Marble Freedom Trust
{{Short description|Conservative political group in the US}}
The Marble Freedom Trust is an American conservative political advocacy group structured as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. Leonard Leo is the group's trustee and chairman.
History
The Marble Freedom Trust (MFT) was established in April 2020, and by March 2021, it had effectively been given $1.65 billion by Barre Seid. The money was transferred to the MFT in the form of ownership of the electronics company Tripp Lite, by its founder and sole owner Seid. In March 2021, the company was purchased from the Trust by the Eaton Corporation, with the result that the Trust had cash assets of $1.65 billion.{{Cite web |last1=Andrew Perez |last2=Andy Kroll |last3=Justin Elliott|date=2022-08-22 |title=How a Secretive Billionaire Handed His Fortune to the Architect of the Right-Wing Takeover of the Courts |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/dark-money-leonard-leo-barre-seid |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=ProPublica |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Griffin |first1=Drew |title=New conservative group led by Trump's 'Supreme Court whisperer' gets $1.6B donation |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/08/22/marble-freedom-trust-conservative-dark-money-leo-trump-lead-griffin-dnt-vpx.cnn |website=cnn.com |publisher=CNN |access-date=19 October 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Romboy |first1=Dennis |title=How a conservative political group with Utah ties scored a $1.6B donation |url=https://www.deseret.com/2022/8/23/23318205/conservative-political-group-marble-freedom-donation |website=deseret.com |publisher=Deseret News |access-date=19 October 2023}}
In the tax year ending in April 2022, the Marble Freedom Trust donated $182.7 million to other organizations and causes.{{cite web |last1=O’Brien |first1=Rebecca Davis |title=Group Tied to Influential Conservative Activist Spent $183 Million in a Year |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/12/us/politics/leonard-leo-marble-freedom-trust.html |website=nytimes.com |publisher=The New York Times |access-date=19 October 2023}}
In 2022, the MFT was headquartered in North Salt Lake, Utah, and its administrative trustee was Tyler Green.{{cite web |last1=Schott |first1=Bryan |title=A new conservative nonprofit group received one of the largest donations in history. Why is the organization headquartered in Utah? |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2022/08/24/new-conservative-nonprofit-group/ |website=sltrib.com |publisher=Salt Lake City Tribune |access-date=19 October 2023}}
Positions
The Marble Freedom Trust generally promotes positions and causes consistent with conservatism in the United States.{{cite web |last1=McGreal |first1=Chris |title=Leonard Leo: the secretive rightwinger using billions to reshape America |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/04/leonard-leo-federalist-society-conservative-abortion |website=theguardian.com |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=19 October 2023}}
The MFT aims "to transform ESG environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing into a rallying cry against woke capitalism."{{cite web |title=Conservatives Come for ESG |url=https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/the-journal/conservatives-come-for-esg/903928cc-e9dd-4ce5-be51-5f571fb248fa |website=wsj.com |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=19 October 2023}} Since 2021, the MFT has invested in fighting against both ESG and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at BlackRock, Vanguard, American Airlines, Coca-Cola, State Farm, Major League Baseball and Ticketmaster.{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Alex |date=2024-09-09 |title=Conservative activist launches $1bn crusade to ‘crush’ liberal America |url=https://www.ft.com/content/0b38aaed-ec58-40cd-9047-0c7b7b83164a |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Financial Times}} In 2024, Leonard Leo said that the Trust would devote $1 billion to "crush liberal dominance", especially in news and entertainment.
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:Conservative organizations in the United States
Category:Non-profit organizations based in Utah
{{US-poli-stub}}