's judges and court systems.
  
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LBI's stated goal is to "connect people to politics." LBI's website states that "We believe in the power of information to transform lives and politics, and we never want a lack of information to be a barrier to civic participation."<ref> Lucy Burns Institute, [http://www.lucyburns.org/about/faq/ Lucy Burns Institute FAQ], organizational website, accessed March 30, 2014</ref>  
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Through these online resources, LBI says it is dedicated to "openness in politics on both sides of the aisle"<ref> Lucy Burns Institute, [http://lburnsinstitute.org/ Home], organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref> and "empowering ordinary citizens with ways to both learn about local government, and share the information they learn with others."<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://lburnsinstitute.org/faq FAQ], organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref> Even though the organization is a major proponent of transparency in government operations and budgeting, it provides limited information about how the organization itself is funded.
  
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For the Center for Media and Democracy's piece "The Lucy Burns Institute (Publishers of Ballotpedia, Judgepedia and WikiFOIA) and Her Right-Wing Bedfellows" click [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/11/11791/lucy-burns-institute-publishers-ballotpedia-judgepedia-and-wikifoia-and-her-right here].
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For the Center for Media and Democracy's piece "The Lucy Burns Institute (Publishers of Ballotpedia, Judgepedia and WikiFOIA) and Her Right-Wing Bedfellows" click [https://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/11/11791/lucy-burns-institute-publishers-ballotpedia-judgepedia-and-wikifoia-and-her-right here].
  
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LBI has received major funding from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.<ref>[http://www.arnoldfoundation.org/grants Laura and John Arnold Foundation Grants]</ref> Laura and [[Wikipedia:John D. Arnold|John Arnold]], who are billionaires, were Obama bundlers.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/michelle-rhees-backers-in_n_1300146.html ''Huffington Post,'' "Michelle Rhee's Backers Include Obama Bundler Billionaire, Big Romney Backer," March 9, 2012]</ref>
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__TOC__
  
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==LBI and the [[Sam Adams Alliance]]==
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==Ties to the State Policy Network==
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The president of LBI, [[Leslie Graves]], is married to [[Eric O'Keefe]], the former CEO of the now-defucnt Chicago-based Sam Adams Alliance (SAM). LBI took over Ballotpedia and Judgepedia from SAM in 2009<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://lburnsinstitute.org/events/lucy-burns-institute-is-the-new-sponsor-of-ballotpedia-and-judgepedia.html "Lucy Burns Institute is the new sponsor of Ballotpedia and Judgepedia,"] organizational press release, June 2009. </ref> and received funding from SAM in 2010, per LBI's 2010 IRS filing.<ref>IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/205/792/2010-205792227-07ed1352-9.pdf Sam Adams Alliance IRS 990 form,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.</ref> SAM was a 501(c)3 public charity that says it was devoted to "raising awareness of free-market principles."<ref>PR Newswire, [http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sam-adams-alliance-launches-new-website-85374402.html "Sam Adams Alliance Launches New Website,"] Sam Adams Alliance press release, accessed November 2012.</ref> Of its $3.9 million budget,<ref>IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/ReportNonProfit.aspx?ein=20-5792227 Sam Adams Alliance IRS Filing,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.</ref> SAM also provided funding to groups such as the [[Tea Party Patriots]], the First Freedom Foundation, and the [[Citizens in Charge]] Foundation. SAM received funding from the [[State Policy Network]] (SPN) which has received funding from the [[Claude R. Lambe Foundation]], a project of [[Charles Koch]] who co-owns [[Koch Industries]] with his brother [[David Koch]].(citation needed)
 
  
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In a book by [[Tea Party Patriots]] co-founder [[Wikipedia:Mark Meckler|Mark Meckler]], Judgepedia is criticized for being too liberal.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=OLg0-8-IBl8C&pg=PA167&dq=judgepedia&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kgg5U9m3K4KMrgGN1ICQCA&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=judgepedia&f=false''Tea Party Patriots: The Second American Revolution,'' Page 158]</ref>
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LBI is an "associate" member of the State Policy Network (SPN), which connects and funds conservative state-based think tanks and receives partial funding from The Claude R. Lambe Foundation. SPN is an ALEC member and "Chairman" level sponsor of its 2011 Annual Meeting, and many of its affiliated think tanks are ALEC members as well.<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Network State Policy Network,] Sourcewatch, accessed November 2012.</ref> LBI offers free wiki training seminars to SPN members<ref>State Policy Network, [http://www.spn.org/docLib/20090402_SPNews0902FINALweb.pdf Do You Measure Up?] organizational newsletter, March/April 2009.</ref> and LBI's President Leslie Graves and LBI have been featured at SPN events.<ref>State Policy Network, [http://www.spn.org/events/pageID.83/default.asp 2007 State Policy Network 15th Annual Meeting Agenda], October 2007.</ref>
  
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==LBI Staff==
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==Ties to the [[Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity]]==
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[[Image:Lucy_Burns_Institute500px.jpg|250px|right]]
 
  
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Leslie Graves is the president of LBI.<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://lburnsinstitute.org/meet-the-staff Meet the Staff], organizational website, accessed November 2012. </ref> In 2006, Graves started Renewal Voter 
Outreach,<ref> Technology Marketing Corporation, [http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/08/27/1833041.htm "Petition's origins tied to at least nine states"],  Cross post from the Omaha World-Herald, August 27, 2006. </ref>  registering it as a Nebraska Limited Liability Corporation (LLC).<ref> [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/08/04/233235/--Unlimited-Terms-of-Endearment-Part-VIII-America-At-Its-Worst Unlimited Terms of Endearment, Part VIII: America At Its Worst], The Daily Kos, August 4, 2006. </ref> The
 company was paid
 $1.4 million<ref>Technology Marketing Corporation, [http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/08/27/1833041.htm "Petition's origins tied to at least nine states"],  Cross post from the Omaha World-Herald, August 27, 2006. </ref> to conduct petition drives for two ballot initiatives in Nebraska. One was in favor of a "Humane Care" amendment to the state constitution which would prevent the withholding of food and water from terminally ill patients at the request of their kin, unless there were a written "advance directive," or living will, specifying otherwise. According to the ''Omaha World-Herald'', about one out of every five signatures<ref>New Nebraska Network, [http://newnebraska.blogspot.com/2006/09/downside-of-humane-care-amendment-not.html The Downside of "Humane Care" Amendment Not Making the November Ballot], Captures parts of an The Omaha World-Herald article which is no longer accessible, August 4, 2006. </ref> needed to get the amendment on the ballot was thrown out.<ref>Jones and Bartlett Publications. [http://www.jblearning.com/samples/0763744352/44352_ch03_pass1.pdf "Right or Wrong: Legal and Ethical Issues and Decision-Making"], Book Chapter, accessed November 2012.</ref> The other petition drive was for a ballot measure to put a cap 
on state spending, which also failed. A blogger<ref> [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/08/04/233235/--Unlimited-Terms-of-Endearment-Part-VIII-America-At-Its-Worst Unlimited Terms of Endearment, Part VIII: America At Its Worst], The Daily Kos, August 4, 2006. </ref> traced the string of connections between a nonprofit organization, tied to her husband Eric O'Keefe (who previously sat on the board),<ref>IRS,[http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2005/363/975/2005-363975580-02a91cbf-9O.pdf Americans for Limited Government IRS 990 Form], Guide Star, accessed November 2012.</ref> which provided money to a group which then funded two other
 groups which in turn provided funding to Graves' LLC to collect the petitions.
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LBI also collaborates with the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, a national journalism organization launched by SAM. The Franklin Center has a presence in over 40 states with state-house news bureaus and journalists hosted by other outlets and think tanks. It provides its coverage free as a wire-like service and boasts that it "already provides 10 percent of all daily reporting from state capitals nationwide." As previously reported by CMD, despite their non-partisan description, many of these websites have received criticism for their right-wing bias.<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [https://www.prwatch.org/node/10971 "Franklin Center: Right-Wing Funds State News Source,"] October 2011.</ref> Ballotpedia has hosted a series of webinars on elections with the Franklin Center.<ref>Ballotpedia, [http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Today:_post-election_analysis_webinar_(presentations_available) "Today: post-election analysis webinar (presentations available)"], November 2011.</ref><ref>Ballotnews, [http://ballotnews.org/2012/06/14/today-2012-state-executive-election-webinar-featuring-scott-rasmussen/ Today: 2012 state executive election webinar featuring Scott Rasmussen,] June 2012.</ref> According to the Franklin Center's 2009 990 report, it gave $43,000 to LBI that year.<ref>IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2009/264/066/2009-264066298-068fdb77-9.pdf Franklin Center IRS 990 forms,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.</ref>
  
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Graves was previously involved<ref>Patron Saint Productions, Inc. [http://www.patronsaintpr.com/resources/articles/newsletter/bp05-4.pdf Rachel's Vineyard Blooms], August 2002.</ref> with Rachel's Vineyard, a Catholic organization that offers weekend retreats for women who have had abortions, which is intended to reconcile what the ministry calls "the sin of abortion."<ref>Rachel's Vineyard, [http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/PDF/Articles/Post%20Abortion%20Healing%20-%20Theresa%20Burke.pdf "Post-Abortion Healing Reconciling an Abortion in the Catholic Church,"] organizational newsletter, September 1996.</ref>
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==Ties to the [[Sam Adams Alliance]]==
  
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Graves, formerly known as Leslie Key, became the Wisconsin chair of the Libertarian Party in 1979 and served as a regional representative on the Libertarian National Committee until 1983.<ref> [http://www.lpedia.org/Libertarian_Party_of_Wisconsin Libertarian Party of Wisconsin,] LPedia, accessed November 2012.</ref> Before her stint in politics, Graves served as an editor for the ''Update'' newsletter, published by the Libertarian Review Foundation. The publication was criticized by libertarian economist [[Wikipedia:Murray Rothbard|Murray Rothbard]] in his newsletter, the ''Libertarian Forum'', for being "an unofficial organ" disseminating the views of [[Ed Crane]], the founder and former president of the [[Cato Institute]]. A 1981 memo from Crane to Graves and David Koch reads: "David Koch has indicated he will kick in $10,000 to ''Update'' next year. If Leslie is very nice to him we might be able to talk him into $5,000 more (right, David?)."<ref>The Libertarian Forum, [http://mises.org/journals/lf/1982/1982_08.pdf "Smear: The Story of Update -- Part I"], Monthly newsletter, August 1982. </ref>
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The president of LBI, [[Leslie Graves]], is married to [[Eric O'Keefe]], the CEO of the Chicago-based Sam Adams Alliance (SAM). LBI took over Ballotpedia and Judgepedia from  SAM in 2009<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://lburnsinstitute.org/events/lucy-burns-institute-is-the-new-sponsor-of-ballotpedia-and-judgepedia.html "Lucy Burns Institute is the new sponsor of Ballotpedia and Judgepedia,"] organizational press release, June 2009. </ref>  and continues to receive funding from SAM, as of their 2010 IRS filing.<ref>IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/205/792/2010-205792227-07ed1352-9.pdf Sam Adams Alliance IRS 990 form,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.</ref> SAM is a 501(c)3 public charity that says it is devoted to pushing "free-market principles."<ref>PR Newswire, [http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sam-adams-alliance-launches-new-website-85374402.html "Sam Adams Alliance Launches New Website,"] Sam Adams Alliance press release, accessed November 2012.</ref> Of its $3.9 million budget,<ref>IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/ReportNonProfit.aspx?ein=20-5792227 Sam Adams Alliance IRS Filing,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.</ref> SAM also provides funding to groups such as the Tea Party Patriots Foundation, the First Freedom Foundation, and the Citizens in Charge Foundation. SAM gets funding from the State Policy Network (SPN) which is partially funded by The Claude R. Lambe Foundation, a project of Charles Koch who co-owns Koch Industries with his brother David.
  
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Graves is married to Eric O'Keefe, the former CEO of the now-defunct organization [[Sam Adams Alliance]] (SAM). O'Keefe has been featured at events funded by David Koch's [[Americans for Prosperity]] (AFP). He helped launched the group [[American Majority]], which trains conservative candidates to run for office. He sits on the Board of Directors of the [[Club for Growth Wisconsin]], which ran divisive ads in support of Governor Scott Walker's radical overhaul of collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin workers. He has also served on the board of the [[Institute for Humane Studies]], the [[Center for Competitive Politics]], and the Health Care Compact Alliance.<ref> [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/wisconsin-gov-scott-walkers-recall-sharpens-fight-over-money-in-politics/2012/03/22/gIQAbUHDaS_story_1.html "Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s recall: Big money fuels small-government fight,"] The Washington Post, accessed November 2012. </ref>
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==LBI and the [[Sunshine Review]]==
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LBI and SAM have both provided funding to the Sunshine Review, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization "dedicated to state and local government transparency."<ref>Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Sunshine_Review:About About,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref> In 2010, it received over $560,000 from SAM.<ref>IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/205/792/2010-205792227-07ed1352-9.pdf Sam Adams Alliance IRS 990 forms,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.</ref> LBI works in collaboration with the Sunshine Review on the WikiFOIA project and the Sunshine Review's logo is listed prominently on the homepage of LBI.<ref>Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Sunshine_Review:About About,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref> The organization was founded in July 2008 as a project of SAM, but separated from SAM in 2010. According to LBI's 990 forms, the institute has given the Sunshine Review $231,458 from 2008-2010. According to the group's most recently available 990 form, Graves is a chair of Sunshine Review.<ref>IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/271/501/2010-271501919-07983c63-9.pdf Sunshine Review IRS 990 forms,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.</ref>
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The Sunshine Review is listed as a partner organization of the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation for its associate program.<ref>Charles Koch Institute, [http://www.charleskochinstitute.org/associate-program/partner-organizations Partner Organization,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref> LBI has been listed in the past as a Koch partner organization.<ref>Daily Kos, [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/20/1008835/-Another-ALEC-trick-at-Federal-Level-EXPOSED Another ALEC trick at Federal Level EXPOSED,] August 2011.</ref>
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The Sunshine Review is an ALEC Private Sector Member. Michael Barnhart, the president of the organization, represents the Sunshine Review on ALEC's Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force. At the ALEC 2010 meeting in San Diego, Barnhart discussed proposed model legislation: "The Transparency and Government Accountability Act."<ref>Common Cause, [http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/tfp35-daymailing%20San%20Diego.pdf Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Documents,] ALEC documents obtained by Common Cause, July 2010.</ref> It was adopted by the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force in August 2010, and approved by the ALEC Board of Directors in September 2010.<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [https://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/4a/8F8-The_Transparency_and_Government_Accountability_Act_Exposed.pdf The Transparency and Government Accountability Act,] ALEC Exposed, accessed November 2012.</ref> Similar versions of this bill have been introduced in states such as Virginia, New Mexico, Iowa, and Utah. The bill requires the development of a detailed website listing all revenue and expenditures of the state down to the level of each check. It also includes voting record information, open records information, information on lobbying and state contracts, and ethics information. While the idea seems unobjectionable, the detailed budgeting information has been criticized as a duplicative effort to showcase and make hay of perceived "wasteful spending."<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [https://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/11/11791/lucy-burns-institute-publishers-ballotpedia-judgepedia-and-wikifoia-and-her-right "The Lucy Burns Institute (Publishers of Ballotpedia, Judgepedia and WikiFOIA) and Her Right-Wing Bedfellows,"] November 26, 2012.</ref>
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The Sunshine Review also gives states a "Transparency Report Card" grading them at the level of state, county, city, and school district. The organization has evaluated over 6,000 government websites.<ref>Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/core/ Core,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref> The Sunshine Review has worked closely with the National Taxpayers Union,<ref>Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Sunshine_Review:About About,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref> another ALEC member dedicated to eliminating taxes and shrinking the size of government. NTU President Duane Parde is former Executive Director of ALEC.<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Taxpayers_Union National Taxpayers Union,] Sourcewatch, accessed November 2012.</ref> The group has been involved in pushing this type of transparency legislation in states across the country, even before it was adopted by ALEC.<ref>National Taxpayers Union, [http://www.ntu.org/in-your-state/iowa/iowa-spending-transparency.html "An Open Letter to Iowa Legislators: Taxpayers Support Taxpayer Transparency Act/Taxation Disclosure Act (SF 102),"] March 2009.</ref>
  
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Geoff Pallay, Director of Strategic Projects at LBI,<ref>Ballotpedia, [http://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia:Geoff_Pallay Ballotpedia:Geoff Pallay,] user profile page, accessed March 2014.</ref> is a graduate of the Koch Associate Program, a program of the [[Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation]].<ref>LinkedIn, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/7/73/Geoff_Pallay_LinkedIn.jpg Geoff Pallay,] LinkedIn profile, accessed August 2012.</ref> He previously worked as a policy analyst for the [[South Carolina Policy Council]], during which time he was "also learning Market-Based-Management -- a management philosophy created by Charles Koch, CEO of Koch Industries."<ref>College of Charleston, [http://blogs.cofc.edu/gradschool/2009/08/19/guest-blogger-geoff-pallay/ Guest Blogger: Geoff Palay,] college blog, August 2009. </ref> Pallay has been featured at events such as a policy forum in 2012 at the Cato Institute (along with Eric O'Keefe).<ref>Cato Institute, [http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=9135 "Citizens v. the Ruling Elite,"] Policy forum video, April 20, 2012.</ref>
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The website for the Sunshine Review, which also sponsors WikiFoia, reads: "Sunshine Review is funded largely by grants and a number of private donations. Our organization believes there is a difference between government transparency and personal privacy and for this reason we do not disclose our donors."<ref>Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Press_Room#ixzz2CQdiR7H0 Press Room,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref>
  
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Kelly O'Keefe, Eric O'Keefe's daughter and the Director of Communications for LBI,<ref>Ballotpedia, [http://web1.ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia:Kelly_O%27Keefe Ballotpedia:Kelly O'Keefe,] user profile, accessed March 2014.</ref> worked as development associate for the Koch-funded Institute for Humane Studies (IHS),<ref>Institute for Humane Studies, [http://www.theihs.org/information-accepted-students-3 GENERAL SEMINAR INFORMATION,] organizational handout, June 2010.</ref>  which works to identify, develop, and support young libertarians. She was also a Koch Associate at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation. (LBI also employs Graves' daughter, Sara Key, as Vice President of Administration.)<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://www.lucyburns.org/about/our-staff/ Our Staff,] organizational website, accessed March 2014.</ref>
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==Funding==
  
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Christopher Bedford, managing editor of the conservative news outlet ''The Daily Caller'', is a former staff writer for LBI and a former Koch Associate with the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation.<ref>LinkedIn, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/a/ae/Christopher_bedford_LinkedIn_.jpg Christopher Bedford,] LinkedIn profile, accessed September 2012.</ref> Eileen McGuire-Mahony, a former Ballotpedia Staff Writer, was also a Koch Associate.<ref>LinkedIn,[http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/c/cc/Eileen_McGuire-Mahony_LinkedIn_top.jpg Eileen McGuire Mahoney,] LinkedIn profile(top half), accessed September 2012.</ref><ref>LinkedIn, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/a/af/Eileen_McGuire-Mahony_Experience_.jpg Eileen McGuire-Mahoney,] LinkedIn profile, accessed September 2012.</ref>
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The Lucy Burns Institute has received $6,836,000 [[DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund Grant Recipients|in grants]] from [[Donors Capital Fund]] from 2010-2014.<ref>Donors Capital Fund, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/541/934/2014-541934032-0c08191d-9.pdf IRS form 990], November 16, 2015.</ref> From 2012-2013, they received $125,000 in grants from [[DonorsTrust]]. From 2014-2015, the Lucy Burns Institute received $25,400 [[Contributions of the Bradley Foundation|in contributions]] from the [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]. The [[Searle Freedom Trust]] has given $165,000 to the Lucy Burns Institute from 2010-2013.
  
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Former LBI staffer Lauren Warden Rodgers appeared in a video produced by the pro-marriage equality group Coalition to Protect NC Families. The video voiced opposition to the anti-gay marriage North Carolina Same-Sex Marriage, Amendment 1, which was on the ballot in May 2012.<ref>[http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ballotpedia:Lauren_Warden_Rodgers&oldid=1695237 ''Ballotpedia,'' "Ballotpedia:Lauren Warden Rodgers," Accessed March 2014]</ref>
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==Core Financials==
  
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Current LBI staffer Samuel Rebenstorf is an intern at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. He authors a blog titled ''The Aggressive Progressive.''<ref>[http://www.lucyburns.org/about/our-staff/ ''Lucy Burns Institute'' "Our Staff," Accessed March 2014]</ref><ref>[http://aggprogressive.blogspot.com/''The Aggressive Progressive'' "About," Accessed March 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/samuel-rebenstorf/71/58/23''LinkedIn'' "Profile," Accessed March 2014]</ref>
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'''<big>2014</big>'''<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/208/036/2014-208036372-0bb9fe24-9.pdf 2014 Form 990], organizational tax filing, June 9, 2015.</ref>:
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* Total Revenue: $3,054,365
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* Total Expenses: $3,003,640
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* Net Assets: $1,380,737
  
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LBI staffer Anna Wendland took part in the 2011 protests against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's anti-union bill. She was photographed sleeping in the Capitol Rotunda by the Associated Press.<ref>[http://www.lucyburns.org/about/our-staff/ ''Lucy Burns Institute'' "Our Staff," Accessed March 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41624142/ns/politics-more_politics/t/thousands-protest-wisconsin-anti-union-bill/#.UzkFx14wlUE ''NBC News'' "Thousands protest Wisconsin anti-union bill," Accessed March 2014]</ref>
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'''<big>2013</big>'''<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2013/208/036/2013-208036372-0a945b9e-9.pdf 2013 Form 990], organizational tax filing, July 1, 2014.</ref>:
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* Total Revenue: $2,881,865
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* Total Expenses: $2,279,714
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* Net Assets: $1,332,742
  
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===Board of Directors===
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'''<big>2012</big>'''<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2012/208/036/2012-208036372-097bb593-9.pdf 2012 Form 990], organizational tax filing, June 26,2013.</ref>:
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As of March 2014, LBI's Board of Directors is comprised of<ref>[http://www.lucyburns.org/about/board-of-directors/ ''Lucy Burns Institute,'' "Board of Directors," Accessed March 2014]</ref>:
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* Total Revenue: $1,592,540
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* Total Expenses: $1,235,584
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* Net Assets: $730,591
  
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* Jack McHugh, a senior legislative analyst for the [[Mackinac Center for Public Policy]].<ref>Mackinac Center for Public Policy, [http://www.mackinac.org/bio.aspx?ID=295 Jack McHugh,] staff profile, accessed November 2012.</ref> The Mackinac Center is a conservative think tank which has received some funding from the Kochs and is also a member of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC).<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_Non-Profits ALEC Non-Profits,] Sourcewatch, accessed November 2012.</ref> As previously reported by the Center for Media and Democracy, the Mackinac Center has been using ALEC to push efforts to weaken unions, including dismantling public sector collective bargaining rights.<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/05/11490/koch-funded-mackinac-center-brings-wisconsin-act-10-provisions-alec "Koch-Funded Mackinac Center Brings Wisconsin Act 10 Provisions to ALEC,"] May 2012.</ref>
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'''<big>2011</big>'''<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2011/208/036/2011-208036372-089e2048-9.pdf 2011 Form 990], organizational tax filing, June 28,2012.</ref>:
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* Total Revenue: $1,188,937
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* Total Expenses: $912,809
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* Net Assets: $378,900
  
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* [[Tim Dunn]]
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'''<big>2010</big>'''<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/208/036/2010-208036372-074db3f7-9.pdf 2010 Form 990], organizational tax filing, May 13, 2011.</ref>:
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* Total Revenue: $702,697
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* Total Expenses: $806,330
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* Net Assets: $102,772
  
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* Dan Liljenquist
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'''<big>2009</big>'''<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2009/208/036/2009-208036372-064aa49a-9A.pdf 2009 Form 990], organizational tax filing, August 2, 2010.</ref>:
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* Total Revenue: $487,508
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* Total Expenses: $345,935
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* Net Assets: $206,405
  
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* Mike Barnhart
+
==Personnel==
  
−
==LBI and the [[Sunshine Review]]==
+
As of September 2016:<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://www.lucyburns.org/about/our-staff/ Our Staff], organizational website, accessed September 1, 2016.</ref>
−
LBI and SAM have both provided funding to the Sunshine Review, a former 501(c)3 non-profit organization "dedicated to state and local government transparency."<ref>Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Sunshine_Review:About About,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref> In 2010, it received over $560,000 from SAM.<ref>IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/205/792/2010-205792227-07ed1352-9.pdf Sam Adams Alliance IRS 990 forms,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.</ref> LBI worked in collaboration with the Sunshine Review on the WikiFOIA project and the Sunshine Review's logo was listed prominently on the homepage of LBI.<ref>Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Sunshine_Review:About About,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref> The organization was founded in July 2008 as a project of SAM, but separated from SAM in 2010. According to LBI's 990 forms, the institute provided Sunshine Review with $231,458 in funding from 2008–2010. According to Sunshine Review's 2010 IRS filing, Graves served as chair of Sunshine Review.<ref>IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/271/501/2010-271501919-07983c63-9.pdf Sunshine Review IRS 990 forms,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.</ref>
 
  
−
LBI has been listed in the past as a Koch partner organization.<ref>Daily Kos, [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/20/1008835/-Another-ALEC-trick-at-Federal-Level-EXPOSED Another ALEC trick at Federal Level EXPOSED,] August 2011.</ref>
+
* [[Leslie Graves]], Founder, President, & CEO
 +
* Colin O'Keefe, COO
 +
* Kristen Vonasek, Director of Communications
 +
* Geoff Pallay, Editor in Chief (former policy analyst at [[South Carolina Policy Council]])
 +
* Amanda Qualls, Director of Human Resources
 +
* Dani Whitehead, Executive Assistant & Event Planner
  
−
The Sunshine Review was an ALEC Private Sector Member. Michael Barnhart, the former president of the organization, represented the Sunshine Review on ALEC's Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force. At the ALEC 2010 meeting in San Diego, Barnhart discussed proposed model legislation: "The Transparency and Government Accountability Act."<ref>Common Cause, [http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/tfp35-daymailing%20San%20Diego.pdf Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Documents,] ALEC documents obtained by Common Cause,  July 2010.</ref> It was adopted by the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force in August 2010, and approved by the ALEC Board of Directors in September 2010.<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/4a/8F8-The_Transparency_and_Government_Accountability_Act_Exposed.pdf The Transparency and Government Accountability Act,] ALEC Exposed, accessed November 2012.</ref> Similar versions of this bill have been introduced in states such as Virginia, New Mexico, Iowa, and Utah. The bill requires the development of a detailed website listing all revenue and expenditures of the state down to the level of each check. It also includes voting record information, open records information, information on lobbying and state contracts, and ethics information. While the idea seems unobjectionable, the detailed budgeting information has been criticized as a duplicative effort to showcase and make hay of perceived "wasteful spending."<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/11/11791/lucy-burns-institute-publishers-ballotpedia-judgepedia-and-wikifoia-and-her-right "The Lucy Burns Institute (Publishers of Ballotpedia, Judgepedia and WikiFOIA) and Her Right-Wing Bedfellows,"] November 26, 2012.</ref>
+
===Board of Directors===
  
−
The Sunshine Review gave states a "Transparency Report Card" grading them at the level of state, county, city, and school district. The organization evaluated over 6,000 government websites.<ref>Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/core/ Core,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref> The Sunshine Review worked closely with the [[National Taxpayers Union]],<ref>Sunshine Review, [http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Sunshine_Review:About About,] organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref> another ALEC member dedicated to reducing taxes and shrinking government. NTU President Duane Parde is former Executive Director of ALEC.<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Taxpayers_Union National Taxpayers Union,] Sourcewatch, accessed November 2012.</ref> The group has been involved in pushing this type of transparency legislation in states across the country, even before it was adopted by ALEC.<ref>National Taxpayers Union, [http://www.ntu.org/in-your-state/iowa/iowa-spending-transparency.html "An Open Letter to Iowa Legislators: Taxpayers Support Taxpayer Transparency Act/Taxation Disclosure Act (SF 102),"] March 2009.</ref>
+
As of September 2016:<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://www.lucyburns.org/about/board-of-directors/ Board of Directors], organizational website, accessed September 1, 2016.</ref>
  
−
==LBI and the [[State Policy Network]]==
+
* Mike Barnhart (former President of [[Sunshine Review]] and State Budget Solutions (a project of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]]))
−
LBI is a member of the State Policy Network (SPN), which connects and funds conservative state-based think tanks and receives partial funding from The Claude R. Lambe Foundation. SPN is an ALEC member and was a "Chairman" level sponsor of its 2011 Annual Meeting, and many of its affiliated think tanks are ALEC members as well.<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Network State Policy Network,] Sourcewatch, accessed November 2012.</ref> In 2009, LBI offered free wiki training seminars to SPN members<ref>State Policy Network, [http://www.spn.org/docLib/20090402_SPNews0902FINALweb.pdf Do You Measure Up?] organizational newsletter, March/April 2009.</ref> and LBI's President Leslie Graves and LBI have been featured at SPN events.<ref>State Policy Network, [http://www.spn.org/events/pageID.83/default.asp 2007 State Policy Network 15th Annual Meeting Agenda], October 2007.</ref>
+
* Tim Dunn (Chairman of the Board of Directors of [[Empower Texans Foundation]]), and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of [[Texas Public Policy Foundation]])
 +
* Dan Liljenquist (former Utah State Senator, former Strategy Consultant for [[Bain and Company]], and has consulted for the [[Laura and John Arnold Foundation]])
 +
* Jack McHugh (Senior Legislative Analyst at the [[Mackinac Center for Public Policy]])
 +
* Todd Graves
  
−
==LBI and the [[Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity]]==
+
===Former Staff===
−
LBI also collaborates with the [[Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity]], a national journalism organization launched by SAM. The Franklin Center has a presence in over 40 states with state-house news bureaus and journalists hosted by other outlets and think tanks. It provides its coverage free as a wire-like service and boasts that it "already provides 10 percent of all daily reporting from state capitals nationwide." As previously reported by CMD, despite their non-partisan description, many of these websites have received criticism for their conservative bias.<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [http://www.prwatch.org/node/10971 "Franklin Center: Right-Wing Funds State News Source,"] October 2011.</ref> In 2011, Ballotpedia hosted a series of webinars on elections with the Franklin Center.<ref>Ballotpedia, [http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Today:_post-election_analysis_webinar_(presentations_available) "Today: post-election analysis webinar (presentations available)"], November 2011.</ref><ref>Ballotnews, [http://ballotnews.org/2012/06/14/today-2012-state-executive-election-webinar-featuring-scott-rasmussen/ Today: 2012 state executive election webinar featuring Scott Rasmussen,] June 2012.</ref> According to the Franklin Center's 2009 990 report, it gave $43,000 to LBI that year.<ref>IRS, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2009/264/066/2009-264066298-068fdb77-9.pdf Franklin Center IRS 990 forms,] Guide Star, accessed November 2012.</ref>
+
 
 +
* Kelly O'Keefe, former Director of Development (and Eric O'Keefe's daughter)
 +
* Christopher Bedford, former staff writer (Senior Editor at The Daily Caller)<ref>The Daily Caller, [http://dailycaller.com/about-us/ About Us], organizational website, accessed September 5, 2016.</ref>
 +
* Erick Erickson, former board member (former Chairman of the Board and Managing Editor of Redstate)
  
 
==Contact Details==
 
==Contact Details==
 
Lucy Burns Institute<br>
 
Lucy Burns Institute<br>
−
301 S. Bedford St., Suite 6<br>
+
8383 Greenway Blvd., #600<br>
−
Madison, WI 53703<br>
+
Middleton, WI 53562<br>
−
(608) 255-0688<ref>Lucy Burns Institute, [http://www.lucyburns.org/about/contact/ Contact], organizational website, accessed November 2012.</ref><br>
+
Phone: (608) 255-0688<br>
−
Website: http://www.lucyburns.org/
+
Fax: (855) 898-0446<br>
 +
Email: info@ballotpedia.org<br>
 +
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lburnsinstitute<br>
 +
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lucy-Burns-Institute-408772635852030/<br>
  
 
==Articles and Resources==
 
==Articles and Resources==
Line 80: Line 116:
 
===References===
 
===References===
 
{{reflist|2}}
 
{{reflist|2}}
−
[[Category:Politics (US)]] [[category:Conservatives]] [[category:Right wing]] [[Category:Tea Party Movement]]
+
 
 +
[[Category:SPN Exposed]][[Category:Conservatives]][[Category:Right wing]][[Category:Tea Party Movement]][[Category:Politics (US)]]

Latest revision as of 20:21, 11 October 2017

LucyBurnsHighlightedflat 2.jpg

The Lucy Burns Institute is a Madison-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and named after a significant leader of the women's suffrage movement. It is also an associate member of the State Policy Network (SPN).[1] The organization sponsors three websites: Ballotpedia, which tracks elections and ballot measures at the state level; WikiFOIA, which provides information on how to use Freedom of Information laws at the state and local level; and Judgepedia, which provides information on the nation's judges and court systems.

Through these online resources, LBI says it is dedicated to "openness in politics on both sides of the aisle"[2] and "empowering ordinary citizens with ways to both learn about local government, and share the information they learn with others."[3] Even though the organization is a major proponent of transparency in government operations and budgeting, it provides limited information about how the organization itself is funded.

For the Center for Media and Democracy's piece "The Lucy Burns Institute (Publishers of Ballotpedia, Judgepedia and WikiFOIA) and Her Right-Wing Bedfellows" click here.

Ties to the State Policy Network

LBI is an "associate" member of the State Policy Network (SPN), which connects and funds conservative state-based think tanks and receives partial funding from The Claude R. Lambe Foundation. SPN is an ALEC member and "Chairman" level sponsor of its 2011 Annual Meeting, and many of its affiliated think tanks are ALEC members as well.[4] LBI offers free wiki training seminars to SPN members[5] and LBI's President Leslie Graves and LBI have been featured at SPN events.[6]

Ties to the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity

LBI also collaborates with the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, a national journalism organization launched by SAM. The Franklin Center has a presence in over 40 states with state-house news bureaus and journalists hosted by other outlets and think tanks. It provides its coverage free as a wire-like service and boasts that it "already provides 10 percent of all daily reporting from state capitals nationwide." As previously reported by CMD, despite their non-partisan description, many of these websites have received criticism for their right-wing bias.[7] Ballotpedia has hosted a series of webinars on elections with the Franklin Center.[8][9] According to the Franklin Center's 2009 990 report, it gave $43,000 to LBI that year.[10]

Ties to the Sam Adams Alliance

The president of LBI, Leslie Graves, is married to Eric O'Keefe, the CEO of the Chicago-based Sam Adams Alliance (SAM). LBI took over Ballotpedia and Judgepedia from SAM in 2009[11] and continues to receive funding from SAM, as of their 2010 IRS filing.[12] SAM is a 501(c)3 public charity that says it is devoted to pushing "free-market principles."[13] Of its $3.9 million budget,[14] SAM also provides funding to groups such as the Tea Party Patriots Foundation, the First Freedom Foundation, and the Citizens in Charge Foundation. SAM gets funding from the State Policy Network (SPN) which is partially funded by The Claude R. Lambe Foundation, a project of Charles Koch who co-owns Koch Industries with his brother David.

LBI and the Sunshine Review

LBI and SAM have both provided funding to the Sunshine Review, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization "dedicated to state and local government transparency."[15] In 2010, it received over $560,000 from SAM.[16] LBI works in collaboration with the Sunshine Review on the WikiFOIA project and the Sunshine Review's logo is listed prominently on the homepage of LBI.[17] The organization was founded in July 2008 as a project of SAM, but separated from SAM in 2010. According to LBI's 990 forms, the institute has given the Sunshine Review $231,458 from 2008-2010. According to the group's most recently available 990 form, Graves is a chair of Sunshine Review.[18]

The Sunshine Review is listed as a partner organization of the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation for its associate program.[19] LBI has been listed in the past as a Koch partner organization.[20]

The Sunshine Review is an ALEC Private Sector Member. Michael Barnhart, the president of the organization, represents the Sunshine Review on ALEC's Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force. At the ALEC 2010 meeting in San Diego, Barnhart discussed proposed model legislation: "The Transparency and Government Accountability Act."[21] It was adopted by the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force in August 2010, and approved by the ALEC Board of Directors in September 2010.[22] Similar versions of this bill have been introduced in states such as Virginia, New Mexico, Iowa, and Utah. The bill requires the development of a detailed website listing all revenue and expenditures of the state down to the level of each check. It also includes voting record information, open records information, information on lobbying and state contracts, and ethics information. While the idea seems unobjectionable, the detailed budgeting information has been criticized as a duplicative effort to showcase and make hay of perceived "wasteful spending."[23]

The Sunshine Review also gives states a "Transparency Report Card" grading them at the level of state, county, city, and school district. The organization has evaluated over 6,000 government websites.[24] The Sunshine Review has worked closely with the National Taxpayers Union,[25] another ALEC member dedicated to eliminating taxes and shrinking the size of government. NTU President Duane Parde is former Executive Director of ALEC.[26] The group has been involved in pushing this type of transparency legislation in states across the country, even before it was adopted by ALEC.[27]

The website for the Sunshine Review, which also sponsors WikiFoia, reads: "Sunshine Review is funded largely by grants and a number of private donations. Our organization believes there is a difference between government transparency and personal privacy and for this reason we do not disclose our donors."[28]

Funding

The Lucy Burns Institute has received $6,836,000 in grants from Donors Capital Fund from 2010-2014.[29] From 2012-2013, they received $125,000 in grants from DonorsTrust. From 2014-2015, the Lucy Burns Institute received $25,400 in contributions from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. The Searle Freedom Trust has given $165,000 to the Lucy Burns Institute from 2010-2013.

Core Financials

2014[30]:

  • Total Revenue: $3,054,365
  • Total Expenses: $3,003,640
  • Net Assets: $1,380,737

2013[31]:

  • Total Revenue: $2,881,865
  • Total Expenses: $2,279,714
  • Net Assets: $1,332,742

2012[32]:

  • Total Revenue: $1,592,540
  • Total Expenses: $1,235,584
  • Net Assets: $730,591

2011[33]:

  • Total Revenue: $1,188,937
  • Total Expenses: $912,809
  • Net Assets: $378,900

2010[34]:

  • Total Revenue: $702,697
  • Total Expenses: $806,330
  • Net Assets: $102,772

2009[35]:

  • Total Revenue: $487,508
  • Total Expenses: $345,935
  • Net Assets: $206,405

Personnel

As of September 2016:[36]

  • Leslie Graves, Founder, President, & CEO
  • Colin O'Keefe, COO
  • Kristen Vonasek, Director of Communications
  • Geoff Pallay, Editor in Chief (former policy analyst at South Carolina Policy Council)
  • Amanda Qualls, Director of Human Resources
  • Dani Whitehead, Executive Assistant & Event Planner

Board of Directors

As of September 2016:[37]

Former Staff

  • Kelly O'Keefe, former Director of Development (and Eric O'Keefe's daughter)
  • Christopher Bedford, former staff writer (Senior Editor at The Daily Caller)[38]
  • Erick Erickson, former board member (former Chairman of the Board and Managing Editor of Redstate)

Contact Details

Lucy Burns Institute
8383 Greenway Blvd., #600
Middleton, WI 53562
Phone: (608) 255-0688
Fax: (855) 898-0446
Email: info@ballotpedia.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lburnsinstitute
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lucy-Burns-Institute-408772635852030/

Articles and Resources

Related SourceWatch Articles

External Resources

References

  1. ↑ State Policy Network, Directory, organizational website, accessed September 5, 2016.
  2. ↑ Lucy Burns Institute, Home, organizational website, accessed November 2012.
  3. ↑ Lucy Burns Institute, FAQ, organizational website, accessed November 2012.
  4. ↑ Center for Media and Democracy, State Policy Network, Sourcewatch, accessed November 2012.
  5. ↑ State Policy Network, Do You Measure Up? organizational newsletter, March/April 2009.
  6. ↑ State Policy Network, 2007 State Policy Network 15th Annual Meeting Agenda, October 2007.
  7. ↑ Center for Media and Democracy, "Franklin Center: Right-Wing Funds State News Source," October 2011.
  8. ↑ Ballotpedia, "Today: post-election analysis webinar (presentations available)", November 2011.
  9. ↑ Ballotnews, Today: 2012 state executive election webinar featuring Scott Rasmussen, June 2012.
  10. ↑ IRS, Franklin Center IRS 990 forms, Guide Star, accessed November 2012.
  11. ↑ Lucy Burns Institute, "Lucy Burns Institute is the new sponsor of Ballotpedia and Judgepedia," organizational press release, June 2009.
  12. ↑ IRS, Sam Adams Alliance IRS 990 form, Guide Star, accessed November 2012.
  13. ↑ PR Newswire, "Sam Adams Alliance Launches New Website," Sam Adams Alliance press release, accessed November 2012.
  14. ↑ IRS, Sam Adams Alliance IRS Filing, Guide Star, accessed November 2012.
  15. ↑ Sunshine Review, About, organizational website, accessed November 2012.
  16. ↑ IRS, Sam Adams Alliance IRS 990 forms, Guide Star, accessed November 2012.
  17. ↑ Sunshine Review, About, organizational website, accessed November 2012.
  18. ↑ IRS, Sunshine Review IRS 990 forms, Guide Star, accessed November 2012.
  19. ↑ Charles Koch Institute, Partner Organization, organizational website, accessed November 2012.
  20. ↑ Daily Kos, Another ALEC trick at Federal Level EXPOSED, August 2011.
  21. ↑ Common Cause, Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Documents, ALEC documents obtained by Common Cause, July 2010.
  22. ↑ Center for Media and Democracy, The Transparency and Government Accountability Act, ALEC Exposed, accessed November 2012.
  23. ↑ Center for Media and Democracy, "The Lucy Burns Institute (Publishers of Ballotpedia, Judgepedia and WikiFOIA) and Her Right-Wing Bedfellows," November 26, 2012.
  24. ↑ Sunshine Review, Core, organizational website, accessed November 2012.
  25. ↑ Sunshine Review, About, organizational website, accessed November 2012.
  26. ↑ Center for Media and Democracy, National Taxpayers Union, Sourcewatch, accessed November 2012.
  27. ↑ National Taxpayers Union, "An Open Letter to Iowa Legislators: Taxpayers Support Taxpayer Transparency Act/Taxation Disclosure Act (SF 102)," March 2009.
  28. ↑ Sunshine Review, Press Room, organizational website, accessed November 2012.
  29. ↑ Donors Capital Fund, IRS form 990, November 16, 2015.
  30. ↑ Lucy Burns Institute, 2014 Form 990, organizational tax filing, June 9, 2015.
  31. ↑ Lucy Burns Institute, 2013 Form 990, organizational tax filing, July 1, 2014.
  32. ↑ Lucy Burns Institute, 2012 Form 990, organizational tax filing, June 26,2013.
  33. ↑ Lucy Burns Institute, 2011 Form 990, organizational tax filing, June 28,2012.
  34. ↑ Lucy Burns Institute, 2010 Form 990, organizational tax filing, May 13, 2011.
  35. ↑ Lucy Burns Institute, 2009 Form 990, organizational tax filing, August 2, 2010.
  36. ↑ Lucy Burns Institute, Our Staff, organizational website, accessed September 1, 2016.
  37. ↑ Lucy Burns Institute, Board of Directors, organizational website, accessed September 1, 2016.
  38. ↑ The Daily Caller, About Us, organizational website, accessed September 5, 2016.
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