Servant Foundation
{{Short description|American non-profit organization}}
The Servant Foundation, also known as The Signatry,{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu, Brandon |date=2013-05-09 |title=Servant Foundation, Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/431890105/202210469349301641/full |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=ProPublica |language=en}} is an American 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded primarily by anonymous donors, that operates a donor-advised fund. It is best known for "He Gets Us", a religious advertising campaign that was first launched in 2022 and is no longer affiliated with Servant.{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Joe |date=2 March 2023 |title=The FAQs: What You Should Know About the 'He Gets Us' Campaign |url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/faqs-he-gets-us-campaign/ |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=The Gospel Coalition}}{{Cite web |title='He Gets Us' returns with new Super Bowl commercials for Jesus |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/Ad-Meter/2024/02/11/he-gets-us-super-bowl-commercials-jesus/72562492007/ |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} The foundation describes its mission as being to "inspire and facilitate revolutionary, biblical generosity".
History
The Servant Foundation was founded by Bill High in 2000.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Kevin J. |date=December 5, 2022 |title=Super Bowl 2023: Who’s behind those ‘He Gets Us’ ads about Jesus? |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252988/he-gets-us-ad-campaign-encourages-people-to-take-a-deeper-look-at-jesus |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}} From 2000 to 2017, it was an affiliate of the National Christian Foundation.
In 2023, it was reported that the Servant Foundation had donated more than $65 million to the anti-abortion, anti-LGBT rights conservative Christian legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom in the period from 2018 to 2021.{{Cite web |last=Bauer |first=Sydney |last2=Cariboni |first2=Diana |date=28 November 2023 |title=Non-profit trying to rebrand Jesus for Gen Z is main funder for US hate group |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/servant-foundation-he-gets-us-jesus-gen-z-alliance-defending-freedom/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=opendemocracy.net}}
= "He Gets Us" Campaign =
{{main|He Gets Us}}
The billionaire Green family has been criticized for contributing millions of dollars to the Servant Foundation, which funds anti-LGBTQ legislation, has supported Supreme Court decisions which denied medical coverage for contraception based on religious beliefs and funds the Alliance Defending Freedom.
The most public use of these funds has been the "He Gets Us" campaign during Super Bowl commercial breaks. As of early 2024, the campaign is no longer affiliated with the foundation.
Criticism
The Southern Poverty Law Center, a progressive activist organization, lists the Alliance Defending Freedom, which the Servant Foundation has funded, as a hate group "founded by some 30 leaders of the Christian Right."{{cite news |last1=Willingham |first1=AJ |title=The truth behind the ‘He Gets Us’ ads for Jesus airing during the Super Bowl |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/11/us/he-gets-us-super-bowl-commercials-cec/index.html |access-date=12 February 2024 |publisher=CNN |date=13 February 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Matthew |title=Billionaire family aims to convert Super Bowl fans with 'haters' campaign |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/billionaire-family-aims-to-convert-super-bowl-fans-with-haters-campaign/ar-BB1i8j68 |access-date=12 February 2024 |publisher=MSN |date=12 February 2024}}{{cite web |title=Alliance Defending Freedom |url=https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/alliance-defending-freedom |website=splcenter.org |publisher=Southern Poverty Law Center |access-date=12 February 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Biron |first1=Bethany |title=16 of the biggest controversies in Hobby Lobby's 50-year history — from denying contraceptives for employees to illegally smuggling ancient tablets |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-15-biggest-controversies-in-hobby-lobby-history-2020-9 |access-date=12 February 2024 |publisher=Business Insider |date=21 October 2022}}
References
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