National Christian Foundation
 | |
| Formation | 1982 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Larry Burkett Ron Blue Terry Parker |
| Type | Charitable giving channel |
| Tax ID no. | 501(c)(3) |
| Legal status | Nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | Alpharetta, Georgia |
| Location |
|
| Coordinates | 34°03′49″N 84°17′18″W / 34.063635°N 84.288454°W |
CEO | Kendra VanderMeulen[1] |
Chair of the board | Jay Bennett |
Vice chair | Phil Drake |
| Katherine Barnhart Jay Bennett Lloyd M. Bentson III Jess Correll Bob Doll Phil Drake James B. "Buck" McCabe Terry Parker | |
| Affiliations | 28 NCF affiliates nationwide[2] |
| Staff | 200 |
| Website | www |
The National Christian Foundation (NCF) is a US nonprofit that assists donors in donating to charitable causes.[3] NCF accepts noncash assets and is the nation's largest provider of Christian-centric donor-advised funds.[2][3] Since 1982, NCF has granted over $14.5 billion to causes and charities.[1][4]
History
In 1982, Evangelical Christian author and entrepreneur Larry Burkett, financial author and advisor Ron Blue, and tax attorney Terry Parker founded the National Christian Foundation.[5][2][6]
Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, NCF began adding local offices throughout the United States in 2000. In 2018, NCF reported having 28 local offices in cities across the country, including Dallas, Orlando, Chicago, and Seattle.[7] These local offices are community-based and act as liaisons to the national organization.
In 2021, NCF distributed its $14 billion to more than 71,000 charities since its founding.[4] This has led it to be ranked as the 6th largest non-profit organization in the United States.[1]
Program
NCF's primary operation, the Giving Fund (donor-advised fund), works as a charitable savings account.[3]
NCF spends a portion of donations to fund the support activities necessary to be able to make those grants.[5] NCF calculates the amount as a percentage of the donor's Fund balance (typically 1% or less each year) and, in the case of non-cash assets, a percentage of gift value (typically 5%, one time).[8]
Criticism
According to Inside Philanthropy, there is a lack of clarity about NCF's capital sources and targets, similar to other donor-advised funds.[9] According to a report originally published by Sludge, NCF distributed $56.1 million to 23 organizations designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center between 2015 and 2017. The report stated that most of these organizations opposed LGBT rights; some were anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim.[10][11] During the COVID-19 pandemic, NCF donated some $630,000 to Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine misinformation group led at the time by Robert F. Kennedy Jr..[12]
References
- 1 2 3 "Welcome Kendra VenderMeulen, NCF's national CEO!".
- 1 2 3 Tebow-affiliated National Christian Foundation opens office in Jacksonville at The Florida Times-Union; by Beth Cravey; published December 5, 2014; retrieved February 18, 2015
- 1 2 3 Tax-Smart Philanthropy Made Easy at The Wall Street Journal; by Laura Saunders; published August 22, 2015; retrieved February 18, 2015
- 1 2 National Christian Foundation gifts historic Dwight L. Moody property to Catholic and Protestant groups at Religion News; published February 7, 2017; retrieved March 22, 2017
- 1 2 Alms Alchemy at Philanthropy Roundtable; by Liz Essley White; retrieved May 20, 2015
- ↑ A Meteoric Rise at Philanthropy Roundtable; retrieved February 18, 2015
- ↑ 20 Biggest Grant Making Foundations for Christian Organizations at The Christian Post; by Dr. Jeffrey J. Rodman; published January 27, 2010; retrieved February 18, 2015
- ↑ The 200 Largest U.S. Charities at Forbes Magazine; retrieved February 18, 2015
- ↑ Big Money, Quiet Power: A Look at the National Christian Foundation at Inside Philanthropy; by Philip Rojc; retrieved March 21, 2019
- ↑ "Christian Charity Channels Funds to Hate Groups: Report". Newsweek. March 20, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- ↑ "America's Biggest Christian Charity Funnels Tens of Millions to Hate Groups". Sludge. March 19, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- ↑ Bragman, Walker; Kotch, Alex (October 19, 2023). "America's Biggest Charities Bankrolled RFK Jr.'s Anti-Vax Outfit". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.