Form 990 for tax year 2024
Filed by FIDELIS CENTER FOR LAW AND POLICY.
Totals
- Total revenue
- $6,551,997
- Total expenses
- $5,262,055
- Contributions and grants received
- $6,551,484
- Grants paid
- $1,939,292
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $0
- Other revenue
- $513
- Total assets, end of year
- $3,204,142
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $423,642
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $2,780,500
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $4,199,762
- Management and general expenses
- $479,170
- Fundraising expenses
- $583,123
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $4,199,762
Program services were 79.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
Line items
Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.
Revenue
Part VIII, the statement of revenue.
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$6,551,484
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$20,264
-
11a · Other revenue: OTHER REVENUE
total $513 · related or exempt $513
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$513
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments
total $1,939,292 · program services $1,939,292
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $146,933 · program services $59,457 · management and general $57,702 · fundraising $29,774
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $849,880 · program services $426,926 · management and general $86,450 · fundraising $336,504
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $11,314 · program services $5,389 · management and general $1,918 · fundraising $4,007
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $59,395 · program services $28,290 · management and general $10,067 · fundraising $21,038
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $75,696 · program services $38,003 · management and general $9,074 · fundraising $28,619
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $48,565 · program services $30,950 · management and general $17,615
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $48,002 · management and general $48,002
-
11g · Fees: other
total $603,197 · program services $462,319 · management and general $91,356 · fundraising $49,522
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $526,546 · program services $523,657 · management and general $2,889
-
13 · Office expenses
total $376,591 · program services $322,276 · management and general $54,315
-
16 · Occupancy
total $82,084 · program services $51,486 · management and general $18,285 · fundraising $12,313
-
17 · Travel
total $118,287 · program services $63,894 · fundraising $54,393
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $104,610 · program services $103,110 · fundraising $1,500
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $17,856 · management and general $17,856
-
24a · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
total $106,990 · program services $42,350 · management and general $40,562 · fundraising $24,078
-
24b · Other expenses: ONLINE PROG DEVELOPMENT
total $78,968 · program services $78,968
-
24c · Other expenses: LICENSES AND FEES
total $28,057 · program services $6,838 · fundraising $21,219
-
24d · Other expenses: BAD DEBT LOSS
total $21,495 · management and general $21,495
-
24e · All other expenses
total $18,297 · program services $16,557 · management and general $1,584 · fundraising $156
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $1,752,478 · end of year $2,202,607
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $670,869 · end of year $879,861
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
end of year $6,437
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$126,864
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$37,461
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $32,087 · end of year $89,403
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
end of year $15,834
-
12 · Investments: other securities
beginning of year $10,000 · end of year $10,000
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $33,448 · end of year $122,236
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $941,027 · end of year $301,406
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $820,090 · end of year $1,784,658
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $670,869 · end of year $995,842
Mission and programs · 2024
Mission
THE FIDELIS CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED TO EDUCATE AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF CITIZENS, SPECIFICALLY ON ISSUES RELATED TO LIFE, FAITH AND FAMILY. THE CENTER SEEKS TO FAITHFULLY PROMOTE CATHOLIC SOCIAL DOCTRINE IN AMERICAN CIVIC LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION, LITIGATION AND RELATED ACTIVITIES.
Activities or mission (Part I)
NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND LEGAL ADVOCACY PROGRAMS TO DEFEND LIFE, FAITH, AND FAMILY.
-
THE FIDELIS CENTER FOR LAW AND POLICY OPERATES AS AN ALLIED AFFILIATE OF FIDELIS, AND DIRECTS SEVERAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, ONLINE VIDEOS, EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS AND VIDEOS, AND OTHER PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE, INFORM AND SHAPE THE PUBLIC LIFE OF THE NATION.DURING THE YEAR, THE FIDELIS CENTER OPERATED AN ADDITIONAL D/B/A "EDIFY," A DIGITAL LEARNING INITIATIVE THAT PRODUCED BI-MONTHLY ANIMATED VIDEO PRODUCTIONS, EBOOKS AND PODCASTS FEATURING PROMINENT NATIONAL EXPERTS ON ISSUES OF PUBLIC IMPORT. THE EDIFY PLATFORM AIMS TO TO HELP AMERICAN CATHOLICS AND ALL CONCERNED CITIZENS BETTER UNDERSTAND DIFFICULT QUESTIONS THROUGH THE LENS OF AUTHENTIC CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING, SCIENCE, PHILOSOPHY, ART, AND LAW. COLLECTIVELY THE VIDEOS AND PODCASTS WERE WATCHED BY MILLIONS OF LISTENERS AND ONLINE VIEWERS.OUR PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO COORDINATE, FUND, OR ENGAGE IN STRATEGIC LITIGATION TO PROMOTE THE SANCTITY OF LIFE, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND THE FAMILY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES CRITICAL FUNDING IN SEVERAL IMPORTANT LEGAL CASES WHERE LEGAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO CLIENTS WITHOUT CHARGE. THE CENTER ALSO PRODUCED AMICUS BRIEFS FOR SEVERAL KEY CASES BEFORE CIRCUIT COURTS AND THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF CONCERNED CATHOLIC CITIZENS.
Expenses $4,199,762 · Grants $1,939,292
As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Listed in Part VII
-
Patrick T GillenPATRICK T GILLEN
PRESIDENT & CHIEF COUNSE
- Total calculated
- $56,000
- From this org
- $28,000
- From related orgs
- $28,000
- Other
- $0
- Hours/week
- 5 + 5 related
-
Ann LongonANN LONGON
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 1 related
-
Thomas Dillon EsqTHOMAS DILLON ESQ
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 1 related
-
Mark HoltermanMARK HOLTERMAN
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 1 related
-
Patrick RaineyPATRICK RAINEY
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 1 related
-
Laura ColemanLAURA COLEMAN
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 1 related
-
Dave FeavelDAVE FEAVEL
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 1 related
-
Dave GraboskyDAVE GRABOSKY
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 1 related
-
Dwight SaathoffDWIGHT SAATHOFF
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 1 related
-
Brian BurchBRIAN BURCH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $259,664
- From this org
- $68,544
- From related orgs
- $168,550
- Other
- $22,570
- Hours/week
- 25 + 25 related
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $68,544 + $153,550 related
- Bonus
- $0 + $15,000 related
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $1,028 + $10,967 related
- Nontaxable benefits
- $0 + $10,575 related
- Filer's total
- $69,572 + $190,092 related
-
John ShermanJOHN SHERMAN
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $263,056
- From this org
- $112,376
- From related orgs
- $112,376
- Other
- $38,304
- Hours/week
- 25 + 25 related
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $82,376 + $82,376 related
- Bonus
- $30,000 + $30,000 related
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $13,032 + $15,072 related
- Nontaxable benefits
- $10,200
- Filer's total
- $135,608 + $127,448 related
-
Joshua MercerJOSHUA MERCER
VICE PRESIDENT, PROGRAMMIN
- Total calculated
- $208,206
- From this org
- $96,923
- From related orgs
- $96,923
- Other
- $14,360
- Hours/week
- 25 + 25 related
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $86,923 + $86,923 related
- Bonus
- $10,000 + $10,000 related
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $4,160
- Nontaxable benefits
- $10,200
- Filer's total
- $111,283 + $96,923 related
-
Jason SternJASON STERN
GIFT OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $187,515
- From this org
- $87,545
- From related orgs
- $87,545
- Other
- $12,425
- Hours/week
- 20 + 20 related
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $55,045 + $55,045 related
- Bonus
- $32,500 + $32,500 related
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $4,565 + $7,860 related
- Nontaxable benefits
- $0
- Filer's total
- $92,110 + $95,405 related
-
Jonathan KearneyJONATHAN KEARNEY
DATA SYSTEMS MANAGER
- Total calculated
- $135,074
- From this org
- $62,437
- From related orgs
- $62,437
- Other
- $10,200
- Hours/week
- 20 + 20 related
-
Scott WilliamsSCOTT WILLIAMS
CREATIVE CONTENT STRATEGIST
- Total calculated
- $135,575
- From this org
- $62,500
- From related orgs
- $62,500
- Other
- $10,575
- Hours/week
- 1
Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.
Schedule J
Answered yes
None.
Answered no
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
- 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
- 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
The filer's explanations (Part III)
- PART I, LINE 3
- THE RELATED ORGANIZATION WHICH ALSO COMPENSATES FIDELIS CENTER FOR LAW & POLICY'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ESTABLISHES HIS COMPENSATION. THE RELATED ORGANIZATION'S COMPENSATION COMMITTEE APPROVES THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM BOTH ENTITIES.
Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.
Grants on this return
-
HAROLD J CASSIDY AND ASSOCIATES
$1,503,092
LEGAL ADVOCACY
-
$380,000
POLITICAL ADVOCACY
-
$56,200
LEGAL ADVOCACY
Related organizations on this return
Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.
-
501(C)(4) · GRASSROOTS EDUCATION · MI
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2024
- Filed
- 12 November 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2024v5.2
- Source object
- 202543169349302679
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