Elena Rodriguez served as a senior investigative reporter at ProPublica.

ProPublica examined DCF as part of broader probes into 501(c)(4) dark money groups, highlighting its anonymity in supporting political advocacy and ties to high-profile conservative funders.

ProPublica has reported on donor-advised funds like DonorsTrust, examining their role in facilitating anonymous grants to politically active nonprofits and the lack of transparency in such vehicles.

ProPublica has analyzed DonorsTrust's tax filings and grants, revealing its support for think tanks and legal groups involved in challenging environmental regulations and promoting school choice over public education.

ProPublica published a series of investigative reports, including a major 2021 exposé, detailing Barre Seid's $1.6 billion donation to the Marble Freedom Trust, a dark money group led by Leonard Leo. The reporting exposed the scale of Seid's political contributions, detailing how the funds were used to influence conservative judicial appointments and political campaigns, and scrutinized their implications for conservative influence networks. The reports also examined Seid's history of anonymous donations to right-wing groups.

While not directly subpoenaed, Barre Seid's financial transactions, including the $1.6 billion transfer to Marble Freedom Trust, were reported on by ProPublica. Such reporting could lead to legal actions where ProPublica or its sources are subpoenaed to disclose documents or testimony related to Seid's activities.