Key Facts
Type
501(c)(3)
Sector
ngo
Industry
Not specified
Status
Draft
Country
United States
Headquarters
Fort Worth, TX, United States
Founded
1/1/2011
Dissolved
Active
Also Known As
Judicial Education ProjectHonest Elections Project85 FundThe 85 Fund
Tags
conservativedark moneyjudicial advocacyelection integritylimited governmentreligious libertyLeonard Leo networkgrantmakingconstitutionalism
Overall Confidence
85%
Internal Notes
No notes
Key Information
Leadership
No leadership added
Positions
No positions added
EIN
20-2466871
State of Incorporation
Virginia
Mission Statement
To educate the public and support activities that highlight the relationship between structural limits on government power and the protection of our dignity and our freedoms.
Annual Revenue
$168,530,020
Program Areas
constitutionalismlimited governmentreligious libertyjudicial educationelection reformsrole of the courtseducation policies
About
The 85 Fund is a conservative nonprofit organization founded by Leonard Leo that serves as a key funding vehicle within his network of conservative judicial advocacy organizations. It is a major recipient of dark money donations and supports judicial advocacy and the Federalist Society network by funding initiatives to promote conservative judicial appointments and legal causes. The organization backs largely right-of-center and conservative groups that educate the public on issues such as constitutionalism, limited government, religious liberty, the role of the courts, education policies, and election reforms.
Key Relationships
Leonard Leo
funds
Leonard Leo directs significant funding to the 85 Fund, a nonprofit organization that operates as a key component of his dark money network and supports conservative judicial advocacy and policy initiatives. The 85 Fund has received millions in donations from Leo-affiliated entities, including the Marble Freedom Trust, and has been used to advance Leo's goals of shaping the federal judiciary. It often acts as a pass-through for donations to other conservative nonprofits, and its close ties to Leo and its role in funding judicial advocacy efforts suggest it functions as a shell company within his broader organizational structure.
Since 2016
Leonard Leo
launched
Leonard Leo played a central role in launching The 85 Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports conservative judicial advocacy, legal education, and policy initiatives. The fund is part of a broader network of nonprofits linked to Leo that channel significant resources into shaping the federal judiciary and conservative legal movement.
Since 2016
Leonard Leo
shell_company_of
The 85 Fund is a Leo-affiliated dark money group widely regarded as a shell or burner organization controlled by Leonard Leo, used to channel anonymous donations to conservative judicial, legal, and policy initiatives. Leo has been instrumental in its operations, directing funds—including donations from billionaire donors such as Barre Seid and Paul Singer—to influence federal judicial appointments and related advocacy efforts while obscuring the flow of money and avoiding public scrutiny. Leaked documents reveal the organization's role as a pass-through entity, which has not been fully disclosed.
Since 2016
Leonard Leo
challenged
The 85 Fund, a nonprofit organization linked to Leonard Leo, has been challenged for potential violations of tax-exempt laws governing 501(c)(3) organizations. Critics argue that the fund engages in excessive political activity and fails to adequately disclose its donors, which could jeopardize its tax-exempt status. Investigations into these allegations are ongoing.
Since 2021
Leonard Leo
drafted
Leonard Leo has played a central role in drafting and overseeing the strategic direction of the 85 Fund, a nonprofit organization that funds conservative legal and policy initiatives. His influence extends to shaping the organization's funding priorities, including support for judicial confirmations and conservative legal advocacy.
Since 2016