Thread by @DivestSPD

@SeattleFdn has awarded $635k in grants to evangelical groups that promote a homophobic, anti-science and anti-choice agenda.

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Yesterday, we talked about SF’s grants to libertarian think tanks. They also have given hundreds of thousands over the last decade to evangelical groups with far-right interests and funding sources that overlap with those think tanks.

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Since 2014, @SeattleFdn has awarded $172k in grants to the Seattle-based Discovery Institute. One of the main advocates for intelligent design, DI has pushed for creationism to be taught alongside evolution. Its main funding source is the Koch-linked org DonorsTrust

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DI is also the home of local reactionary Chris Rufo, who achieved nat'l recognition recently when he was cited by Trump in an executive order banning anti-bias training based on critical race theory, which Trump called “divisive, un-American propaganda.” (4/10)

Since 2008, @SeattleFdn has awarded $104k in grants to Billy Graham Ministries. Founded by the late reverend, the ministry is now run by his son Franklin, who supports conversion therapy & called homosexuality an “abomination.”

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After the election, Franklin Graham said that God “intervened” on Trump’s behalf “to stop the godless, atheistic progressive agenda from taking control of our country.”

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Speaking of Trump-supporting evangelical dynasties, @SeattleFdn has granted $92.5k to Liberty University, which was—until a recent sex scandal—helmed by Jerry Falwell, Jr.

LU is basically an ATM for the corrupt Fallwell family.

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Lastly, since '14, @SeattleFdn has gifted $266k to Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ). Cru's foreign mission employed an extremist Ethiopian minister who accused homosexuals of kidnapping children to turn them gay & claimed homosexuality was a Western plot to kill Africans.
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Like the grants to the Seattle Police Foundation, these come from @SeattleFdn’s portfolio of donor-advised funds, meaning they represent the wishes of individual foundation clients.

We demand the foundation revise its policies on DAF to exclude these organizations. (9/10)

Join us at tomorrow’s rally at 2 pm in Westlake Park to demand:

-No more charity for cops

-#PayTheFee $1.6 million to BIPOC orgs (2x SF’s grants to the SPF)

-Spend down - @SeattleFdn holds nearly $1bln in assets. It must circulate more money in the community

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