Capital Research Center
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The Capital Research Center was established in 1984 to examine how foundations, charities, and other nonprofits spend money and get involved in politics and advocacy, often in ways that donors never intended and would find abhorrent.
From the start, CRC has exposed how those organizations are “captured” by interest groups and used to undermine Americans’ freedoms.
Today, we study unions, environmentalist groups, and a wide variety of nonprofit and activist organizations. We also keep an eye on crony capitalists who seek to profit by taking advantage of government regulations and by getting their hands on taxpayers’ money.
We’re not afraid to take on the Washington Establishment—Republican, Democrat, or anyone else.
CRC reports take the form of articles on this website, newspaper and magazine articles, and books. We’re also a source of information for commentators and people in the news media.
We do have a specific point of view. We believe in free markets, Constitutional government, and individual liberty. But facts are facts, and our journalists and researchers go where the facts lead them.
CRC is tax-exempt and fiercely independent. We perform no contract work and we accept no government funds—not one cent. We depend on voluntary contributions to fund our important work.
We are the Capital Research Center, “America’s investigative think tank.” Source
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Media Outlet details
| Scope | National, Trade/B2B |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | United States of America |
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesThe history of homecare fraud: NGO’s, bureaucrats, and labor unions undermined Medicaid fraud prevention
Since 2024, dozens of people in multiple states have been accused of and convicted for their participation in brazen Medicaid fraud schemes that have highlighted how obvious and lucrative some of these Medicaid fraud operations are. The sudden popularity of fraud-busting might give the impression that industrial-scale Medicaid fraud is a recent development.
“Who Funds That?” Episode 21: The Next 30 Years of Big Labor
On this podcast, we largely cover who funds the groups and people who are influencing public policy — and today we’ll be diving into the abyss of labor unions with our regular host and CRC’s research director, Mike Watson. Thirty years ago, a former teachers-union operative named Max Green wrote a book called Epitaph for American Labor. He came not to praise the American labor movement but to bury it.
Enemies of Energy: Fred Stanback
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Enemies of Energy, a research report created for the Capital Research Center. The page for the full report is here: Enemies of Energy. *** Donor type: direct grant maker In 2014, to the Los Angeles Times, a North Carolina billionaire named Fred Stanback gave $397 million to the Foundation for the Carolinas (FFTC). This was a hint that he was becoming one of America’s biggest donors to anti-energy advocates.
Enemies of Energy: “Fossil fuel” subsidies
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from the “Myths and Misconceptions” section of Enemies of Energy, a research report created for the Capital Research Center. The page for the full report is here: Enemies of Energy. *** In a 2014 interview, billionaire investor Warren Buffett made this observation about federal energy subsidies: [i] I will do anything that is basically covered by the law to reduce Berkshire’s tax rate.
Enemies of Energy: Skyline Foundation
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Enemies of Energy, a research report created for the Capital Research Center. The page for the full report is here: Enemies of Energy. *** Donor type: direct grant maker With an estimated net worth of $4.6 billion, as of April 2026, Yahoo co-founder David Filo notched spot number 334 on the 2025 Forbes 400 ranking of richest Americans.
InfluenceWatch Friday
InfluenceWatch, a project of Capital Research Center, is a comprehensive and ever-evolving compilation of our research into the numerous advocacy groups, foundations, and donors working to influence the public policy process. The website offers transparency into these influencers’ funding, motives, and connections while providing insight often neglected by other watchdog groups.
Enemies of Energy: Sierra Club
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Enemies of Energy, a research report created for the Capital Research Center. The page for the full report is here: Enemies of Energy. *** Founded in 1892 by naturalist John Muir and his allies to protect the boundaries of Yosemite National Park, the Sierra Club is one of America’s original conservationist nonprofits and for a long time the most influential.
Enemies of Energy: Windward Fund
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Enemies of Energy, a research report created for the Capital Research Center. The page for the full report is here: Enemies of Energy. *** Donor type: pass-through grant maker The Windward Fund is one of seven grantmaking foundations within what was (until the end of last year) colloquially known as the Arabella Advisors network of left-wing grant makers.
“Who Funds That?” Episode 20: How Charities Are Influencing Elections
Hello, I’m Michael Watson joined by Tiffany Gabbay and this is Capital Research Center’s “Who Funds That?” podcast. Charities (like Capital Research Center) are formally prohibited from intervening in election campaigns. But for years, liberal Big Philanthropy has exploited non-enforcement and loopholes in the law to use charities for transparently electoral purposes.
Olivia Rodrigo, charismatic preacher for the abortion movement
The Instagram video opens with text on the screen: “Learning that nearly 30 Planned Parenthood health centers have closed since President Trump signed a law ‘defunding’ Planned Parenthood.” Then, pop star Olivia Rodrigo appears, mouthing along to her song “My Way,” dancing with a group of women, as the text switches to “But we’ll never stop fighting for sexual and reproductive health care!!!” Planned Parenthood posted this to Instagram on August 4.