California law requires all nonprofits who solicit donations in the state to report the names and addresses of their major donors to the government.
Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), a nonprofit organization based in Michigan, defends and promotes religious freedom, moral and family values, and the sanctity of human life. TMLC raises funds in California, and is subject to this law, which infringes on TMLC’s and its donors’ freedom of speech and association, as well as donor privacy.
TMLC sued the State because California had no compelling need for this donor information and because the state had leaked hundreds of donors’ information in the past.
Given the trends of “cancel culture” and the fact that employees, clients, and supporters of TMLC have faced intimidation, death threats, hate mail, boycotts, and even assassination plots from ideological opponents, protecting donors’ information is critical.
Alliance Defending Freedom represented Thomas More Law Center at the Supreme Court. The oral arguments were heard on April 26 and we expect a ruling from the Court by the end of June. The Court’s decision could impact all Americans by setting a precedent that either protects donor privacy or undermines the right to donate privately.
Government should not be in the business of demanding private donors' information.
How Americans give to charities and causes – including whether that gift is public, known only to the recipient, or entirely anonymous– should be a private matter that each decides for himself.
We can all do our part to uphold donor privacy.
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