Motto | Putting people first[1] |
---|---|
Founder | Paul Marx |
Type | Think tank |
Headquarters | Front Royal, Virginia |
President | Steven W. Mosher |
Chair | John Delmare[1] |
Revenue (2018) | $1,462,224[1] |
Expenses (2018) | $1,405,812[1] |
Website | pop.org |
The Population Research Institute (PRI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Front Royal, Virginia, US.[1] The organization's activities reflect a 'pro-life' perspective. They believe that overpopulation is a myth. They oppose abortion and hormonal birth control in females[2] and vasectomies in males.[3] In addition, the organization issues opinion pieces questioning the veracity of human driven climate change[4] and the natural origin of COVID-19.[5]
The Population Research Institute was founded in 1989 by Paul Marx (1920–2010), a family sociologist, Catholic priest and Benedictine monk who had established the anti-abortion[6] group Human Life International as well. It became an independent institute in 1996.[7] The same year, the think tank got headed by Steven W. Mosher,[7][8] a social researcher and author who had witnessed forced abortions in China during the implementation of the one-child policy in 1980.[7]
PRI opposes government attempts to control the population.[9] According to the Los Angeles Times , PRI's Mosher successfully helped lobby the George W. Bush administration to withhold US$34 to $40 million per year for seven years from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the largest international donor to family planning programs.[10] The research institute opined that UNPFA was using American money to fund Chinese compulsory sterilization and abortions, a claim denied by the population fund, noting that it does not work in areas where the one-child policy in still in force.[6] Mosher also advocated against the Chinese two-child policy, claiming that it was "being pushed to the masses through the communist party mechanism".[11]
PRI obtains the vast majority of its funding from charitable contributions, gifts, and grants, with a total revenue of 1.46 million dollars in financial year 2018. Of this, 75.6% was spent on program expenses, 4.9% on administration, and 19.3% on fundraising.[1]
The institute has received funding from The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Inc., claimed to be in support of conferences on human rights in China.[12]
PRI's stance on overpopulation and the arguments for "Overpopulation is a Myth" have been described as deceptive.[13][14]
Charity Navigator classifies charities with respect to "Accountability & Transparency" and "Financial Performance". In 2020 it awarded two out of four stars to PRI for "Accountability & Transparency", and one for "Financial", which combined for an overall score of 70.46, rated as two stars.[1]