Funding Network Timeline

DCA · Arabella / Dark Money · Koch Lobbyist · Meta Lobbying · Shadow Group Infrastructure

Compiled 2026-03-12 · Sources: CO SOS SODA API, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, IRS 990s, WHOIS, investigative reporting

Meta → Headwaters (CO)
$338,500
Meta CA Lobbying (2025)
$1.04M
Meta Federal Lobbying (2024)
$24.4M
Meta Super PACs (2025)
$65M
Arabella Network Revenue (2023)
$1.22B
NVF Grants (2023)
$593M
Timeline Events
58
DCA: Days from Domain to Testimony
~150

Funding & Influence Flow Diagram

META PLATFORMS INC | |--- $338,500 ----> HEADWATERS STRATEGIES (Denver, CO lobbying) | |--- Co-founder: Adam Eichberg | | |--- Board Chair: NEW VENTURE FUND ($669M rev) | | |--- Founding Board: WINDWARD FUND ($311M rev) | | |--- Incoming Chair: SUNFLOWER SERVICES (fka Arabella) | |--- Co-founder: Will Coyne | |--- Lobbyist: Amber Burkhart | |--- Lobbyist: Alyson Schmidt | |--- Also represents: Apple, Airbnb, Tesla, Everytown | |--- "helping to fund" -> DIGITAL CHILDHOOD ALLIANCE (501(c)(4), DC) | (Bloomberg, 3 sources) |--- Exec Dir: Casey Stefanski (ex-NCOSE) | |--- Founder: Melissa McKay | |--- Sr Policy: John Read (ex-DOJ 30yr) | |--- Lobbyist (LA): Koch | |--- Domain: registered 2024-12-18 | |--- Pushed ASAA in 20+ states | |--- DIGITAL CHILDHOOD INSTITUTE (501(c)(3) arm) | |--- EIN: 39-3684798 | |--- Incorporated: Wilmington, DE | |--- IRS ruling: Nov 2025 | |--- $1.04M (2025) -> CALIFORNIA STATE LOBBYING |--- $65M ----------> SUPER PACs (ATEP + META California) |--- funding -------> CONNECTSAFELY (Larry Magid on Meta Safety Council) |--- $24.4M (2024) -> FEDERAL LOBBYING (87 lobbyists, 24 firms) | |--- Nicole Lopez (Dir Global Litigation Strategy - Youth) testified FOR LA HB-570 at Senate Commerce ARABELLA ADVISORS NETWORK (1828 L St NW, Washington DC) |--- Suite 300-A: NEW VENTURE FUND (c)(3) $669M rev 1,020 grants |--- Suite 300-B: SIXTEEN THIRTY FUND (c)(4) $282M rev 318 grants |--- Suite 300-C: WINDWARD FUND (c)(3) $311M rev |--- Suite 300-D: HOPEWELL FUND (c)(3) $114M grants | |--- All founded/managed by Eric Kessler / Arabella Advisors |--- Combined 2023 revenue: ~$1.22 BILLION |--- Arabella dissolved 2025, rebranded SUNFLOWER SERVICES |--- Adam Eichberg: Board Chair NVF + Co-founder Headwaters | (simultaneous dark money leadership + corporate lobbying) | |--- POTENTIAL PASS-THROUGH ROLE: Sixteen Thirty Fund (c)(4) does NOT disclose donors. Could receive corporate funds and route to advocacy groups. No direct evidence found connecting Arabella → DCA. Full Schedule I analysis of 823 NVF grant recipients pending.

Legend

Dark Money Infrastructure Lobbying Payments DCA Operations Legislation Investigative Revelations Meta Political Strategy Financial Milestones ConnectSafely / Counter-Narrative

Timeline

2005
2005
ConnectSafely
ConnectSafely founded
Larry Magid and Anne Collier found ConnectSafely in Palo Alto, CA. It will later become a key recipient of Meta and tech industry funding for "internet safety" messaging, with Magid serving on Meta's Safety Advisory Council.
ConnectSafely
2006
2006
Dark Money Infrastructure
Arabella Legacy Fund created
Eric Kessler founds the Arabella Legacy Fund, which will be renamed the New Venture Fund in 2009. This becomes the anchor of a billion-dollar dark money network operating from 1828 L Street NW, Washington, DC.
Arabella AdvisorsNew Venture Fund
2009
2009
Dark Money Infrastructure
Arabella Legacy Fund renamed to New Venture Fund
Renamed to New Venture Fund (NVF). EIN 20-5806345. Located at 1828 L Street NW, Suite 300-A, Washington, DC 20036. Will grow to $669M revenue and $593M in grants (1,020 awards) by 2023.
New Venture Fund
2009-08
Dark Money Infrastructure
Sixteen Thirty Fund established
501(c)(4) social welfare organization. IRS ruling August 2009. EIN 26-4486735. Suite 300-B at the same 1828 L St NW address. As a 501(c)(4), it does NOT disclose donors. Will reach $282M revenue by 2024. Eric Kessler is founding president.
Sixteen Thirty FundArabella Advisors
2009
Lobbying
Headwaters Strategies founded in Denver
Co-founded by Adam Eichberg and Will Coyne. 1660 Lincoln St, Suite 2910, Denver, CO 80264. Strategic political counsel and state legislative lobbying. Eichberg was formerly Deputy Legislative Director for Governor Bill Ritter.
Headwaters StrategiesAdam Eichberg
2015
2015-06
Dark Money Infrastructure
Windward Fund established
501(c)(3), Suite 300-C, 1828 L St NW. EIN 47-3522162. IRS ruling June 2015. Adam Eichberg is a founding board member. Eric Kessler serves as first president. Will reach $311M revenue by 2024.
Windward FundAdam EichbergArabella Advisors
2015-09
Dark Money Infrastructure
Hopewell Fund established
501(c)(3), Suite 300-D, 1828 L St NW. EIN 47-3681860. IRS ruling September 2015. All four Arabella entities now occupy contiguous suites at the same address. Combined network will exceed $1 billion annually.
Hopewell FundArabella Advisors
2015-10
ConnectSafely
ConnectSafely receives 501(c)(3) status
EIN 47-3168168. Palo Alto, CA. Revenue will grow from $316K (2015) to $784K (2024), funded by Meta, Google, Amazon, TikTok, Snapchat, Discord, Roblox, and others. CEO Larry Magid serves on safety advisory boards for Facebook, Google, Twitter, Comcast, Roblox, Snapchat. Executive compensation = 57.5% of total expenses.
ConnectSafelyLarry Magid
2017
2017
Financial
Arabella network begins rapid growth
NVF revenue: $359M. Sixteen Thirty: $79.5M. Hopewell: $130.6M. Combined network approaches $570M. This is before the explosive growth of 2020-2021.
Arabella Advisors
2020
2020-03
Lobbying Payment
First recorded Facebook → Headwaters payment
Facebook begins paying Headwaters Strategies $5,000/month for Colorado state lobbying. FY 2019-2020 total: $10,000. Meta's registered Colorado address IS the Headwaters office: 1660 Lincoln St, Suite 2910.
Meta/FacebookHeadwaters Strategies
2020
Financial
Arabella network peaks at combined ~$1.7 billion
NVF: $975M revenue. Sixteen Thirty: $390M. Windward: $158M. Hopewell: $152M. The Arabella network is now one of the largest dark money operations in the United States.
Arabella Advisors
2020-07 to 2021-06
Lobbying Payment
Facebook payments to Headwaters escalate
FY 2020-2021: $45,000. Notable spike to $15,000 in March 2021. Payments shift from sporadic to consistent monthly engagement.
Meta/FacebookHeadwaters Strategies
2021
2021-07 to 2022-06
Lobbying Payment
Meta Platforms payments to Headwaters: $60,000
Rebranded from Facebook to Meta. FY 2021-2022: $60,000. Payments now reach $10,000-$15,000/month. May-June 2022 spike: $15,000 each month.
Meta PlatformsHeadwaters Strategies
2023
2023-07
Lobbying Payment
Meta → Headwaters: record $30,000 single month
The largest single monthly payment from Meta to Headwaters: $30,000 in July 2023. Coincides with growing national momentum on children's online safety legislation and Meta's strategic pivot to app-store-level age verification. FY 2023-2024 total: $107,000 — Meta becomes Headwaters' 3rd largest client.
Meta PlatformsHeadwaters Strategies
2023
Financial
NVF distributes $593M in grants to 823 organizations
New Venture Fund (chaired by Adam Eichberg) revenue: $669M. Distributes $592,958,696 across 1,020 grant awards to 823 domestic organizations. $103.4M for "Youth Development and Education." Full Schedule I with all 823 recipients has not yet been fully analyzed.
New Venture FundAdam Eichberg
2023
Financial
Arabella network combined revenue: $1.22 billion
NVF: $669M. Sixteen Thirty: $181M. Windward: $212M. Hopewell: $158M. Combined: ~$1.22 billion. NVF lobbying expenditures: $36.7M, including $31.2M in grants to other orgs for lobbying.
Arabella Advisors
2023
Meta Strategy
Meta federal lobbying: $19.3M
Meta spends $19.3 million on federal lobbying. The company begins formulating its strategy to shift age verification responsibility from platforms to app stores and OS providers.
Meta Platforms
2024
2024
Meta Strategy
Meta federal lobbying hits $24.4M
Record federal lobbying spend: $24.4 million. Retains 24 lobbying firms and employs 87 lobbyists, 85% of whom are "revolving door" former government officials.
Meta Platforms
2024
Financial
Sixteen Thirty Fund: $282M revenue, 318 grants
Revenue: $282.2M (97.5% from contributions). Distributes $236.5M across 318 grants. As a 501(c)(4), donor identities are NOT disclosed. President: Amy Kurtz.
Sixteen Thirty Fund
2024-08 to 2025-05
Lobbying Payment
Meta → Headwaters FY 2024-2025: $57,500
Sustained high-level engagement at $7,000-$14,000/month. FY total: $57,500. Headwaters' total firm revenue estimated at $1.6-1.8M, making Meta ~3-4% of revenue.
Meta PlatformsHeadwaters Strategies
2024-12-18
DCA Operations
DCA domain registered
digitalchildhoodalliance.org registered via GoDaddy with privacy protection. 4-year registration through 2028 (suggesting significant pre-committed funding). Cloudflare CDN. Wayback Machine first snapshot: December 19, 2024 — one day later.
DCA
2025
2025-02-25
DCA Operations
DCA public launch
Press release: "Over 50 Child Advocacy Groups Unite to Demand App Store Accountability." Casey Stefanski named Executive Director (previously Senior Director at NCOSE for 10 years). Claims 501(c)(4) status. Washington, DC based but describes itself as "remote." 69 days from domain registration to national launch.
DCACasey Stefanski
2025-02-19
Legislation
CO SB25-086: Senate Judiciary hearing
Protections for Users of Social Media. Requires platforms to cooperate with law enforcement. TechNet and NetChoice testify in opposition. Chamber of Progress opposes at House hearing. Katie Paul (Tech Transparency Project) testifies as neutral. Referred 6-1.
ColoradoSB25-086
2025-04-02
Legislation
CO HB25-1287: Social Media Tools for Minors hearing
House Health & Human Services Committee. Would require platforms to determine if users are minors, disable algorithmic recommendations, provide parental tools. Later dies in Appropriations (amendments failed).
ColoradoHB25-1287
2025-04-22
Legislation
CA AB-1043 (Digital Age Assurance Act): first hearing
Assembly Privacy Committee hearing. Authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and Sen. Tom Umberg. Requires OS providers to collect age during device setup and transmit age bracket signals to apps via API.
CaliforniaAB-1043
2025-04
Meta Strategy
Meta + Spotify + Match Group launch age verification coalition
Meta teams with Spotify and Match Group to pressure Apple and Google on app-store age verification. This formalizes Meta's strategy of shifting compliance costs to competitors (OS/app store providers).
Meta Platforms
2025-04-24
Legislation
CO SB25-086 vetoed by Governor Polis
Governor Polis vetoes SB25-086 (social media platform obligations). This bill would have placed obligations directly on platforms like Meta. Its failure benefits Meta's preferred approach of OS/app-store-level regulation.
ColoradoSB25-086
~2025-05
DCA Operations
DCA retains lobbyist "Koch" in Louisiana
DCA registers a paid lobbyist named Koch in Louisiana to support HB-570 (App Store Accountability Act). This is notable: an organization that registered its domain barely 5 months earlier already has paid lobbyists in multiple state capitols.
DCAKoch (lobbyist)Louisiana
2025-05-12
Legislation
LA HB-570 passes House 99-0
Louisiana App Store Accountability Act, authored by Rep. Kim Carver. Passes House unanimously. 49 co-sponsors. Requires app stores to verify ages and obtain parental consent for minors. Student Brinkley Bennett testifies it's "a digital seatbelt."
LouisianaHB-570Kim Carver
~2025-05
Investigative
Sen. Jay Morris confronts Stefanski on DCA funding
At Louisiana Senate Commerce Committee hearing on HB-570, Sen. Jay Morris (R) presses Casey Stefanski on DCA's funding. Stefanski says she "didn't feel comfortable answering." Under sustained questioning, she admits tech companies fund DCA but refuses to name them. Names "the founder's father" as largest donor. Confirms DCA is a 501(c)(4) — donors never disclosed.
Casey StefanskiDCAJay Morris
~2025-05
Meta Strategy
Meta's Nicole Lopez testifies FOR HB-570
Nicole Lopez, Meta's Director of Global Litigation Strategy for Youth, testifies in support of LA HB-570 at Senate Commerce, calling it a "privacy-protective solution." Notably, Apple and Google filed opposition but sent no representatives. Meta's trade association NetChoice opposes the same bill.
Meta PlatformsNicole LopezLouisiana
2025-06-02
Legislation
LA HB-570 passes Senate 39-0
Unanimous passage. Not one "NO" vote at any stage. Conference committee later adopts report 98-0 (House) and 38-0 (Senate).
LouisianaHB-570
2025-06-13
DCA Operations
DCI domain registered
digitalchildhoodinstitute.org registered (GoDaddy, Cloudflare). Only 1-year registration (vs DCA's 4-year), suggesting less funding. Same shared infrastructure: GoDaddy registrar, Cloudflare CDN, Microsoft 365 email, Elastic Email marketing platform. DCA registered 6 months before its supposed "research arm."
DCIDCA
2025-06-30
Legislation
LA HB-570 signed into law (Act 481)
Governor Jeff Landry signs HB-570 (App Store Accountability Act). Effective July 1, 2026. Defines child/younger teen/older teen/adult age brackets. Requires app stores to verify ages and obtain parental consent. DCA model legislation succeeds in Louisiana.
LouisianaHB-570DCA
2025-Q2
Meta Strategy
Meta California lobbying: record $518,605 in single quarter
Q2 2025 is the highest single-quarter California state lobbying spend in Meta's history. On pace for record annual spend driven by 50+ AI bills in the legislature. Also pays California Chamber of Commerce $3.1 million.
Meta PlatformsCalifornia
2025-07-25
Investigative
Bloomberg: "Meta is helping to fund" DCA
Insurance Journal / Bloomberg reports that Meta is helping to fund the Digital Childhood Alliance, citing three people familiar with the funding. Describes DCA as "a coalition of conservative groups leading efforts to pass app-store age verification." This is the first major investigative confirmation of the Meta→DCA funding link.
Meta PlatformsDCA
[Insurance Journal/Bloomberg]
2025-09
Meta Strategy
Meta launches $65M in super PACs
ATEP (American Technology Excellence Project): $45M multi-state PAC. META California: $20M state-specific PAC led by Brian Rice (Meta VP of Public Policy). Focus: electing candidates supportive of minimal tech/AI regulation.
Meta PlatformsATEPMETA California PAC
2025-09-09
Meta Strategy
Meta publicly supports CA AB-1043
Meta endorses AB-1043 (Digital Age Assurance Act), stating it "would centralize age verification within app stores and operating systems, which Meta supports." Breaks ranks with its own trade associations (TechNet and Chamber of Progress oppose the bill). Apple remains silent.
Meta PlatformsCaliforniaAB-1043
2025-10
DCA Operations
DCA registers on Idealist; claims 140+ member orgs
Idealist.org profile registered October 2025 with generic DC coordinates (38.907, -77.037). Listed as "hidden/remote" organization. Coalition claims grow from 50+ at launch to 140+, later 170+. No incorporation record, EIN, or Form 990 found in any public database.
DCA
2025-10-13
Legislation
CA AB-1043 signed by Governor Newsom
Digital Age Assurance Act signed. Effective January 1, 2027. Requires OS providers (Apple, Google, Microsoft) to collect user age during device setup and transmit age bracket signals via API. Supported by Meta, Google, Snap, OpenAI, Pinterest. DCA opposed this version (preferring app-store-level, not OS-level).
CaliforniaAB-1043
2025-11
DCA Operations
Digital Childhood Institute receives 501(c)(3) status
DCI (EIN 39-3684798) receives IRS tax-exempt ruling. Incorporated in Wilmington, DE (213 N Market St) with operations in Utah. Founded by Melissa McKay. Claims it "does not accept funding from major tech platforms." Filed FTC complaints against Apple and Google.
DCIMelissa McKay
2025-12-07
Investigative
Deseret News: Meta "quietly funded" DCA
Deseret News investigative reporting calls DCA an "astroturf operation" where "corporate money creates the illusion of grassroots activism." Reports that Meta "quietly funded" the Digital Childhood Alliance. This is the second major confirmation of the Meta→DCA funding link.
Meta PlatformsDCA
[Deseret News]
2025
Dark Money Infrastructure
Arabella Advisors dissolves; rebrands as Sunflower Services
Following years of congressional investigations, Arabella Advisors reportedly dissolves and rebrands as Sunflower Services. The four funds (NVF, Sixteen Thirty, Windward, Hopewell) continue operating. Adam Eichberg becomes incoming Board Chair of Sunflower Services.
Arabella AdvisorsSunflower ServicesAdam Eichberg
2025-07 to 2026-01
Lobbying Payment
Meta → Headwaters FY 2025-2026: $34,000 (partial)
Ongoing payments at $8,500/month. FY partial total (through Jan 2026): $34,000. Cumulative all-time Meta → Headwaters total: ~$338,500.
Meta PlatformsHeadwaters Strategies
2026
2026-02-24
Legislation
CO SB26-051: Age Attestation hearing
Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee hearing on OS-level age attestation. Sponsors: Sen. Matt Ball (D), Rep. Amy Paschal (D). Kim Osterman testifies about her son Max (died from fentanyl via Snapchat). Amendment adopted, referred 5-0. Neither DCA nor Headwaters appeared on extracted witness lists.
ColoradoSB26-051
2026-03-03
Legislation
CO SB26-051 passes Senate (3rd reading)
Colorado's age attestation bill advances. Requires OS providers to expose age signal API with brackets: under 13, 13-16, 16-18, 18+. Mirrors the approach Meta CEO Zuckerberg has publicly endorsed.
ColoradoSB26-051
2026-03-05
Investigative
Kansas Reflector: tech companies vie for influence over ASAA
Reporting on how tech companies compete to shape Kansas app-store age verification legislation, further documenting the DCA/Meta coordination pattern across states. DCA's ASAA model now introduced in 20+ states.
DCAKansas
[Kansas Reflector]
2026-03-12
DCA Operations
OSINT investigation: no incorporation record found for DCA
Extensive search across OpenCorporates, ProPublica, IRS TEOS, DC DCRA, CO SOS, VA SCC, and Delaware. No state incorporation record, EIN, or Form 990 found for Digital Childhood Alliance, Inc. Despite claiming 501(c)(4) status and operating in 20+ state legislatures. All infrastructure is behind privacy shields (GoDaddy, Cloudflare).
DCA

Key Personnel & Entity Connections

PersonRole ARole BSignificance
Adam EichbergCo-founder, Headwaters Strategies (Meta's CO lobbyist)Board Chair, New Venture Fund ($669M/yr)Simultaneous corporate lobbying + dark money board leadership
Adam EichbergFounding Board, Windward Fund ($311M/yr)Incoming Chair, Sunflower Services (fka Arabella)Deep integration across Arabella network entities
Eric KesslerFounding President: NVF, Sixteen Thirty, Windward, HopewellFounder, Arabella AdvisorsArchitect of the entire dark money network
Casey StefanskiExecutive Director, DCAFormer Sr Director, NCOSE (10 years)Rapid pivot from anti-exploitation org to Meta-funded advocacy
Melissa McKayFounder, DCA (c)(4)Founder/President, DCI (c)(3)Controls both advocacy and research arms; father is largest DCA donor
Larry MagidCEO, ConnectSafelyMember, Meta Safety Advisory CouncilReceives Meta funding while opposing child safety legislation
Nicole LopezMeta Dir of Global Litigation Strategy - YouthTestified FOR LA HB-570Meta sends executive to support DCA-promoted legislation
Koch (lobbyist)Registered lobbyist, LouisianaRetained by DCADCA had paid Louisiana lobbyist within months of domain registration

Meta Lobbying Expenditure Summary

ChannelAmountPeriodNotes
Headwaters Strategies (CO)$338,5002020-2026Co-founded by NVF Board Chair Eichberg
California state lobbying$1,036,7282025 Q1-Q3Record pace; Q2 alone was $518,605
CA Chamber of Commerce$3,100,000~2025Bulk of Chamber lobbying payments
Federal lobbying$24,430,000202424 firms, 87 lobbyists
Super PACs (ATEP + META CA)$65,000,0002025Electing tech-friendly state candidates
DCA fundingUndisclosed2024-presentConfirmed by Bloomberg (3 sources) + Deseret News
ConnectSafelyUndisclosed2017-presentMagid on Meta Safety Advisory Council
KNOWN TOTAL (excl DCA/ConnectSafely)~$93.9M+2020-2026

Arabella Network Financial Scale (2024)

EntityTypeRevenueAssetsGrantsDonors Disclosed?
New Venture Fund501(c)(3)~$669M (2023)$768M$593M / 1,020 awardsSchedule B redacted (per law)
Sixteen Thirty Fund501(c)(4)$282M$107M$237M / 318 grantsNO — c(4) exempt
Windward Fund501(c)(3)$311M$433MN/ASchedule B redacted
Hopewell Fund501(c)(3)~$114M grants$173MN/ASchedule B redacted
Combined~$1.22B+ (2023)

Sources: Colorado SOS SODA API (dxfk-9ifj, df5p-p6jt), ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, IRS Form 990 public disclosures, WHOIS/DNS records, Bloomberg/Insurance Journal, Deseret News, The Center Square, Kansas Reflector, Colorado General Assembly, Louisiana Legislature (legis.la.gov), California Legislature, OpenSecrets.
Investigation by Hekate Initiative | Compiled 2026-03-12