1792 Insights
The 1792 Exchange is committed to delivering sharp, data-driven analysis of corporate America’s political entanglements. Discover what investors, executives, and concerned citizens should know regarding why businesses should return to neutral, mission-focused operations.
Risks Associated with HRC Foundation Partnership
July 17, 2026What Is the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF)? The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) is the educational and charitable affiliate of the Human Rights Campaign, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. HRCF advances LGBTQ+ priorities through research, resources, benchmarking tools, programs, and public education intended to shape policies and practices across workplaces, municipalities, healthcare systems, schools, and other institutions.1,2 What Does the HRCF Do? Administers an annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI), which evaluates companies based on workforce protections, benefits, culture, and outreach and engagement related to LGBTQ+ issues.3–5 Administers an annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI), which evaluates cities based on their non-discrimination laws, benefits, contractor standards, municipal services, law enforcement, and local leadership related to LGBTQ+ issues.6–8 Administers a biannual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), which evaluates hospitals and healthcare facilities based on their training, patient services, employee benefits and policies, community engagement, and responsible citizenship related to LGBTQ+ issues.9,10 Operates a Welcoming Schools program that provides LGBTQ+ training, lesson plans, booklists, in-person training/programming, and other resources for youth-serving professionals to create “gender-inclusive” schools and support transgender and non-binary students.11–15 Risks of Corporate Partnership Partisan Alignment Risk HRCF’s programs promote policy frameworks and institutional standards widely associated with progressive policy priorities.16,17 …
Risks Associated with HRC Corporate Partnership
July 17, 2026What Is the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)? The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), functioning as a 501(c)(4), is the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in the United States. Founded as a political action committee in 1980 to support pro-LGBTQ+ candidates, it has since expanded into programs, research, campaigns, lobbying, and mobilization to support and advance pro-LGBTQ+ policies, legislation, and officials.1 What Does the HRC Do? LGBTQ+ issue advocacy and lobbying for LGBTQ+ policy and legislation at the federal, state, and local levels.2 Electoral engagement aimed at mobilizing pro-LGBTQ+ voters and supporters to elect pro-LGBTQ+ leaders.3 Institutional advocacy to advance LGBTQ+ policies and practices in major systems, including schools, workplaces, hospitals, and communities.4 Risks of Corporate Partnership Partisan Alignment Risk HRC is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization involved in lobbying and electoral activity, advancing policy priorities aligned with the Democratic Party platform.5–7 Corporate sponsors have been accused of taking political sides through association.8 HRC’s endorsements overwhelmingly favor Democratic candidates, creating a partisan perception.9 HRC’s affiliated PAC overwhelmingly funds Democratic candidates, including presidential candidates.10–12 Corporate support for the HRC, particularly when not balanced by comparable support for organizations promoting conservative or traditional values, could be perceived as political side-taking.13 Controversial Policy Advocacy HRC’s advocacy extends …
Benevity and Southern Poverty Law Center
June 9, 2026What Is Benevity? Benevity is one of the largest corporate charitable giving platforms in the world, facilitating billions of dollars in employee donations and matching gifts annually. 1792 Exchange has identified more than 250 major companies with Benevity portals, including more than 200 Fortune 1000 corporations. Because of its scale, Benevity’s eligibility criteria function as de facto gatekeeping over corporate philanthropy for millions of American employees. How Benevity Uses the SPLC Hate List Benevity uses the Southern Poverty Law Center’s “Hate List” as a filter to determine which nonprofits are eligible to receive employee donations and corporate matching funds. Benevity’s former CEO publicly acknowledged this use of the SPLC list. Several corporations have recently confirmed that SPLC designations continue to influence eligibility on the platform. The practical effect: employees at Fortune 1000 companies are blocked from directing charitable contributions to mainstream conservative, religious, and parental-rights organizations. At the same time, the SPLC itself has remained eligible on the Benevity platform. Organizations on the SPLC Hate List blocked from Benevity include Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, Moms for Liberty, PragerU, Turning Point USA, ADF, and others. The Federal Indictment Against the SPLC On April 21, 2026, a federal grand …