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National Christian Foundation

Coordinates: 34°03′49″N 84°17′18″W / 34.063635°N 84.288454°W / 34.063635; -84.288454
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National Christian Foundation
Formation1982; 42 years ago (1982)
FoundersLarry Burkett
Ron Blue
Terry Parker
TypeCharitable giving channel
501(c)(3)
Legal statusNon-profit organization
HeadquartersAlpharetta, Georgia
Location
  • 1150 Sanctuary Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30009
Coordinates34°03′49″N 84°17′18″W / 34.063635°N 84.288454°W / 34.063635; -84.288454
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
Affiliations28 NCF affiliates nationwide[2]
Staff200
Websitewww.ncfgiving.com
NCF headquarters in Alpharetta, Georgia

National Christian Foundation (NCF) is a US non-profit organization that assists donors in donating to charitable causes.[3] NCF accepts non-cash assets and is the nation's largest provider of donor-advised funds focused primarily on Christian donors.[2][3] Since 1982, NCF has granted over $14.5 billion to causes and charities.[1][4]

History

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In 1982, Evangelical Christian author and entrepreneur Larry Burkett, financial 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

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NCF's primary operation, the Giving Fund (donor-advised fund), works like a charitable savings account.[3] Via an online dashboard, donors give various assets into the Fund, receive a tax deduction at the time of the gift, and recommend grants to their charities of choice. NCF accepts non-cash gifts. They also offer other giving options, such as Charitable Gift Annuities and the NCF Legacy Fund.

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]

The organization has received a 80/100 confidence score (Donate with confidence) and an "A" transparency grade from MinistryWatch, a Christian charity watchdog organization, as of November 22,2024.[9]

Criticism

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Similar to other donor-advised funds, there is a noticeable lack of specificity in the source of the money and their specific target.[10] Between 2015 and 2017, NCF distributed $56.1 million to 23 organizations designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center.[11] Most of these organizations opposed LGBT rights; some were anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Welcome Kendra VenderMeulen, NCF's national CEO!".
  2. ^ a b c 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
  3. ^ a b c Tax-Smart Philanthropy Made Easy at The Wall Street Journal; by Laura Saunders; published August 22, 2015; retrieved February 18, 2015
  4. ^ a b 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
  5. ^ a b Alms Alchemy at Philanthropy Roundtable; by Liz Essley White; retrieved May 20, 2015
  6. ^ A Meteoric Rise at Philanthropy Roundtable; retrieved February 18, 2015
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ The 200 Largest U.S. Charities at Forbes Magazine; retrieved February 18, 2015
  9. ^ "National Christian Charitable Foundation Inc - MinistryWatch". db.ministrywatch.com. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Big Money, Quiet Power: A Look at the National Christian Foundation at Inside Philanthropy; by Philip Rojc; retrieved March 21, 2019
  11. ^ a b U.S.'s Biggest Christian Charity Reportedly Channeled $56.1 Million to Purported Hate Groups at Newsweek by Daniel Moritz-Rabson; retrieved March 21, 2019
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