The Rutherford Institute/ John Whitehead

Summary

The Rutherford Institute is an international legal and educational organization dedicated to preserving human rights and defending civil liberties. The Institute exists to fight for those who cannot defend themselves, speak for those whose voices cannot be heard, and contend for those who do not have the strength to fight for what has been taken from them. Deeply committed to protecting the constitutional freedoms of every American and the integral human rights of all people, Institute attorneys and staff work to ensure that when people's human rights are violated, they are treated fairly in the courts and are free to express their beliefs without fear of further recrimination or persecution. To further this goal, the Institute defends those in need without charging them for such services. The Institute's multi-faceted approach of integrating litigation and educational opportunities has made it a formidable leader in defending and teaching the Constitution. The defense of civil liberties and human rights through litigation and education are at the heart of the Institute's purpose. Contributions to The Rutherford Institute are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

Purpose [ Back to top ]

The Rutherford Institute is an international legal and educational organization dedicated to preserving human rights and defending civil liberties. The Institute exists to fight for those who cannot defend themselves, speak for those whose voices cannot be heard, and contend for those who do not have the strength to fight for what has been taken from them. Deeply committed to protecting the constitutional freedoms of every American and the integral human rights of all people, Institute attorneys and staff work to ensure that when people's human rights are violated, they are treated fairly in the courts and are free to express their beliefs without fear of further recrimination or persecution. To further this goal, the Institute defends those in need without charging them for such services. The Institute's multi-faceted approach of integrating litigation and educational opportunities has made it a formidable leader in defending and teaching the Constitution. The defense of civil liberties and human rights through litigation and education are at the heart of the Institute's purpose. Contributions to The Rutherford Institute are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

The Rutherford Institute expresses its mission as follows:

John Whitehead founded The Rutherford Institute so that oppressed and persecuted people--no matter their age, occupation or religion--would have a place to turn when their rights were threatened or abused.

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

The following represent program accomplishments of The Rutherford Institute:

• 2,571 requests for legal assistance were handled by Rutherford Institute staff, and 71 cases involving violations of civil and human rights moved through various stages of pre-litigation and litigation, including 3 cases that were appealed directly to the United States Supreme Court.
• Institute staff provided training and support to a national affiliate network of over 1,810 volunteer attorneys, many of whom were trained and educated on pertinent case law and provided with research support and funding for court expenses in order to defend cases in their region and field of law.
• Approximately 2,413 newspaper outlets and press contacts received alerts on Institute cases and breaking news.
• More than 8,968 radio stations and outlets received and broadcast our public service messages to people around the world, alerting them to issues and cases affecting their freedoms.
• More than 16,000 individuals signed the Institute's God Bless America petition, urging our leaders in Congress to take a stand to protect the right of all Americans to proclaim, "God Bless America!"
• The Institute's website, www.rutherford.org, received more than 10 million hits from individuals seeking news updates, pertinent commentaries and in-depth legal information about the fight for freedom taking place in and out of the courts.
• More than 10,818 individuals who requested a complimentary copy of the Institute's Pocket Constitution were educated about their right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

This profile needs a statement of faith

History [ Back to top ]

Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead established The Rutherford Institute in 1982. Since that time, the Institute has developed into one of the nation's leading advocates of civil liberties and human rights, litigating in the courts and educating the public on a wide spectrum of issues affecting individual freedom in the United States and around the world. The Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose international headquarters are located in Charlottesville, Virginia, is comprised of a small full-time staff and a network of volunteer attorneys across the United States.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with specific needs to be posted on the profile. At such a time that MinistryWatch.com receives a response from the ministry, it will be posted immediately.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

Ranking Category	Rating	Overall Rank	Advocacy Sector
Overall Efficiency Rating		189 of 353	12 of 21
Fund Acquisition Decision		193 of 353	9 of 21
Resource Allocation Decision		189 of 353	10 of 21
Asset Utilization Decision		187 of 353	16 of 21

Shining Light [ Back to top ]