Yuyun Lusiyani
In a ceremony held on September 17, at the historic National Archives building in Washington, D.C., Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly lauded the Foundation for Liberty and American Greatness (FLAG) for what he described as a singular achievement in American education. The event celebrated FLAG’s announcement that it had reached 2 million children with civics education since its inception in 2016, a milestone Hegseth underscored as vital for the nation’s future. "I hope you understand how important this is," Hegseth reportedly told attendees, emphasizing the critical role of educating the next generation in preserving the republic. However, a comprehensive review of FLAG’s financial records, donor operations, and educational outreach efforts paints a considerably less celebratory picture, revealing a pattern of questionable financial arrangements, inflated claims, and a significant lack of transparency.
The Public Acclaim vs. Private Scrutiny
FLAG, founded by Australian-born conservative commentator and prominent MAGA influencer Nick Adams, has long enjoyed high-profile support from figures like former President Donald Trump. Adams, who spent nearly a decade cultivating the organization, successfully raised $7.7 million over ten years. His ascent culminated in a presidential appointment by Trump in March as the special presidential envoy for American tourism, exceptionalism, and values—a position reportedly created for him after his ambassadorship nomination to Malaysia stalled. This robust political backing has provided FLAG with considerable credibility within conservative circles, allowing it to claim substantial impact in K-12 civics education.
Despite the public accolades and the claimed reach of 2 million children, evidence supporting FLAG’s direct educational programming appears sparse. An investigation into the nonprofit’s operations found little to substantiate its claims of widespread civics education provision. Instead, the review highlighted significant financial concerns, including substantial payments to Adams and his mother, which together accounted for more than half of the organization’s recent annual revenue. Furthermore, a major portion of FLAG’s fundraising has relied on sweepstakes promising donors a chance to win $1,000,000—a prize for which FLAG’s internal records and public tax filings show no evidence of ever being awarded.
A Founder’s Journey and Political Influence
Nick Adams, born Nicholas Adamopoulos, relocated to the United States from Australia in 2012. Now 41, he has meticulously cultivated an image as an outspoken champion of the American political and economic system, a self-described "alpha male" influencer, and a prolific conservative commentator. His media presence is substantial, boasting approximately 2.1 million followers on Facebook and 640,000 on X (formerly Twitter). Adams is also the author of several books, including "Retaking America: Crushing Political Correctness" and "Trump and Churchill: Defenders of Western Civilization," reflecting his conservative ideology and admiration for powerful figures.
In 2016, Adams formally established FLAG, registering it as a nonprofit with the explicit mission to deliver "high-quality civics education" to K-12 students nationwide. The organization produced "kid-friendly" versions of foundational American documents, such as the Student’s Constitution, the Student’s Declaration of Independence, and the Student’s Federalist Papers. By 2023, FLAG reported an annual revenue nearing $1.5 million, derived from donations and merchandise sales. Its website proudly asserts that "over 1 million FLAG resources have been distributed in classrooms all across America," thanks to the support of "40,000+ grassroots patriots."
To bolster FLAG’s standing within the conservative movement, Adams assembled an advisory council comprising prominent leaders, including Pete Hegseth (then a Fox News host), the late Charlie Kirk (founder of Turning Point USA), the late Edwin J. Feulner (founder of the Heritage Foundation), and Dennis Prager (conservative radio host and co-founder of PragerU). While this council has since transitioned to a board of directors, its initial composition provided significant gravitas. Attempts to reach Adams for comment regarding FLAG’s financial practices, sweepstakes operations, and educational programming were unsuccessful. A Pentagon spokesperson, when questioned, declined to elaborate but reiterated Hegseth’s unwavering support for the organization. The White House press office also declined to comment on the matter.
Financial Discrepancies and Executive Compensation
A detailed examination of FLAG’s federal tax filings reveals a stark contrast between its stated mission and its documented expenditures. While FLAG’s annual revenues surged from $68,000 in 2016 to $1.1 million in 2024, there is a conspicuous absence of spending directly attributable to its core educational mission. Across numerous federal tax filings, only two specific line items in 2017—totaling $26,925 for "Student’s Constitutions, Printing" and $5,670 for "Book Donations, Shipping & Supplies"—indicate direct investment in educational materials. Over the past six years under Adams’s leadership, the only other documented activity fitting an "educational" definition is a 2020 video showing Adams speaking at what was described as a teachers’ conference. The organization’s initial practice of posting photos of school visits in 2016 and early 2017 ceased thereafter, with no similar documentation found.
Conversely, the nonprofit has proven exceptionally lucrative for the Adams family. In 2024, Nick Adams (born Nicholas Adamopoulos) and his mother, Angelika Adamopoulos, received a combined $587,279 in compensation and benefits from FLAG. This sum represents a staggering 53% of the organization’s total revenue for that year, according to federal filings. Angelika Adamopoulos, serving as FLAG’s secretary, was compensated $201,861, including benefits. Notably, in the same filing, FLAG responded "no" when the IRS inquired whether any officer or director shared a family relationship with another director or officer, a statement that contradicts the direct family ties. Angelika Adamopoulos did not respond to requests for comment.
Nonprofit law experts have expressed significant concern over these figures. Lloyd Mayer, a nonprofit law professor at Notre Dame Law School and a leading authority on tax-exempt organizations, described the compensation as "very high," both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the organization’s overall revenues and expenses. While Adams initially received no salary for FLAG’s first three years, his compensation began in 2019 at $20,400, steadily escalating to $411,209 in 2023—approximately 30% of the group’s total revenue that year. His mother’s significant compensation began in 2024, marking her as the first employee beyond Adams to receive a substantial salary. Federal filings indicate no other employee received more than $5,000 from 2016 to 2024.
Mayer noted that while salary increases aren’t inherently problematic, the legal test lies in whether the board explicitly recognized the higher pay as compensation for unremunerated past service. Crucially, from 2017 to 2024, FLAG consistently answered "no" to IRS questions regarding whether executive compensation was reviewed by independent individuals and if comparisons to similar organizations were used—standard safeguards against self-dealing. Philip Hackney, a nonprofit law professor at the University of Pittsburgh and former IRS official, highlighted that the absence of such independent review could, in itself, constitute an "excess benefit transaction," potentially triggering taxes on compensation paid to nonprofit insiders above fair market value.
FLAG’s financial report filed with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, where it is based, claims that 66% of its revenue is directed towards program service expenses. However, an analysis reveals that Adams’s and his mother’s salaries, social media expenditures, and travel expenses collectively account for $755,541—or 86%—of the $878,208 allocated to "program services." Mayer, while acknowledging the broad definition of "education" as a charitable purpose under federal law (allowing for staff, online communications, and informational fundraising appeals to be categorized as programmatic), stressed that the IRS primarily scrutinizes for "disguised personal spending" rather than merely inflated spending.
Adams’s past financial conduct has also drawn scrutiny. In 2006, at the age of 22, while serving as a councillor in Ashfield, Australia, Adams was formally censured by his peers for accruing thousands of dollars in personal phone and taxi charges, which he then claimed as council expenses. He subsequently repaid these charges following a formal investigation, as reported by the Inner-West Weekly, an Australian newspaper.
Further blurring the lines between personal and charitable activities, FLAG’s online store sells Adams’s personal books, including "Alpha Kings" and "From Mar-a-Lago to Mars," some marketed as signed copies for up to $40, alongside its own educational materials. One of his personal books, "Trump and Churchill," is prominently featured on FLAG’s online store with language stating, "Proceeds from all sales go directly to promoting our mission and providing students and teachers with high-quality educational resources." This is the only book featuring such a disclaimer, raising questions about the allocation of proceeds from his other personal titles. FLAG’s Facebook page has also advertised Adams’s books, with links directing users to his personal website rather than the nonprofit’s Shopify page. Mayer articulated the concern: "He’s free to market his books, but if he has a charity do it, that means it’s not really a charity anymore, in that respect. It’s not about public benefit — the private benefit to him overrides the public benefit."
The Sweepstakes Controversy: A Million-Dollar Question
Beyond the financial transparency issues, FLAG appears to have operated a direct-mail sweepstakes program in potential violation of state regulations. The vast majority of FLAG’s revenue stems from individual donors, largely generated through direct-mail campaigns under names such as "Payout Decision" and "Winner Search Swps," which offer the chance to win substantial prizes, including a purported $1,000,000.
Sweepstakes are primarily regulated at the state level, often requiring organizations to register and report their activities to state officials. Florida, where FLAG is a registered charity, mandates such disclosures. However, FLAG’s federal filings make no mention of a sweepstakes program, and ProPublica’s investigation found no official sweepstakes registration for the organization in any state.
Critically, a review of nine years of FLAG’s federal filings reveals no transaction consistent with a $1,000,000 prize payment. Hackney confirmed that such a significant payout would be expected to appear on the organization’s public tax returns (Form 990). At its financial peak in 2023, FLAG’s total assets amounted to approximately $512,000—roughly half the value of the million-dollar prize it advertised. Mayer stated unequivocally that "If the promise is that someone will win $1,000,000 and no one ever does, that’s fraud. That’s lying to induce people to support you."
Internal records from a mailing list exchange database, which tracks how organizations utilize donor mailing lists, indicate a strategic shift in FLAG’s fundraising approach. Notes in FLAG’s record from July 2020 explicitly state that the organization was "not mailing much" through traditional fundraising channels, instead "focusing on the sweeps side."
The sweepstakes operation has also drawn public complaints. In April 2024, a complaint filed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) against FLAG alleged repeated postponements of drawing deadlines, a practice the complainant claimed was shared by more than a dozen other charities. The complainant specifically cited FLAG’s sweepstakes, which was initially scheduled to run from January 2022 through December 2024 but was subsequently pushed back to run from December 2023 through January 2025. The complainant, a "retired senior citizen who happened to love this country," expressed a desire for a refund of "hard earned money." FLAG informed the BBB on May 6, 2024, that it had responded to the complainant.
Broader Implications for Civics Education and Nonprofit Integrity
The scrutiny surrounding FLAG unfolds within a larger national debate over civics education, which has become a significant rallying point for the "Make America Great Again" movement. This movement often advocates for a return to a specific interpretation of the country’s founding principles. Organizations like PragerU, which produces conservative educational materials, have successfully gained approval as curriculum providers in at least eight states. Turning Point USA has pursued a similar agenda through its network of private schools, Turning Point Academy. FLAG is now a participant in the America 250 Civics Education Coalition, a partnership initiated by the U.S. Department of Education involving over 40 conservative groups, further integrating it into the national discourse on educational standards.
Donald Trump’s consistent support has been instrumental in Adams’s career and FLAG’s visibility. The former president has publicly praised Adams, referring to him as one of his favorite authors. The foreword to Adams’s 2024 book, "Alpha Kings," attributed to Trump, describes Adams as someone whose "work ethic equals his moral responsibility and faith in God." Although Trump could not attend FLAG’s 2023 annual gala, he sent a video message commending the nonprofit and Adams, asserting that "tens of thousands of teachers are being trained and hundreds of thousands of parents and grandparents are now standing up for our kids." Trump’s endorsement went further, remarking, "It takes Nick from Australia to come and teach us about American greatness and to help us fight for our country. He’s an American now, and we’re very lucky to have him."
Leadership Transition and Future Outlook
As FLAG approaches its 10th anniversary, marked by a gala with tickets priced at $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000, a leadership transition has occurred. While Adams remains listed as FLAG’s founder on its website, he ceded the CEO role in March to Cooper Rodenburg, a recent graduate of Stetson University. This change coincided with Adams accepting his State Department position to promote U.S. tourism. Rodenburg, when reached by phone, requested questions via email but did not provide a response.
Since assuming leadership, Rodenburg has increased FLAG’s public activity, launching a TikTok account and a Substack newsletter, engaging with educational representatives, and speaking to groups such as the Shelby County Republican Women’s Club in Tennessee. A Substack post from April documented FLAG, represented by Rodenburg and Angelika Adamopoulos, delivering founding documents to schools in Mississippi—one of the few specific program activities the organization has publicly documented in recent years.
The findings of this review raise fundamental questions about transparency, accountability, and the ethical management of charitable organizations, particularly those operating with significant political backing and claiming broad educational impact. The discrepancies between FLAG’s public narrative and its financial realities underscore the need for greater scrutiny to ensure donor trust and the integrity of civics education initiatives across the nation.
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