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Non-profit

Capital Research Center (CRC)

Website:

capitalresearch.org
Location:

WASHINGTON, DC
Tax ID:

52-1289734
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2023):

Revenue: $7,462,650
Expenses: $7,173,570
Assets: $10,811,558
Type:

Right-of-Center Think Tank
Formation:

1984
Founder:

Willa Johnson
President:

Scott Walter

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Capital Research Center (CRC) is a right-of-center think tank that investigates and publicizes connections among political donors, advocacy nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and other participants in policymaking and the political process. 1

As of 2025, CRC’s publications included this website, InfluenceWatch, as well as a monthly magazine, longer-form articles, investigative reports, and a podcast. 2

History

Capital Research Center was founded in 1984 by former Heritage Foundation senior vice president and former Reagan administration staffer Willa Ann Johnson to study policy affecting and influence exercised by nonprofit organizations. 1

During Johnson’s tenure, CRC published Patterns of Corporate Philanthropy, a periodic analysis of the political valence of corporate charitable giving. 3

Johnson was succeeded as president and chair of CRC in 1994 by Terrence Scanlon, the former chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission during the Reagan administration. 4

In 2016, Scott Walter succeeded Scanlon as president of CRC. 5 Under Walter, CRC has expanded its investigative team, launched new publications including this website InfluenceWatch, and become a frequent source of testimony for Congressional committees, while growing its annual budget from roughly $3 million per year to more than $7 million. 6

Research and Advocacy

Research

Capital Research Center was founded as a research-based organization focused on the interactions between philanthropy and the public policy process. An early focus of the organization was the divergence between the original intentions of conservative and pro-free-market donors and the organizations they founded and funded over time. 7

Since the mid-2010s, CRCs research efforts have increasingly focused on uncovering the relationships between left-of-center philanthropists, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders in the public policy process. 1

Publications

Capital Research Center releases a periodic magazine, titled Capital Research, with research articles and news items on nonprofit policy, the interaction of influencers with the public policy process, and public policy debates. CRC additionally publishes research-based blog posts on philanthropic policy, political and policy debates, and organizations involved in the public policy process. 8

CRC publishes multi-part investigative journalism packages on organizations involved in public policy. Subjects have included the Lincoln Project, 9 Ford Foundation, 10 Amalgamated Bank, 11 left-wing organizations that support international terrorism, 12 NewsGuard, 13 and a variety of other organizations and movements. 8

CRC occasionally publishes investigative reports. Its 2023 report “How Charities Secretly Help Win Elections” was widely referenced as an exposition on how the nominally nonpartisan Voter Registration Project was in fact funded and controlled by Democratic Party-aligned interests, including the AFL-CIO labor union federation, George Soros’s Open Society Foundations, and the State Voices network of left-of-center state-level advocacy groups. 14 15

Dangerous Documentaries

In 2016, Capital Research Center launched the “Dangerous Documentaries” film production program to fund and promote films made by outside filmmakers. 16

Dangerous Documentaries co-financed No Safe Spaces, a 2019 film on college speech issues featuring comedian and podcaster Adam Carolla and conservative commentator Dennis Prager. 17

In 2019, Dangerous Documentaries released the “Architects of Woke” series on left-of-center advocates of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and the people and organizations behind them. 16

In 2020, Dangerous Documentaries released The Jack Kemp Playbook, a film narrated by longtime ABC News journalist Brit Hume on the life and career of former National Football League player, U.S. Representative, and George H.W. Bush administration Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Jack Kemp. 18

In 2021, Dangerous Documentaries launched the “PIGTV” series of ”Politically Incorrect Guides” hosted by author Michael Malice and historian Thomas E. Woods that focus on topics such as capitalism, journalism, communism, public education, progressive ideology, and the New Deal. 19

InfluenceWatch

Capital Research Center is the publisher of this website, InfluenceWatch.

Capital Research Center is the publisher of the InfluenceWatch website, which researches and publishes profiles on organizations and individuals engaged in public policy issues. 20 While it does publish profiles on right-of-center subjects, its primary focus is on left-of-center groups and individuals. 21

In its 2023 annual report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), CRC declared that InfluenceWatch had 13,500 entries, of which 7,500 were long-form profiles, and that it had 2.5 million unique users and 6.8 million pageviews that year. 6

Testimony

President Scott Walter and other CRC staffers frequently testify to Congressional committees and state legislatures, sharing CRC research and insights. 22

CRC testimony has included topics such as federal funding of nonprofit advocacy, 23 the Chinese government’s connections to the U.S. environmentalist movement, 24 foreign funding of U.S. elections, 25 ranked choice voting, 26 donor privacy, 27 and political activities by tax-exempt entities. 28

Funding

Capital Research Center receives significant support from right-of-center foundations and donors including the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, 5 John William Pope Foundation, 29 William E. Simon Foundation, 30 Searle Freedom Trust, 31 and Sarah Scaife Foundation. 32

CRC receives significant funding from supporters who donate through the right-of-center donor-advised fund provider DonorsTrust. 33 According to DonorsTrust’s IRS filings, CRC received $904,850 via DonorsTrust in 2023; $667,250 in 2022; $455,750 in 2021; $363,450 in 2020. 33

CRC states that it takes no funding from governments and performs no contract work. 1

Leadership

CRC’s president is Scott Walter, who took the role in 2016. A philanthropic consultant and former editor of publications released by the Philanthropy Roundtable and American Enterprise Institute, Walter served on the Domestic Policy Council in the George W. Bush administration. 34 Walter is the author of the 2024 book Arabella: The Dark Money Network of Leftist Billionaires Transforming America on left-of-center funding network associated with consulting firm Arabella Advisors. 35

CRC is governed by a board of trustees that as of 2025 was chaired by right-of-center Wisconsin-based political activist Eric O’Keefe. 36 O’Keefe co-founded the pro-federal term limits advocacy group U.S. Term Limits and limited-government advocacy group Citizens for Self-Governance, and has also held leadership roles in organizations including Wisconsin Club for Growth, Americans for Limited Terms, Institute for Free Speech, Institute for Humane Studies, and Citizens in Charge. 36 He is also the husband of Leslie Graves, the co-founder and president of the Lucy Burns Institute, which publishes the website Ballotpedia. 37

O’Keefe was one of the targets of the Wisconsin “John Doe” investigations in the 2010s, in which then-Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm (D) opened investigations into alleged coordination between independent nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin and the gubernatorial campaign of then-Governor Scott Walker (R). 38 The Wisconsin Supreme Court ultimately ended the investigations in 2015, ruling that the law prohibiting coordination between campaigns and independent advocacy organizations was unconstitutional and that “the special prosecutor’s legal theory is unsupported in either reason or law.” 38

Other CRC trustees as of 2025 included Sarah Humphreys Atkins, president of the J.P. Humphreys Foundation; real estate developer and investor Robert E. Challey; DonorsTrust philanthropic advisor Gordon Cummings; real estate consultant William Meyersohn; former Reagan administration U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III; and former Human Events editor-in-chief Thomas S. Winter. 39

References

  1. “About.” Capital Research Center. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/about/.
  2. “Articles.” Capital Research Center. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/article/.
  3. “Corporate Philanthropy.” Religion & Liberty. January/February 1992. Archived from the original February 02, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070202013423/http://www.acton.org/publicat/randl/interview.php?id=28.
  4. “Vice President Swears in Terrence Scanlon CPSC Chairman.” U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/1986/Vice-President-Swears-In-Terrence-Scanlon-CPSC-Chairman
  5. “Scott Walter Named President of Capital Research Center.” The Bradley Foundation, February 26, 2016. Accessed via Wayback Machine. https://web.archive.org/web/20160226041916/https://www.bradleyfdn.org/On-Lion-Letter/ID/2119/Scott-Walter-named-president-of-Capital-Research-Center
  6. “Capital Research Center.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521289734.
  7. Wooster, Martin Morse. How Great Philanthropists Failed & How You Can Succeed at Protecting Your Legacy. Washington, D.C.: Capital Research Center, 2017.
  8.  “Publications.” Capital Research Center. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/publication/.
  9. Braun, Ken. “The Lincoln Project Sells Revenge Rather than Results: What You Get for Your Money.” Capital Research Center, May 6, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/article/the-lincoln-project-sells-revenge-rather-than-results-part-1/.
  10. Braun, Ken. “Hoovering up Henry Ford’s Money: Free Money versus Free Enterprise.” Capital Research Center, September 11, 2024. https://capitalresearch.org/article/hoovering-up-henry-money-part-1/.
  11. Stilson, Robert, and Hayden Ludwig. “Amalgamated Bank: How Did We Get Here?” Capital Research Center, May 25, 2022. https://capitalresearch.org/article/amalgamated-bank-part-1/.
  12. Mauro, Ryan. “Marching toward Violence: Executive Summary.” Capital Research Center, November 6, 2024. https://capitalresearch.org/article/marching-toward-violence-part-1/.
  13. Braun, Ken. “Newsguard and Uncle Sam: The Nutrition Label.” Capital Research Center, June 17, 2024. https://capitalresearch.org/article/newsguard-and-uncle-sam-part-1/.
  14. Thayer, Parker. “Report: How Charities Secretly Help Win Elections.” Capital Research Center, August 15, 2023. https://capitalresearch.org/article/report-how-charities-secretly-help-win-elections/.
  15. Lee, Sarah. “Best of CRC Media Hits for Second Quarter of 2023.” Capital Research Center, September 25, 2023. https://capitalresearch.org/article/best-of-crc-media-hits-for-second-quarter-of-2023/.
  16. “Dangerous Documentaries.” Dangerous Documentaries. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://www.dangerousdocumentaries.com/
  17.  “No Safe Spaces.” Dangerous Documentaries, October 25, 2019. https://www.dangerousdocumentaries.com/film/adam-corolla-and-dennis-pragers-no-safe-spaces/.
  18. “The Jack Kemp Playbook.” Dangerous Documentaries, July 28, 2020. https://www.dangerousdocumentaries.com/film/the-jack-kemp-playbook/.
  19. “The Politically Incorrect Guide.” Dangerous Documentaries. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://www.dangerousdocumentaries.com/film/politically-incorrect-guide/.
  20. “About Us.” InfluenceWatch. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://www.influencewatch.org/about-us/.
  21. “Influence Watch – Bias and Credibility.” Media Bias/Fact Check, February 27, 2025. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/influence-watch/.
  22. “Testimony.” Capital Research Center. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/category/testimony/.
  23. Walter, Scott. “Improper Funding of Nonprofits.” Capital Research Center, July 17, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/article/improper-funding-of-nonprofits/.
  24. Walter, Scott. “Climate Lawfare: Scott Walter’s Oral Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.” Capital Research Center, July 1, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/article/climate-lawfare-scott-walters-oral-testimony-to-the-senate-judiciary-subcommittee/.
  25. Walter, Scott. “Foreign Money in Federal and State Elections.” Capital Research Center, June 3, 2024. https://capitalresearch.org/article/foreign-money-in-federal-and-state-elections/.
  26. Walter, Scott. “Scott Walter’s Testimony on Ranked Choice Voting to the Ohio State Senate.” Capital Research Center, December 18, 2023. https://capitalresearch.org/article/scott-walters-testimony-on-ranked-choice-voting-to-the-ohio-state-senate/.
  27. Walter, Scott. “‘Dark Money’ in the Climate Debate: Disclose Act.” Capital Research Center, July 10, 2023. https://capitalresearch.org/article/dark-money-in-the-climate-debate-question-about-part-1/.
  28. Walter, Scott. “Scott Walter Testifies to a Senate Finance Subcommittee on ‘The Political Activities of Tax Exempt Entities.’” Capital Research Center, May 4, 2022. https://capitalresearch.org/article/scott-walter-testifies-to-a-senate-finance-subcommittee-on-the-political-activities-of-tax-exempt-entities/.
  29. “John William Pope Foundation.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/581691765.
  30. “Capital Research Center.” William E. Simon Foundation, 2014. https://wesimonfoundation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277%3Acapital-research-center&catid=23&Itemid=109.
  31. “Searle Freedom Trust.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/367244615.
  32. “Sarah Scaife Foundation Inc.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/251113452.
  33. “Donors Trust Inc.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522166327.
  34. “Scott Walter.” Capital Research Center. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/person/swalter/.
  35. “Arabella: The Dark Money Network of Leftist Billionaires Transforming America.” Capital Research Center, July 22, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/article/arabellathe-dark-money-network-of-leftist-billionaires-transforming-america/
  36. “Eric O’Keefe.” Ballotpedia. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://ballotpedia.org/Eric_O%27Keefe.
  37. “About.” Leslie Graves, November 18, 2019. https://lesliegraves.org/about/.
  38. “John Doe Investigations Related to Scott Walker.” Ballotpedia. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://ballotpedia.org/John_Doe_investigations_related_to_Scott_Walker.
  39. “Board of Trustees.” Capital Research Center. Accessed July 28, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/about/board-of-trustees/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 1983

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2023 Dec Form 990 $7,462,650 $7,173,570 $10,811,558 $512,396 N $7,299,720 $1,032 $148,510 $1,209,043
    2022 Dec Form 990 $7,181,137 $7,256,716 $9,012,118 $519,827 N $7,055,273 $1,428 $115,711 $976,470 PDF
    2021 Dec Form 990 $6,083,008 $6,796,944 $10,585,659 $558,457 N $5,737,290 $3,818 $146,481 $714,524 PDF
    2020 Dec Form 990 $4,880,833 $5,508,898 $9,928,639 $304,312 N $4,666,258 $5,789 $163,944 $704,412
    2019 Dec Form 990 $4,627,330 $5,575,112 $9,782,557 $359,194 N $4,352,988 $3,356 $232,417 $659,653 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $2,942,556 $4,790,958 $9,748,635 $393,472 Y $2,920,163 $2,327 $153,083 $346,943 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,544,852 $4,357,883 $12,332,256 $386,294 N $2,508,522 $4,618 $30,518 $301,101 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $2,990,989 $2,844,996 $13,992,941 $233,816 N $1,825,771 $7,729 $220,303 $440,571 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $2,561,903 $2,030,597 $14,390,801 $136,672 N $1,568,545 $6,501 $355,036 $345,109 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $2,291,002 $1,777,994 $15,205,695 $120,005 N $1,191,748 $1,530 $429,559 $334,241 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $2,404,390 $1,756,451 $14,924,348 $92,686 N $1,331,301 $146 $599,020 $328,262 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $2,038,009 $1,678,713 $13,114,234 $173,871 N $1,551,962 $3,101 $382,430 $320,292 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,744,738 $1,558,366 $11,802,918 $103,088 N $1,341,465 $2,028 $236,664 $310,765 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Capital Research Center (CRC)

    1513 16TH ST NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036-1401