After years of economic development, Youngsters's Well being Protection, the nonprofit anti-vaccine group based by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., noticed its income drop greater than 30% final yr, to $16 million, in accordance with tax filings. current.
The pandemic boosted the profiles and pocketbooks of anti-vaccine organizations and activists, however none extra so than Youngsters's Well being Protection and Kennedy. The nonprofit doubled its income in 2020 to $6.eight million, then grew once more to $16 million in 2021 and $23.5 million in 2022. Final yr was the primary substantial loss within the group's historical past, from about $three million, pushed by a discount in contributions, in accordance with filings.
Youngsters's Well being Protection, which describes itself as a “kids's well being safety and advocacy group,” supplied its tax returns to NBC Information. Neither Youngsters's Well being Protection nor Kennedy, who may tackle a public well being position in President-elect Donald Trump's new administration, responded to a request for remark.
Amid unfounded fears about vaccines through the pandemic, Youngsters's Well being Protection expanded its attain past mother and father of younger kids and grew past its web site, which for years had been a hub for well being misinformation. Together with rising chapters within the US, Canada and Europe, it now has a web based tv community, a guide writer and a movie studio.
The drop in income coincides with a notable change inside the group final yr: the absence of its most outstanding advocate. Kennedy had led Youngsters's Well being Protection since 2015, serving as president and chief litigation legal professional till April 2023, when the group introduced he was going “on depart” to run for president. Kennedy was at all times a long-shot candidate: He ran as a Democrat, then as an impartial, earlier than dropping out to affix Trump's marketing campaign in August. Kennedy promoted his new ally at rallies, urging his supporters to vote for Trump and “Make America Wholesome Once more.”
Trump's MAGA slogan spin shortly turned a brilliant PAC (MAHA Alliance) and a nonprofit (MAHA Motion), each run by Del Bigtree, former communications director for the Kennedy marketing campaign and head of one other group. anti-vaccines, Knowledgeable Consent. Motion Community.
Kennedy continues to be on depart from Youngsters's Well being Protection and contributing to Trump's transition staff, and there’s hypothesis that he’ll formally be part of the White Home, though it’s unclear whether or not he’ll take a Cupboard place, as a “czar” or one thing else. method. Trump has mentioned he’ll let Kennedy “go loopy with well being.”
Tax filings present Youngsters's Well being Protection elevated its wage spending in 2023, from $5.6 million in 2022 to $9.eight million in 2023. Kennedy was the highest-paid worker, incomes $326,000 for his 15 weeks job as president, greater than half of his $510,000 wage in 2022.
As workers famous in current movies celebrating Kennedy's potential position within the Trump administration, IRS guidelines prohibit nonprofits from instantly or not directly supporting political campaigns. Nonetheless, the Kennedy marketing campaign and Youngsters's Well being Protection maintained shut ties. The nonprofit's government director, Mary Holland, who earned $180,000 in 2023, additionally took a depart of absence to function volunteer director for Kennedy's marketing campaign. Youngsters's Well being Protection workers had been among the many marketing campaign's first volunteers, promoting Kennedy merchandise at rallies. An excellent PAC that raised $50 million in assist of Kennedy was led by donors and former and present Youngsters's Well being Protection employees.
Whereas on depart, Kennedy continued to take part in Youngsters's Well being Protection occasions. Tax returns present the group spent $138,000 on falconry in 2023; That November, a donation contest winner reportedly received a day to “be taught the artwork of falconry” with Kennedy. Kennedy additionally headlined the group's annual conference final yr, the place he accepted the “Advocate Award” and was acknowledged for his “braveness and steadfast dedication to reality and freedom.”
Whereas Youngsters's Well being Protection doesn’t disclose particular person donors, tax paperwork filed final yr present a number of giant donations from household foundations and donor-advised funds, a sort of philanthropic middleman, which successfully anonymizes donations. Greater than half one million got here from the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program, a donor-advised fund. The William H. Donner Basis, which describes itself as “a household basis that invests in artistic options to essential issues,” made two $100,000 donations, in accordance with tax filings, particularly to fund lawsuits filed by the Youngsters's Well being Protection.
One of many lawsuits (dismissed by the Fifth Circuit Court docket of Appeals) alleged that the Meals and Drug Administration's issuance of emergency use authorizations for Covid vaccines beneficial for youngsters violated mother and father' rights. The opposite donation funded the protection of a health care provider, Meryl Nass, in a disciplinary case introduced by a Maine medical board. The state suspended his license for failing to satisfy requirements of care when treating Covid sufferers and spreading misinformation about vaccines; Youngsters's Well being Protection livestreamed the method.
Even with funding falling, Youngsters's Well being Protection stays a pressure within the anti-vaccine motion, and Kennedy's new place in Trump's circle boosts the mission.
Giorgio Zeolla, senior director of growth, famous on the net program “Good Morning CHD” after final week's elections that the group expects to be attacked, “as a result of we’re stronger than ever, as a result of the alternatives are higher than ever.” . “They’ve ever been.”
He added: “I don't assume there’s anybody who doesn't notice that that chance is there now. It’s as much as us to do one thing about it.”