named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Center for Religion, Culture and Civil Society
Hosts private salons, public forums, and virtual events connecting conservative and religious leaders to discuss faith, culture, and policy issues
Culture Matters Event Series
Ongoing virtual event series exploring topics such as religious liberty, adoption, life issues, and the role of faith in public life
Free to Foster Friday
Virtual event series focused on foster care challenges, sibling separation, and policy barriers affecting children in need
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Leadership & Policy Dialogue Forums 2 activities
- Advances conservative philosophy through public advocacy and outreachAdvocates for the principles of a free society through educational programming, public events, and representation at major gatherings. Organizes meetings between religious and conservative leaders to collaborate on policy and promotes conservative thought through outreach initiatives.
- Hosts issue-specific forums and salons on public policy and cultural issuesOrganizes forums and private salons on topics such as foster care, religious liberty, and child protection, bringing together leaders from faith, policy, and government. Events include a 2018 Washington, DC forum on foster care, a 2023 Atlanta event on conservatism, and virtual events in 2025 on religious liberty and child protection.
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Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Administers educational programs on conservative thought for emerging and mid-career leadersOffers virtual educational programs, including six-week and seven-session seminar series, for members, alumni, and mid-career professionals focused on conservative thought and civil discourse, featuring reading assignments and discussions led by conservative thinkers. Hosts fellowship cohorts of approximately 20 participants per cycle and maintains an alumni network of nearly one thousand professionals.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Funds and organizes public conferences and events on economic thought and free-market principlesHosts major conferences such as the Adam Smith 300 Conference and the National Review Capital Matters Conference in New York City, featuring speeches, panels, and discussions on economic philosophy and challenges to progress. The Capital Matters Conference in January 2023 attracted over 160 participants.
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Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Produces and sponsors content on business, finance, and economics through Capital MattersCo-founded and sponsors National Review Capital Matters, which publishes daily commentary on NationalReview.com, sponsors webinars and events, and produces the "Capital Record" podcast hosted by David L. Bahnsen, featuring weekly discussions with national business and financial leaders.
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Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Recognizes leadership in conservative thought through the William F. Buckley Jr. PrizesEstablishes and hosts the annual William F. Buckley Jr. Prize Dinner, a marquee event that honors leaders in political thought and liberty, brings together public intellectuals and philanthropists, and promotes the National Review mission.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Builds capacity within the conservative intellectual communityRuns programs that equip young conservative professionals and journalists, promotes leading advocates of a free society, and supports three Centers of Thought: Religion, Culture, and Civil Society; the Defense of Western Civilization; and Unalienable Rights.
- Conducts research and publications on William F. Buckley Jr.'s legacyCompiles and produces scholarly content on Buckley’s impact, including a book of essays from public figures and a monthly essay series on Adam Smith’s life and ideas as part of the Adam Smith 300 celebration in 2023.
- Executes the Buckley Legacy Project to preserve and disseminate William F. Buckley Jr.'s workLaunched in 2015, the project makes William F. Buckley Jr.'s writings and legacy accessible through archival work, republishing efforts (including his campaign memoir), an eight-part video podcast documentary series, and a national event series commemorating key anniversaries of his life and career.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$9.14M
Contributions & grants$8.73M95%
Program service revenue$47K1%
Investment income$1.10M12%
Other revenue$-737K
expenses
Total expenses$7.48M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising14%
Salaries & benefits$4.29M
Grants paid out$300K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$15.59M
Cash$5.00M
Investments$7.58M
Liabilities$2.39M
Net assets$13.19M
Liquid reserves20.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +2.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 9
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD LOWRY | TRUSTEE | 0 | $468K |
| LINDSAY CRAIG | OUTGOING PRESIDENT (11/2024) | 40 | $423K |
| CHUCK DEFEO | CEO | 20 | $342K |
| ANDREW STUTTAFORD | FELLOW | 32 | $268K |
| JOHN KORPACZ | OUTGOING CFO (2/2025) | 40 | $246K |
| JAMES GERAGHTY | FELLOW | 32 | $190K |
| DANIEL MCLAUGHLIN | FELLOW | 32 | $164K |
| JAY NORDLINGER | FELLOW | 32 | $156K |
| NICHOLAS MOSVICK | FELLOW | 32 | $152K |
board members · 14
- ADAM MEYERSON — TRUSTEE
- ALEC TAYLOR — TRUSTEE
- BRIAN MURDOCK — CHAIRMAN
- CARL HELSTROM — TRUSTEE
- DALE R BROTT — TRUSTEE
- DAVID BAHNSEN — TRUSTEE
- JOHN BUSER — TRUSTEE
- KAREN WRIGHT — TRUSTEE
- L STANTON TOWNE — TRUSTEE
- LIZ PEEK — TRUSTEE
- PAT TOOMEY — TRUSTEE
- PETER J TRAVERS — TRUSTEE
- RICHARD SPENCER — TRUSTEE
- ROBERT F AGOSTINELLI — TRUSTEE
relationships · 51
Who they work with
- American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Partner — Cohosted a virtual event on February 24, 2021, titled "Can a Divided Country Unite for Kids in Foster Care?"
- Apgar Foundation Funder — Provided financial support for The Buckley Legacy Project.
- Archbishop Joseph Naumann Partner — Participated as a speaker at the NRI Forum on Foster Care, representing the Archdiocese of Kansas City and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
- Archdiocese of Kansas City Partner — Cohosted a virtual event on December 6, 2022, titled "Making Room in the Inn: Opening Hearts and Homes to Foster and Adopt Children."
- Archdiocese of Los Angeles Partner — Linked as a faith-based organization involved in foster and adoption services.
- Assumption University Partner — Collaborates with a professor from Assumption University to develop the Burke to Buckley 201 syllabus.
- Bethany Christian Services Partner — Linked as a provider of foster care and adoption services.
- Birthplace of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Partner — Cohosted a virtual event on October 19, 2020, titled "Hope for the Future: A Conversation on Holy Ground."
- Catholic Information Center Partner — Co-hosted events on adoption and foster care in Spring 2017.
- Catholic Information Center Partner — Cohosted several events, including "Reframing End-of-life Care During COVID" on January 27, 2021, and "Foster Care: An Essential Call" on May 28, 2020.
- Catholic World Report Partner — Cohosted a virtual event on January 5, 2023, titled "What Is the Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI?"
- Charlotte Lozier Institute Partner — Cohosted a virtual event series on ending Roe in November 2021.
- Charmaine Yoest Partner — Participated as a speaker at the NRI Forum on Foster Care, representing the Office of National Drug Control Policy and previously Americans United for Life.
- Christian Alliance for Orphans Partner — Linked as a resource organization in orphan and foster care advocacy.
- Clapham Group Partner — Cohosted a virtual event on August 27, 2020, titled "The Conservative Case for Prioritizing Paid Family Leave."
- Criswell College Partner — Provides discussion leaders for the Burke to Buckley Fellowship program in Dallas.
- Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Partner — Linked as a national organization supporting adoption and foster care initiatives.
- Elizabeth Kirk Partner — Participated as a speaker at the NRI Forum on Foster Care, contributing expertise on religious freedom and family law as an independent scholar.
- Ethics and Public Policy Center Partner — Cohosted a virtual event on January 5, 2023, titled "What Is the Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI?"
- Feminists for Life Partner — Featured in media resources on foster care and adoption through interviews and linked materials.
- Focus on the Family Partner — Linked as a resource provider for foster care and adoption materials.
- Georgia Center for Opportunity Partner — Cohosted an event in Atlanta, GA on October 30, 2023, titled "Conservatism as a Steadfast Presence in an Anxious Age."
- Given Institute Partner — Cohosted a virtual event on November 15, 2023, titled "Mothers, Daughters, Sisters—Leaders All."
- Hoover Institution Library & Archives Partner — Partnered with NRI to host events commemorating the 50th anniversary of Firing Line.
- Human Coalition Partner — Featured in a virtual event on September 16, 2021, titled "Walking with Moms in Texas: An Encounter with the Human Coalition."
- Ignatius Press Partner — Cohosted a virtual event on January 5, 2023, titled "What Is the Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI?"
- Ignatius Press Partner — Cohosted events including "Announcing the Gospel to the World" on September 22, 2020, and "Remembering William F. Buckley Jr." on March 31, 2021.
- Institute for Human Ecology (IHE) at The Catholic University of America Partner — Cohosted a virtual event on February 3, 2021, titled "What Does it Mean to be Pro-Life?"
- Kathleen Domingo Partner — Participated as a speaker at the NRI Forum on Foster Care, representing the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Office of Life, Justice and Peace.
- Lumen Institute Partner — Cohosted an event in Atlanta, GA on October 30, 2023, titled "Conservatism as a Steadfast Presence in an Anxious Age."
+ 21 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Centers-of-Thought Organizing Modelmethodology: centers-of-thought modelBy organizing intellectual work around focused centers of thought grounded in William F. Buckley Jr.'s writings, the organization advances conservative ideas, because concentrated, thematically structured inquiry strengthens ideological coherence and enables scalable educational outreach.
- Intellectual Defense and Public Discourse Influencemethodology: intellectual_defense_of_capitalismBy producing commentary and analysis from prominent economic and conservative experts, the organization seeks to shift public discourse in favor of free-market principles and capitalism, because authoritative, idea-driven engagement strengthens the intellectual foundation of conservatism and counters opposing ideological narratives.
- Legacy-Driven Education and Intellectual Formationmethodology: legacy-driven educationBy preserving and disseminating William F. Buckley Jr.'s writings and intellectual legacy, the organization educates and influences emerging and mid-career conservative leaders, because engagement with foundational texts and structured dialogue deepens understanding of conservative thought and sustains ideological continuity across generations.
- Seminar-Based Intellectual Engagement Modelmethodology: intellectual engagement through seminar-based learningBy using structured virtual and hybrid seminars with substantial reading assignments and live discussions led by recognized conservative intellectuals, the organization promotes deep engagement with conservative ideas, because this format fosters civil discourse, strengthens intellectual infrastructure, and sustains long-term commitment to foundational principles.