Question 1

Who funds Capital Research Center?

Accepted Answer

According to public IRS filings, Capital Research Center is funded by a network of private foundations, donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, and individual donors — more than 200 funders accounting for over $16 million in documented giving between 2017 and 2025. The largest funders on record include DonorsTrust, the Sarah Scaife Foundation, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, and the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, along with donor-advised funds such as Fidelity Charitable and Schwab Charitable. The donor database on this site compiles those funders from public records, including IRS Form 990 filings indexed by ProPublica.

Question 2

Where does Capital Research Center get its money?

Accepted Answer

Capital Research Center's revenue, as reflected in public filings, comes largely from grants and contributions rather than earned income. Those grants are reported on the filings of the foundations and funds that give to it — which is why following the money means reading the donors' IRS filings, not just CRC's own. Donor-advised funds in particular can route money to CRC while obscuring the original donor's identity.

Question 3

Is Capital Research Center connected to conservative political networks?

Accepted Answer

Public filings and reporting show that many of Capital Research Center's funders and allied organizations are part of established conservative grantmaking and policy networks. CRC's research has also been cited and used by Republican investigators. This site presents those connections as they appear in public records; it does not allege any unlawful conduct.

Question 4

How does Capital Research Center influence Congress?

Accepted Answer

Capital Research Center produces reports, briefings, and commentary that have been cited by Republican investigators and amplified across right-wing media. That output can feed into congressional inquiries and partisan attacks on progressive nonprofits and civic groups. The Congressional Integrity Project has criticized this work as conspiracy-laden and partisan. The flow runs: funding → CRC research → reports and media hits → congressional attacks.

Question 5

What public records show Capital Research Center's donors?

Accepted Answer

Donor information is drawn from public records, primarily IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings submitted by the funding foundations and donor-advised fund sponsors, indexed through ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer. Each record links to the contributor's public filings. Because donors file separately from recipients, the fullest picture comes from cross-referencing many filings. See the Methodology page for how figures are compiled and their limits.

Question 6

How often is this donor database updated?

Accepted Answer

The database is compiled from a public-records spreadsheet of IRS Form 990 grant data and updates whenever that source changes and the site is rebuilt. It currently reflects filings from 2017 through 2025. The Methodology page lists the most recent compilation date.

Who funds Capital Research Center? — FAQ

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Transparency starts with following the money.