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The 85 Fund
The 85 Fund, also known as the Honest Elections Project, and formerly known as the Judicial Education Project, is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington D.C. It is among a network of conservative organizations associated with Leonard Leo, a longtime prominent figure in the Federalist Society, that are funded mostly by anonymous donors. The 85 Fund had revenue of over $65 million in 2020 and, with the Concord Fund, acts as a funding hub for other organizations in the Leo network.
As the Honest Elections Project, it participated in lawsuits during the 2020 United States presidential election and ran advertisements against mail-in voting. It is a proponent of the independent state legislature theory that posits state legislatures have sole authority to establish and enforce state election laws and rules. Leo has said that the fund-raising prowess of Arabella Advisors, a liberal consulting firm, was an inspiration for the 85 Fund to serve a similar function on the right.
The secretary of The 85 Fund is Carrie Severino, who is the president of the Concord Fund. Both funds are closely connected to Leonard Leo, the chairman of CRC Advisors and former vice president of the Federalist Society. The group's 2017 tax return listed a payment of $675,000 to the BH Group, an employer of Leo. Neil Corkery formerly served as president of the group.
Between 2012 and 2017, the group raised $46 million. In 2018, more than 99% of the group's funding came from a single $7.8 million donation from Donors Trust, a donor-advised fund. In 2020, The 85 Fund received $20 million in donations from Donors Trust.
Leo is a powerful figure in fund-raising and expertise for the American conservative movement. He has said that the 85 Fund was inspired by the fund-raising of Arabella Advisors, a liberal consulting firm that advises donors.
Politico reported in August 2023 that Attorney General for the District of Columbia Brian Schwalb was investigating Leo and his network of nonprofit groups. Schwalb's office did not confirm or deny the existence of a probe.
The group donated $300,000 to the Independent Women's Forum, a conservative nonprofit organization.
In 2011 and 2012, Leonard Leo arranged for Liberty Consulting, a firm owned by Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas, to be paid $80,000 by Kellyanne Conway and her firm The Polling Company, billed to the Judicial Education Project. Leo directed Conway not to mention Ginni Thomas in the paperwork. Leo told The Washington Post, "As an advisor to JEP I have long been supportive of its opinion research relating to limited government, and The Polling Company, along with Ginni Thomas's help, has been an invaluable resource for gauging public attitudes." He also said "Knowing how disrespectful, malicious and gossipy people can be, I have always tried to protect the privacy of Justice Thomas and Ginni."
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The 85 Fund
The 85 Fund, also known as the Honest Elections Project, and formerly known as the Judicial Education Project, is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington D.C. It is among a network of conservative organizations associated with Leonard Leo, a longtime prominent figure in the Federalist Society, that are funded mostly by anonymous donors. The 85 Fund had revenue of over $65 million in 2020 and, with the Concord Fund, acts as a funding hub for other organizations in the Leo network.
As the Honest Elections Project, it participated in lawsuits during the 2020 United States presidential election and ran advertisements against mail-in voting. It is a proponent of the independent state legislature theory that posits state legislatures have sole authority to establish and enforce state election laws and rules. Leo has said that the fund-raising prowess of Arabella Advisors, a liberal consulting firm, was an inspiration for the 85 Fund to serve a similar function on the right.
The secretary of The 85 Fund is Carrie Severino, who is the president of the Concord Fund. Both funds are closely connected to Leonard Leo, the chairman of CRC Advisors and former vice president of the Federalist Society. The group's 2017 tax return listed a payment of $675,000 to the BH Group, an employer of Leo. Neil Corkery formerly served as president of the group.
Between 2012 and 2017, the group raised $46 million. In 2018, more than 99% of the group's funding came from a single $7.8 million donation from Donors Trust, a donor-advised fund. In 2020, The 85 Fund received $20 million in donations from Donors Trust.
Leo is a powerful figure in fund-raising and expertise for the American conservative movement. He has said that the 85 Fund was inspired by the fund-raising of Arabella Advisors, a liberal consulting firm that advises donors.
Politico reported in August 2023 that Attorney General for the District of Columbia Brian Schwalb was investigating Leo and his network of nonprofit groups. Schwalb's office did not confirm or deny the existence of a probe.
The group donated $300,000 to the Independent Women's Forum, a conservative nonprofit organization.
In 2011 and 2012, Leonard Leo arranged for Liberty Consulting, a firm owned by Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas, to be paid $80,000 by Kellyanne Conway and her firm The Polling Company, billed to the Judicial Education Project. Leo directed Conway not to mention Ginni Thomas in the paperwork. Leo told The Washington Post, "As an advisor to JEP I have long been supportive of its opinion research relating to limited government, and The Polling Company, along with Ginni Thomas's help, has been an invaluable resource for gauging public attitudes." He also said "Knowing how disrespectful, malicious and gossipy people can be, I have always tried to protect the privacy of Justice Thomas and Ginni."