Sojourners has received funding from billionaire George Soros' Open Society Institute.

Jim Wallis has admitted that Sojourners has received funding in the past from liberal billionaire George Soros' Open Society Institute.

Last month, Marvin Olasky asked Wallis to admit his affiliations on the left when reported on the money from Soros in World magazine.

George Soros, one of the leading billionaire leftists—he has financed groups promoting abortion, atheism, same-sex marriage, and gargantuan government—bankrolled Sojourners with a $200,000 grant in 2004. A year later, here's how Jim rebutted a criticism of "religious progressives" for being allied with Soros and MoveOn.org: "I know of no connections to those liberal funds and groups that are as direct as the Religious Right's ties to right-wing funders."

Since then Sojourners has received at least two more grants from Soros organizations. Sojourners revenues have more than tripled—from $1,601,171 in 2001-2002 to $5,283,650 in 2008-2009—as secular leftists have learned to use the religious left to elect Obama and others.

In a Patheos interview, Wallis suggested that Olasky was lying.

“It’s not hyperbole or overstatement to say that Glenn Beck lies for a living. I’m sad to see Marvin Olasky doing the same thing. No, we don’t receive money from Soros. Given the financial crisis of nonprofits, maybe Marvin should call Soros and ask him to send us money.

“So, no, we don’t receive money from George Soros. Our books are totally open, always have been. Our money comes from Christians who support us and who read Sojourners. That’s where it comes from. In fact, we’ve had funding blocked, this year and last, by liberal foundations who didn’t like our stance on abortion. Other liberal groups were happy to point out to them that our stance wasn’t kosher on abortion, so our funding was blocked.

“So tell Marvin he should check his facts, and not imitate Glenn Beck.”

Jay Richards of National Review and Olasky responded to Wallis. Here's Olasky again:

Want to see for yourself what someone apparently did not want you to see? Click here to download the PDF, go to page 225, and you’ll see the grant to Sojourners.

You can also see the 2006 grant by downloading the 990-PF for that year and going to page 125. And by the way, look at page 114 of the 990-PF for 2007: another $100,000 grant to Sojourners “to support the Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform campaign.”

Wallis released a statement through a spokesperson to Patheos.

I should have declined to comment until I was able to review the blog post in question and consulted with our staff on the details of our funding over the past several years. Instead, I answered in the spirit of the accusation and did not recall the details of our funding over the decade in question. The spirit of the accusation was that Sojourners is beholden to funders on the political left, which is false. The allegation concerned three grants received over 10 years from the Open Society Institute that made up the tiniest fraction of Sojourners' funding during that decade -- so small that I hadn't remembered them.

CT has asked Sojourners if Wallis has any further response.

Comments I don't really have any problem at all with Wallis taking Soros money.. The problem comes from accusing a Christian brother of lying without knowing that what you are saying is true.

It is good that he came clean. It is good that he came clean publicly. He does owe Olasky an apology.

Posted by: Josh R at August 20, 2010

Adam, Having worked for similarly-sized nonprofits for my entire professional life, I find it very hard to believe that the CEO of a $1mil to $5mil organization would have to check to see if they had received a $100,000 grant from a particular foundation. At the nonprofits I've worked at which are this size, the CEO was regularly updated on the progress of large grants, signed cover letters for any application materials, and personally signed thank-you letters to large donors - at minimum. In fact, the CEOs were usually involved in the actual solicitation, by meeting with the donor or the donor's representatives. While it may seem like a relatively small percentage of their revenue, grants of this size make or break the budgets of nonprofits.

Posted by: Micheal Hickerson at August 20, 2010

This is not "gotcha journalism", why given the small budget of Sojourners did Mr. Wallis not know about the donations? Why was he rude in responding to a classy man like Joel Olasky? The reported episode is good journalisms - showing again that Mr. Wallis and Sojourners have associations and partnerships with groups that express and promote views that are far from the bounds of traditional orthodox chritianity and ought to be viewed as such. Thanks CT for keeping us up todate!

Posted by: TahoeNoah at August 20, 2010

Mr. Wallis, If the contributions received from Open Society Institute/George Soros are only the "tiniest fraction" of Sojourners funding during that decade (actually 3 sizable donations in the last 6 years) simply write one check for that “tiny” amount and be free of the controversy. Since it is a "tiny" amount your organization won't miss it. I can provide you with a short list of ministries/not-for-profits that would be greatly blessed by the contribution of this "tiny" amount ($400,000.00 US)--and in the spirit of fairness would promise not to be beholden to you or Sojourners for your generosity.

Posted by: Mark Clark at August 20, 2010

Sensationalistic journalism? That simply depends upon whose ox is being gored. It is not just appropriate but mandatory that all Non Profits to be totally open and above board about exactly who is funding them and to whom they are allowing themselves to be held accountable. Let's face it: Soros would not be funding any organization that was not in agreement with his political philosophy. It seems that Soros is quite pleased with Sojourners political and doctrinal stances. Sojourner's and Wallis' response to that revelation is telling, isn't it?

Posted by: mARIGOLD at August 20, 2010

Sojourners is a Democrat front group. It is supported by failed DEMOCRAT Congressional Candidate Tony Campolo and the whole Obama managerie. Joel Hunter, Sojourners and the rest would never speak with such vicious verbage as the hate they spew at Christians who actually walk the walk.

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