James Randi Educational Foundation
James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is an American grant-making institution founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. As a nonprofit organization, the mission of JREF includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims, and to support research into paranormal claims in controlled scientific experimental conditions. The organization announced its change to a grant-making foundation in September 2015.
| Founded | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Founder | James Randi |
| Type | 501(c)(3) |
| Registration no. | 65-0649443 |
| Purpose | Promote critical thinking and investigate claims of the paranormal, pseudoscientific, and supernatural |
| Location | |
Key people | Banachek, President Rick Adams, Treasurer/Assis. Secretary, Board of Directors Daniel "Chip" Denman, Secretary, Board of Directors |
Revenue | US $887,595 in 2013. US $1,293,878 in 2012. US $1,564,266 in 2011. US$852,445 (2009) 38% on 2008. 17% on 2009. |
| Website | web |
The organization previously administered the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge, a prize of one million U.S. dollars to anyone who could demonstrate a supernatural or paranormal ability under agreed-upon scientific testing criteria. JREF also maintains a legal defense fund to assist persons who are attacked as a result of investigating or criticizing those making paranormal claims.
The organization has been funded through member contributions, grants, and conferences, though it ceased accepting memberships after 2015. For several years the JREF website published the blog Swift, which included news and information as well as exposés of paranormal claimants.