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{{Short description|American private charitable foundation}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2010}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox company
{{infobox organization
| name = Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
| name = Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
| native_name_lang = en
| logo = [[Image:Bradley Foundation logo.gif|240px]]
| type = [[Privately-held company|Private]] [[Foundation (charity)|charitable foundation]]
| logo = Bradley Foundation logo.gif
| purpose = [[Privately-held company|Private]] [[Foundation (charity)|charitable foundation]]
| formation = {{start date and age|1942|df=y|p=y}}
| foundation = 1942
| type = [[Nonprofit organization|Nonprofit]]
| location = [[Milwaukee|Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
| status = [[501(c)(3)]]
| key_people = [[Terry Considine]] <br>''Chairman'' <br> [[David Vogel Uihlein, Jr.]] <br>''Vice Chairman'' <br> [[Michael W. Grebe]] <br> ''President and CEO''
| tax_id = 39-6037928
| headquarters = {{plainlist|
* Ste 300
* 1400 N Water St
* [[Milwaukee, WI]] 53202-2506
* United States
}}
| leader_title = President
| leader_name = [[Richard Graber|Richard William Graber]]{{efn|president since 2016}}
| leader_title2 = Chairman
| leader_name2 = [[Art Pope|James Arthur Pope]]{{efn|chairperson since 2017}}
| key_people = {{indented plainlist|
* [[David Vogel Uihlein Jr.]]<br />Vice Chairman
}}
| industry =
| industry =
| products =
| products =
| revenue = $82,867,746{{efn|name=irs2020|IRS Form-990 yr2020}}
| revenue =
| revenue_year = 2020
| operating_income =
| expenses = $60,529,770{{efn|name=irs2020}}
| net_income =
| expenses_year = 2020
| num_employees =
| parent =
| num_employees =
| subsid =
| parent =
| subsid =
| homepage = [http://www.bradleyfdn.org bradleyfdn.org]
| website = {{official URL}}
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
The '''Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation''', based in [[Milwaukee|Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], is an [[American conservativism|American conservative]] [[foundation (charity)|foundation]] with about half a billion [[United States dollar|US dollars]] in assets. According to the Bradley Foundation 1998 Annual Report, it gives away more than $30 million per year. The Foundation has financed efforts to support [[Federal government of the United States|federal]] institutes, publications and [[school choice]] and educational projects.


The '''Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation''', commonly known as the '''Bradley Foundation''', is an American charitable [[foundation (charity)|foundation]] based in [[Milwaukee|Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], that primarily supports [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] causes.<ref name=milwaukeemag>{{cite news |last1=Nicksen |first1=Carole |title=Bradley Foundation CEO Richard Graber Talks Education Reform & the Foundation's New Strategic Plan |url=https://www.milwaukeemag.com/bradley-foundation-ceo-richard-graber-talks-education-reform-foundations-new-strategic-plan/ |access-date=22 February 2019 |publisher=Milwaukee Magazine |date=February 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Priority Giving Areas |url=http://www.bradleyfdn.org/What-We-Do/Giving-Areas |publisher=Bradley Foundation |access-date=25 February 2019}}</ref>
==History==
The Foundation was established in 1942, shortly after the death of [[Lynde Bradley]]. However it was not until twenty years after the death of his brother [[Harry Lynde Bradley]], in 1965, that the Foundation expanded in size and began to focus on public policy.<ref name=Miller/> This was followed by the 1985 acquisition of [[Allen-Bradley]] by [[Rockwell International Corporation]], with a significant portion of the proceeds going into the expansion of The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, which saw its assets rise from $14 million to over $290 million.<ref>Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, [http://www.bradleyfdn.org/bradley_brothers.asp The Bradley Brothers]</ref> In 1986 the Foundation gave away $23 million, more than it had in the previous four decades.<ref name=Miller>[[John J. Miller]] (2003), "The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation", in ''[http://www.iviewit.tv/CompanyDocs/grebe3.pdf How Two Foundations Reshaped America]'', [[Philanthropy Roundtable]]</ref> Whereas in 1980 only 2.5% of grants were related to public policy, by 1990, under the leadership of Mike Joyce (formerly at the [[John M. Olin Foundation]]) it was 60%.<ref name=Miller/>


The foundation provides between $35 million and $45 million annually to a variety of causes, including cultural institutions, community-based nonprofit organizations in Milwaukee, and conservative groups. It has been active in education reform including [[school choice]], and efforts to change election rules.<ref name="milwaukeemag" /><ref name=":0" /> Approximately 70% of the foundation's giving is directed to national groups while 30% is Wisconsin-based.<ref name="milwaukeemag" /> The foundation had about $850 million in assets as of 2021.<ref name=":0" />
The organization was founded in an attempt to preserve and extend the principles and philosophy of the Bradley brothers. According to them, "the good society is a free society. The Bradley Foundation is likewise devoted to strengthening American democratic capitalism and the institutions, principles and values that sustain and nurture it."


==History==
The foundation supports [[limited government]], conceived of as a dynamic marketplace where economic, intellectual, and cultural activity can flourish. It states that it defends American ideas and institutions. Next to that it recognizes that responsible self-government depends on informing citizens and creating a well informed public opinion. The foundation tries to accomplish that by financing scholarly studies and academic achievements, most especially by scholars coincidentally named Bradley.<ref>[http://www.bradleyfdn.org/about.html ]{{dead link|date=October 2010}}</ref>
The foundation was established in 1942, shortly after the death of [[Lynde Bradley]], to further the philosophy of the Bradley brothers. The foundation's credo is "The good society is a free society."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gonzalez |first1=George |title=Energy and the Politics of the North Atlantic |date=2013 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=9781438447957 |page=147}}</ref>


In 1965, after the death of [[Harry Lynde Bradley]], Lynde's brother, the foundation expanded and began to concentrate on [[public policy]].<ref name=Miller/> The 1985 acquisition of the [[Allen-Bradley|Allen-Bradley Company]] by [[Rockwell International Corporation]] resulted in a portion of the proceeds going to expand the foundation, swelling its assets from $14 million to over $290 million.<ref>Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, [http://www.bradleyfdn.org/bradley_brothers.asp The Bradley Brothers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513234711/http://www.bradleyfdn.org/bradley_brothers.asp |date=2011-05-13 }}</ref> In 1986, the foundation gave away $23 million, more than it had in the previous four decades.<ref name=Miller>[[John J. Miller (journalist)|John J. Miller]] (2003), "The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation", in ''[http://www.iviewit.tv/CompanyDocs/grebe3.pdf How Two Foundations Reshaped America]'', [[Philanthropy Roundtable]]</ref>
The Bradley Foundation's former president, [[Michael S. Joyce]], was instrumental in creating the [[Philanthropy Roundtable]]. The goal of the Roundtable's founders was to provide a forum where donors could discuss the principles and practices that inform the best of America's charitable tradition. Currently, there are more than 600 Roundtable Associates.


The Bradley Foundation's former president, [[Michael S. Joyce]], helped to create the [[Philanthropy Roundtable]], a group of American philanthropists that, as of 2018, has 660 members (consisting of both individuals and organizations).<ref>{{cite web |title=Philanthropy Roundtable: History |url=https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/home/about/who-we-are/history-of-the-philanthropy-roundtable |publisher=Philanthropy Roundtable |access-date=27 September 2018}}</ref>
In the early 1990s the foundation helped support ''[[The American Spectator]]'', which at the time was researching damaging material on President [[Bill Clinton]]. The Bradley Foundation has provided funding for the [[Project for a New American Century]] (PNAC). PNAC brought together prominent members of the George H. W. Bush administration, including [[Dick Cheney]], [[Donald Rumsfeld]], [[Richard Perle]], and [[Paul Wolfowitz]], in the late 1990s to articulate their [[neoconservative]] foreign policy, including sending a letter to President [[Bill Clinton]] urging him to invade [[Iraq]].


In August 2021 [[The New Yorker|''New Yorker'']] magazine, [[Jane Mayer]] wrote that the Bradley Foundation "has become an extraordinary force in persuading mainstream Republicans to support radical challenges to election rules—a tactic once relegated to the far right" and "funds a network of groups that have been stoking fear about election fraud, in some cases for years. Public records show that, since 2012, the foundation has spent some eighteen million dollars supporting eleven conservative groups involved in election issues."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Mayer|first=Jane|date=2021-08-02|title=The Big Money Behind the Big Lie: Donald Trump's attacks on democracy are being promoted by rich and powerful conservative groups that are determined to win at all costs.|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/09/the-big-money-behind-the-big-lie|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802101814/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/09/the-big-money-behind-the-big-lie|archive-date=2021-08-02|access-date=2021-08-03|website=Newyorker.com|quote=(...) the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. Based in Milwaukee, the private, tax-exempt organization has become an extraordinary force in persuading mainstream Republicans to support radical challenges to election rules—a tactic once relegated to the far right. With an endowment of some eight hundred and fifty million dollars, the foundation funds a network of groups that have been stoking fear about election fraud, in some cases for years. Public records show that, since 2012, the foundation has spent some eighteen million dollars supporting eleven conservative groups involved in election issues.}}</ref> On the foundation's board of directors is attorney [[Cleta Mitchell]], who joined [[Donald Trump]] on his phone call on 2 January 2021 when [[Trump–Raffensperger phone call|Trump pressured Georgia election officials]] to find 11,780 votes to overturn the state's 2020 presidential election results.<ref name=":0" />
==Governance==
Current members of the [[board of directors]] of the Bradley Foundation are:
*[[Terry Considine]], Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, [[AIMCO]].<ref name="bradleyboard">[http://www.bradleyfdn.org/board_of_directors.asp The Bradley Foundation Board of Directors]</ref>
*[[David Vogel Uihlein, Jr.]], President of Uihlein-Wilson Architects, grandson of co-founder Harry Lynde Bradley.<ref name="bradleyboard"/>
*[[Michael W. Grebe]].<ref name="bradleyboard"/>
*[[Robert P. George]], 2005 Bradley Prize recipient, Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the [[James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions]] at [[Princeton University]].<ref name="bradleyboard"/>
*[[Dennis J. Kuester]], former Chairman and CEO of [[Marshall & Ilsley]] (1993-2010).<ref name="bradleyboard"/>
*[[Cleta Mitchell]], Partner at [[Foley & Lardner]].<ref name="bradleyboard"/>
*[[San W. Orr, Jr.]].<ref name="bradleyboard"/>
*[[Art Pope]], President of [[Variety Wholesalers]].<ref name="bradleyboard"/>
*[[Thomas L. Smallwood]].<ref name="bradleyboard"/>
*[[Bob Smith (Bradley Foundation)|Bob Smith]], President of Messmer Catholic Schools.<ref name="bradleyboard"/>
*[[George Will]], 2005 Bradley Prize recipient, Columnist for ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref name="bradleyboard"/>


==Bradley Prize==
==Funding areas==
The foundation describes itself as supporting [[limited government]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bradleyfdn.org/about.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051218031944/http://www.bradleyfdn.org/about.html|url-status=dead|title=Bradleyfdn.org|archivedate=18 December 2005}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' described the Bradley Foundation as "a leading source of ideas and financing for American conservatives."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Healy |first1=Patrick |last2=Davey |first2=Monica |title=Behind Scott Walker, a Longstanding Conservative Alliance Against Unions (Published 2015) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/08/us/politics/behind-scott-walker-a-longstanding-conservative-alliance-against-unions.html |access-date=4 January 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=8 June 2015}}</ref> A 2013 report from the [[Center for Public Integrity]] found that the Bradley Foundation was a contributor to [[Donors Trust]], a right-wing think tank which has been described as the "[[dark money]] ATM" for conservative billionaires, enabling them to make sizable donations to conservative causes without attracting public scrutiny.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2013-02-14 |title=Donors use charity to push free-market policies in states |url=http://publicintegrity.org/politics/donors-use-charity-to-push-free-market-policies-in-states/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Center for Public Integrity |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-03 |title= DonorsTrust—the Right's Dark-Money ATM—Pumps Out Record $96 Million |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/12/donors-trust-franklin-center-alec-mercatus-center-dark-money/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Mother Jones |language=en}}</ref>
The Bradley Prize is a major grant to individuals who are "innovative thinkers". According to the foundation the Bradley Prize is to "formally recognize individuals of extraordinary talent and dedication who have made contributions of excellence in areas consistent with The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation’s mission." As many as four Prizes of $250,000 each are awarded annually. It has been described by some {{specify|date=September 2013}} as a politically conservative leaning "[[Genius grant]]", like that given by the [[John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation]].


In a 2018 interview, the foundation's CEO, [[Richard Graber]], described its four major areas of funding as "constitutional order", education (in particular [[school choice]]), [[civil society]], and arts and culture.<ref name=milwaukeemag/> In that interview, Graber said that the foundation would deemphasize some areas in which it had previously made grants, including [[national security]] and foreign policy.<ref name=milwaukeemag/> Activities in these areas had funded millions of dollars for three anti-Muslim groups: the [[David Horowitz Freedom Center]] (which received $4.2 million), [[Frank Gaffney]]'s [[Center for Security Policy]] (which received $815,000) and [[Daniel Pipes]]' [[Middle East Forum]] (which received $305,000). These grants were between 2008 and 2011.<ref name=Johnson>Annysa Johnson, [http://archive.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/islamic-rights-groups-report-rips-bradley-foundation-funding-b99103166z1-224649321.html/ Islamic rights group's report rips Bradley Foundation funding], ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' (September 20, 2013).</ref> The foundation's funding was criticized by the [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]], which described the grant recipients as an "[[Islamophobic]] network."<ref name=Johnson/>
==Latest Bradley Prize Winners==
* 2013 [[Roger Ailes]]<ref name="FoxNews.com">http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/06/12/fox-news-chairman-ailes-remarks-on-winning-bradley-prize/?test=latestnews Fox News</ref>


Organizations awarded grants by the foundation have included [[FreedomWorks]],<ref name="bradleyfdn.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bradleyfdn.org/pdfs/Grants2008/08EconomicGrowth.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603234420/http://www.bradleyfdn.org/pdfs/Grants2008/08EconomicGrowth.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Bradley Foundation website|archivedate=3 June 2011}}</ref> [[Americans for Prosperity]],<ref name="bradleyfdn.org"/> [[The Heritage Foundation]],<ref name="bradley2007">{{cite web |url=http://www.bradleyfdn.org/pdfs/reports2007/2007AnnualReport.pdf |title=Part1b |access-date=2010-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713141602/http://www.bradleyfdn.org/pdfs/reports2007/2007AnnualReport.pdf |archive-date=2010-07-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[Hoover Institution]],<ref name="bradley2007"/> the [[Black Alliance for Educational Options]]<ref name="bradley2007"/> and the [[SEED Foundation]].<ref name="bradley2007"/>
==Latest grantees==
These are among the latest grants awarded to conservative organizations:


==Bradley Prize==
* 2008 grant of $25,000 to [[FreedomWorks]]<ref name="bradleyfdn.org">http://www.bradleyfdn.org/pdfs/Grants2008/08EconomicGrowth.pdf Bradley Foundation website</ref>
The Bradley Prize is a grant to "formally recognize individuals of extraordinary talent and dedication who have made contributions of excellence in areas consistent with The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation's mission." As many as four prizes of $250,000 each are awarded annually. Winners <ref name=pastwinners>{{cite web|title=The Bradley Prizes - Past Winners|url=https://www.bradleyfdn.org/prizes/winner|website=The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation|access-date=11 December 2020}}</ref> have included [[Fouad Ajami]] (2006), [[John Bolton]] (2007), [[Martin Feldstein]] (2007), [[Victor Davis Hanson]] (2008), [[Leonard Leo]] (2009), [[William Kristol]] (2009), [[Paul A. Gigot]] (2010), [[Jeb Bush]] (2011),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rojc |first1=Philip |title=War of Ideas: Conservative Intellectuals Have a Friend in This Foundation |url=https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2018/6/4/war-of-ideas-conservative-intellectuals-have-a-friend-in-this-foundation |access-date=22 February 2019 |website=Inside Philanthropy |date=June 4, 2018}}</ref> [[Edwin Meese III]] (2012), [[Roger Ailes]] (2013),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farhi |first1=Paul |title=Roger Ailes wows conservatives in accepting Bradley prize |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2013/06/13/roger-ailes-wows-conservatives-in-accepting-bradley-prize/ |access-date=22 February 2019 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=June 13, 2013}}</ref> [[Paul Clement]] (2013), [[Mitch Daniels]] (2013), [[Yuval Levin]] (2013),<ref>(13 June 2014)[http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/06/13/_anti_americanism_needs_to_be_answered_roger_ailes_gets_serious.html "Anti-Americanism Needs to Be Answered": Roger Ailes Gets Serious] ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''. Retrieved 20 January 2014</ref> [[Kimberly Strassel]] (2014),<ref>{{cite news |title=Strassel Wins Bradley Prize: 'Potomac Watch' columnist honored for journalistic excellence |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=May 22, 2014 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304198504579574061689451386 }}</ref> [[Ayaan Hirsi Ali]] (2015), [[James W. Ceaser|James Ceaser]] (2015), [[Gary Sinise]] (2016),<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bond|first1=Paul|title=Gary Sinise to Receive Bradley Award and $250,000 for His Charitable Foundation|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gary-sinise-receive-bradley-award-895103|access-date=6 June 2016|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=May 17, 2016}}</ref> [[Peter Berkowitz]] (2017), [[Charles R. Kesler]] (2018),<ref name=pastwinners/> [[Roger Kimball]] (2019), [[Amity Shlaes]] (2021),<ref>{{Cite web|last=Foundation|first=The Lynde and Harry Bradley|title=Amity Shlaes 2021 Bradley Prize Winner|url=https://www.bradleyfdn.org/amity-shlaes-2021bradleyprize|access-date=2022-01-30|website=www.bradleyfdn.org|language=en}}</ref> and [[Glenn Loury]] (2022).<ref>{{cite web |title=Bradley Foundation: Glenn Loury, distinguished economist and scholar, selected as a 2022 Bradley Prize winner |url=https://www.wispolitics.com/2022/bradley-foundation-glenn-loury-distinguished-economist-and-scholar-selected-as-a-2022-bradley-prize-winner/ |website=Bradley Foundation |date=22 March 2022 |access-date=23 March 2022}}</ref>


Note: The Bradley Prizes for 2020 were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.<ref name=prizewinners>{{cite web|title=Welcome To The Bradley Prizes|url=https://www.bradleyfdn.org/prizes/|website=The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation|access-date=11 December 2020}}</ref>
* 2008 grant of $25,000 to [[Americans For Prosperity]]<ref name="bradleyfdn.org"/>


==See also==
* 2007 grant of $100,000 to [[Heritage Foundation]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bradleyfdn.org/pdfs/reports2007/2007AnnualReport.pdf |title=part1b |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-10-22}}</ref>
* [[Argosy Foundation]]
* [[Bader Philanthropies]]
* [[Charter School Growth Fund]]
* [[Dark Money (book)|''Dark Money'' (book)]]
* [[Donors Trust]]
* [[Lyle Oberwise]]
* [[Zilber Family Foundation]]


==Notes==
* 2006 grant of $100,000 to [[Heritage Foundation]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bradleyfdn.org/pdfs/2006AnnualReport.pdf |title=Bradley Foundation website, 2006 Annual Report, pg 33 |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-10-22}}</ref>
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.bradleyfdn.org}}
* {{official website}}
*[http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=4916222 Profile] at ''[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130605051816/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=4916222 Profile] at ''[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]''
* {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer|396037928|Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation}}
*[http://old.mediatransparency.org/funderprofile.php?funderID=1 The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation], profile at ''[[Media Transparency]]''

{{authority control}}

{{coord|43|02|50.7|N|87|54|38.2|W|display=title}}


[[Category:Foundations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Foundations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Milwaukee]]
[[Category:New Right (United States)]]
[[Category:New Right (United States)]]
[[Category:The Heritage Foundation]]
[[Category:Conservative organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:New Right organizations (United States)]]
[[Category:New Right organizations (United States)]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1942]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Climate change denial]]
[[Category:Uihlein Family]]

Latest revision as of 18:52, 8 November 2023

Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
Formation1942 (82 years ago) (1942)
TypeNonprofit
39-6037928
Legal status501(c)(3)
PurposePrivate charitable foundation
Headquarters
President
Richard William Graber[a]
Chairman
James Arthur Pope[b]
Key people
Revenue (2020)
$82,867,746[c]
Expenses (2020)$60,529,770[c]
Websitewww.bradleyfdn.org Edit this at Wikidata

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, commonly known as the Bradley Foundation, is an American charitable foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that primarily supports conservative causes.[1][2]

The foundation provides between $35 million and $45 million annually to a variety of causes, including cultural institutions, community-based nonprofit organizations in Milwaukee, and conservative groups. It has been active in education reform including school choice, and efforts to change election rules.[1][3] Approximately 70% of the foundation's giving is directed to national groups while 30% is Wisconsin-based.[1] The foundation had about $850 million in assets as of 2021.[3]

History[edit]

The foundation was established in 1942, shortly after the death of Lynde Bradley, to further the philosophy of the Bradley brothers. The foundation's credo is "The good society is a free society."[4]

In 1965, after the death of Harry Lynde Bradley, Lynde's brother, the foundation expanded and began to concentrate on public policy.[5] The 1985 acquisition of the Allen-Bradley Company by Rockwell International Corporation resulted in a portion of the proceeds going to expand the foundation, swelling its assets from $14 million to over $290 million.[6] In 1986, the foundation gave away $23 million, more than it had in the previous four decades.[5]

The Bradley Foundation's former president, Michael S. Joyce, helped to create the Philanthropy Roundtable, a group of American philanthropists that, as of 2018, has 660 members (consisting of both individuals and organizations).[7]

In August 2021 New Yorker magazine, Jane Mayer wrote that the Bradley Foundation "has become an extraordinary force in persuading mainstream Republicans to support radical challenges to election rules—a tactic once relegated to the far right" and "funds a network of groups that have been stoking fear about election fraud, in some cases for years. Public records show that, since 2012, the foundation has spent some eighteen million dollars supporting eleven conservative groups involved in election issues."[3] On the foundation's board of directors is attorney Cleta Mitchell, who joined Donald Trump on his phone call on 2 January 2021 when Trump pressured Georgia election officials to find 11,780 votes to overturn the state's 2020 presidential election results.[3]

Funding areas[edit]

The foundation describes itself as supporting limited government.[8] The New York Times described the Bradley Foundation as "a leading source of ideas and financing for American conservatives."[9] A 2013 report from the Center for Public Integrity found that the Bradley Foundation was a contributor to Donors Trust, a right-wing think tank which has been described as the "dark money ATM" for conservative billionaires, enabling them to make sizable donations to conservative causes without attracting public scrutiny.[10][11]

In a 2018 interview, the foundation's CEO, Richard Graber, described its four major areas of funding as "constitutional order", education (in particular school choice), civil society, and arts and culture.[1] In that interview, Graber said that the foundation would deemphasize some areas in which it had previously made grants, including national security and foreign policy.[1] Activities in these areas had funded millions of dollars for three anti-Muslim groups: the David Horowitz Freedom Center (which received $4.2 million), Frank Gaffney's Center for Security Policy (which received $815,000) and Daniel Pipes' Middle East Forum (which received $305,000). These grants were between 2008 and 2011.[12] The foundation's funding was criticized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which described the grant recipients as an "Islamophobic network."[12]

Organizations awarded grants by the foundation have included FreedomWorks,[13] Americans for Prosperity,[13] The Heritage Foundation,[14] the Hoover Institution,[14] the Black Alliance for Educational Options[14] and the SEED Foundation.[14]

Bradley Prize[edit]

The Bradley Prize is a grant to "formally recognize individuals of extraordinary talent and dedication who have made contributions of excellence in areas consistent with The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation's mission." As many as four prizes of $250,000 each are awarded annually. Winners [15] have included Fouad Ajami (2006), John Bolton (2007), Martin Feldstein (2007), Victor Davis Hanson (2008), Leonard Leo (2009), William Kristol (2009), Paul A. Gigot (2010), Jeb Bush (2011),[16] Edwin Meese III (2012), Roger Ailes (2013),[17] Paul Clement (2013), Mitch Daniels (2013), Yuval Levin (2013),[18] Kimberly Strassel (2014),[19] Ayaan Hirsi Ali (2015), James Ceaser (2015), Gary Sinise (2016),[20] Peter Berkowitz (2017), Charles R. Kesler (2018),[15] Roger Kimball (2019), Amity Shlaes (2021),[21] and Glenn Loury (2022).[22]

Note: The Bradley Prizes for 2020 were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[23]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ president since 2016
  2. ^ chairperson since 2017
  3. ^ a b IRS Form-990 yr2020

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Nicksen, Carole (2 February 2018). "Bradley Foundation CEO Richard Graber Talks Education Reform & the Foundation's New Strategic Plan". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Priority Giving Areas". Bradley Foundation. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Mayer, Jane (2 August 2021). "The Big Money Behind the Big Lie: Donald Trump's attacks on democracy are being promoted by rich and powerful conservative groups that are determined to win at all costs". Newyorker.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021. (...) the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. Based in Milwaukee, the private, tax-exempt organization has become an extraordinary force in persuading mainstream Republicans to support radical challenges to election rules—a tactic once relegated to the far right. With an endowment of some eight hundred and fifty million dollars, the foundation funds a network of groups that have been stoking fear about election fraud, in some cases for years. Public records show that, since 2012, the foundation has spent some eighteen million dollars supporting eleven conservative groups involved in election issues.
  4. ^ Gonzalez, George (2013). Energy and the Politics of the North Atlantic. SUNY Press. p. 147. ISBN 9781438447957.
  5. ^ a b John J. Miller (2003), "The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation", in How Two Foundations Reshaped America, Philanthropy Roundtable
  6. ^ Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, The Bradley Brothers Archived 2011-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Philanthropy Roundtable: History". Philanthropy Roundtable. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Bradleyfdn.org". Archived from the original on 18 December 2005.
  9. ^ Healy, Patrick; Davey, Monica (8 June 2015). "Behind Scott Walker, a Longstanding Conservative Alliance Against Unions (Published 2015)". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  10. ^ admin (14 February 2013). "Donors use charity to push free-market policies in states". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  11. ^ "DonorsTrust—the Right's Dark-Money ATM—Pumps Out Record $96 Million". Mother Jones. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  12. ^ a b Annysa Johnson, Islamic rights group's report rips Bradley Foundation funding, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (September 20, 2013).
  13. ^ a b "Bradley Foundation website" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2011.
  14. ^ a b c d "Part1b" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  15. ^ a b "The Bradley Prizes - Past Winners". The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  16. ^ Rojc, Philip (4 June 2018). "War of Ideas: Conservative Intellectuals Have a Friend in This Foundation". Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  17. ^ Farhi, Paul (13 June 2013). "Roger Ailes wows conservatives in accepting Bradley prize". Washington Post. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  18. ^ (13 June 2014)"Anti-Americanism Needs to Be Answered": Roger Ailes Gets Serious Slate. Retrieved 20 January 2014
  19. ^ "Strassel Wins Bradley Prize: 'Potomac Watch' columnist honored for journalistic excellence". The Wall Street Journal. 22 May 2014.
  20. ^ Bond, Paul (17 May 2016). "Gary Sinise to Receive Bradley Award and $250,000 for His Charitable Foundation". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  21. ^ Foundation, The Lynde and Harry Bradley. "Amity Shlaes 2021 Bradley Prize Winner". www.bradleyfdn.org. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Bradley Foundation: Glenn Loury, distinguished economist and scholar, selected as a 2022 Bradley Prize winner". Bradley Foundation. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Welcome To The Bradley Prizes". The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation. Retrieved 11 December 2020.

External links[edit]

43°02′50.7″N 87°54′38.2″W / 43.047417°N 87.910611°W / 43.047417; -87.910611

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