Accuracy in Media, a far-right activist group, has been revealed to be funded by top Republican political donors and wealthy business leaders, according to a tax return reviewed by CNBC. The group publicly disclosed a list of donors who contributed nearly $1.9 million to the nonprofit between May 2022 and April of the following year. Major donors included billionaire Republican megadonor Jeff Yass, who gave $1 million, and the family foundation of shipping supply magnate Richard Uihlein, which contributed $10,000. Other donors listed on the tax return included the Milstein Family Foundation and the Coors brewing family’s charitable foundation.
Yass, Uihlein, Milstein, and Coors are all known for donating regularly to Republican campaigns. Yass, in particular, has contributed $70 million to Republican candidates and committees during the 2024 election cycle, making him the highest political donor. However, Accuracy in Media’s president, Adam Guillette, claimed that Yass had been misidentified as a donor and denied giving to the organization. The group blamed its accountant for the error, stating that the information on the tax return was provided by AIM and contained an “incorrect donor.”
Nonprofit groups are not required to publicly release their donors’ names, but they must report to the IRS the names of donors who give $5,000 or more. In this case, AIM did not redact major donors’ names on its tax return, which were later posted online. AIM has been accused of aggressive tactics, including a doxxing campaign against college students and faculty who engage in pro-Palestinian protests. The group has targeted individuals it deems either too supportive of Palestinians or not supportive enough of Israel, driving mobile billboards around campuses with names and photos of targeted individuals.
The group’s tactics have drawn criticism, with some accusing AIM of targeting individuals and universities based on their views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last fall, AIM drove trucks to the homes of three university presidents and accused them of antisemitism. Two of the administrators later resigned amid the backlash, while defending their responses to campus protests. AIM’s billboard campaigns and websites targeting students and universities have sparked controversy and raised concerns about the group’s methods of intimidation and harassment.
While it is rare for a tax-exempt group to reveal the names and contribution levels of its donors, this is not the first time a nonprofit has inadvertently posted a tax return containing such information. The conservative Independent Women’s Forum faced a similar issue when it failed to redact major donors’ names in a 2021 tax return. The disclosure of donors’ names raises questions about transparency and accountability in nonprofit organizations, as well as concerns about the influence of wealthy donors on political and social activism.
