Money, meet mouth

NEWS | Mitt Romney gives a lot, Rick Perry gives a little, and the other GOP candidates give no information about their church and charitable giving | Emily Belz

Photo illustration by Krieg Barrie

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney appears to be the frontrunner in the GOP presidential field in more ways than one. Thanks to the fact that only one Republican candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, has released personal tax returns, Romney appears to lead the current slate of candidates in charitable giving. Given the prominent role religious faith plays for many of the GOP candidates—along with their calls for less public spending and more private enterprise, including charity—the lack of disclosure on personal giving could prove decisive.

Though Romney hasn't released his personal tax returns, he has given away millions through the Tyler Charitable Foundation, whose records are publicly available.

From 2000 to 2009, Romney and his wife gave $6.4 million through the foundation, with $4.6 million of that then going to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where Romney is a member. The second-highest recipient of the Romneys' gifts is the Mormon-affiliated Brigham Young University, where all five of their sons attended, underscoring the family's commitment to their Mormon religion.