Filtered Tobacco
Austin-based nonprofit Texans for Public Justice recently announced it has received a $50,000 grant from the Arca Foundation to support TPJ’s ongoing research into the relationships between private money, corporate power, and public policy in Texas. “It is rewarding to know that respected philanthropic institutions such as the Arca Foundation are supporting TPJ’s research and reform work. We are grateful,” said TPJ Director Craig McDonald.
In recent years TPJ has received a total of $225,000 from the Arca Foundation, established in 1952 by R.J. Reynolds tobacco heiress Nancy Susan Reynolds. In recent years the foundation has focused on U.S. foreign policy toward Central America and Cuba and the need to curb corporate domination of domestic politics through fundamental campaign finance reform.
Often described as a “trial lawyers’ front group” by corporate lobbyists, TPJ in fact relies upon foundation grants for most of its funding. In 2001, the group raised $275,000 (85% of its $325,000 annual operating budget) from foundations, including the Alliance for Better Campaigns, Magnolia Charitable Trust, the Open Society Institute, the Margaret Cullinan Wray Charitable Trust, and several others. TPJ also gets financial support from about 1,000 individual Texas donors.
This article appears in December 28 • 2001.
