MAGA influencer's civics charity under scrutiny for dubious finances and sweepstakes

A review of the Foundation for Liberty and American Greatness reveals that founder Nick Adams and his mother receive over half of its revenue, while the nonprofit’s promised sweepstakes prize has never been paid.

At a ceremony in the National Archives, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lauded the Foundation for Liberty and American Greatness for allegedly educating two million youths, yet a financial probe uncovered scant proof of classroom outreach. Founder Nick Adams, an Australian-born MAGA influencer, has amassed $587,279 in salary and benefits for himself and his mother, accounting for 53 % of the charity’s 2024 income. Most of FLAG’s funds come from a direct-mail sweepstakes promising a $1 million award, yet no prize has ever been documented and the operation lacks required state registration.

The nonprofit’s tax filings list only minimal printing costs for educational materials, and the only recent program activity is a 2020 video of Adams speaking at a teachers’ conference. Legal scholars warn that the combination of high insider compensation and absent one outlet's reviews could constitute an excess-benefit transaction. While FLAG claims 66 % of revenue goes to program services, the bulk of that amount covers salaries, travel and online marketing rather than direct educational delivery.