Faith and Freedom Coalition

{{short description|American conservative political advocacy organization}}

{{infobox organization

| image = Faith_and_Freedom_Coalition_Logo.jpg

| alt = Logo of Faith and Freedom Coalition

| abbreviation = FFC

| tax_id = 27-0182697

| employees = 17"[http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2015/270/182/2015-270182697-0d4d2b24-9O.pdf Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax]". Faith and Freedom Coalition Inc. Guidestar. 31 December 2015.

| employees_year = 2015

| volunteers = 0

| volunteers_year = 2015

| founded_date = {{start date and age|2009|05|14|df=y|p=y}}"[https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=1443685&businessType=Domestic%20Nonprofit%20Corporation Faith and Freedom Coalition]" Georgia Corporations Division. Retrieved 1 August 2017.

| founder = Ralph Reed"[https://www.ffcoalition.com/staff/ Staff]". Faith and Freedom Coalition. Retrieved 1 August 2017.

| leader_name = Ralph Reed

| leader_title = Chairman

| leader_name2 = Timothy Head

| leader_title2 = Executive Director

| subsidiaries = Freedom and Values Alliance Inc. _(501(c)(4)),
Faith and Freedom Action ₍₅₂₇₎

| headquarters = {{plainlist|

Ste 975
3700 Crestwood Pkwy NW
Duluth, GA 30096-7212
United States

}}

| area_served = United States

| focus = {{plainlist|

}}

| revenue = $24,429,473

| revenue_year = 2022

| expenses = $26,653,399

| expenses_year = 2022

| website = {{official URL}}

| footnotes =

}}

The Faith and Freedom Coalition (FFC) is a conservative political advocacy 501(c)(4){{cite web |last=Gilgoff |first=Dan |title=Exclusive: Ralph Reed Launches New Values Group: 'Not Your Daddy's Christian Coalition' |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/god-and-country/2009/06/23/exclusive-ralph-reed-launches-new-values-group-not-your-daddys-christian-coalition |work=Politics & Policy: God & Country |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |date=June 23, 2009 |access-date=June 17, 2011}} non-profit organization in the United States.

Organization

=History=

The organization was founded and officially incorporated on 14 May 2009, by Christian Coalition founder Ralph Reed, who described it as "a 21st century version of the Christian Coalition".{{cite news |newspaper=The Economist |title=Ralph's way: The Wunderkind returns |url=http://www.economist.com/node/17043312 |date=September 16, 2010 |access-date=June 16, 2011}} Reed designed the coalition as a bridge between the Tea Party movement and evangelical voters. The organization has grown quickly with hundreds of thousands of supporters and several hundred local chapters. Reed and his organization were a major supporter of the Romney–Ryan campaign in 2012{{cite web|last1=Resnikoff|first1=Ned|title=Ryan: Obama's agenda 'compromises Judeo-Christian values'|url=http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ryan-obamas-agenda-compromises-judeo-chris|website=msnbc.com/|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=September 4, 2014|date=November 5, 2012}} after organizing a debate for the Republican candidates,{{cite web|last1=Derby |first1=Kevin |title=GOP Hopefuls Kick Off P-5 With Pre-Debate Rally |url=http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/presidential-hopefuls-kick-off-p5-pre-debate-rally |website=sunshinestatenews.com/ |publisher=Sunshine State News |access-date=September 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908202503/http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/presidential-hopefuls-kick-off-p5-pre-debate-rally |archive-date=September 8, 2014 }} and a state chapter was also involved in state elections in 2011.{{cite web|last1=Kroll|first1=Andy|title=Evangelicals and Abortion Foes Dive Into Wisconsin Recalls|url=https://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2011/07/wisconsin-recall-evangelical-republican|website=motherjones.com/|publisher=Mother Jones|access-date=September 4, 2014}}

=Positions=

According to its website, the coalition opposes abortion, medical marijuana (amendment 2 in Florida), and same-sex marriage, and otherwise supports limited government. They also endorse lower taxes, the privatization of public services, free markets, a strong national defense, and Israel.[http://ffcoalition.com/about/ About the Faith and Freedom Coalition]

Conferences

=Faith and Freedom Conference & Strategy Briefing=

Faith and Freedom Coalition (FFC) held its first conference in September 2010 in Washington, D.C.,{{cite press release|last1=Mohel|first1=Dave|title=Grassroots to Gather at Faith & Freedom Conference and Strategy Briefing|url=http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/5168414683.html|website=christiannewswire.com/|publisher=Christian Newswire|access-date=September 4, 2014|date=August 13, 2010}} with prominent speakers Newt Gingrich, Karl Rove, and Bob McDonnell, the governor of Virginia.[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42000.html Bob McDonnell 'tip of the spear'] Other well-known attendees included Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, Rep. Randy Forbes, and Rep. Tom Price.{{ r | CW }}

The 2011 conference was also held in Washington in June with several hundred attendees.{{cite web|title=GOP Candidates Woo Social Conservatives|url=http://www.p2012.org/photos11/ffc0611/ffc0611main.html|website=p2012.org/|publisher=Beltway Happenings|access-date=September 4, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Iowa Gets First Big 2012 GOP Forum |url=http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/18512235/iowa-gets-first-big-2012-gop-forum |website=myfoxmemphis.com/ |publisher=Fox News |access-date=September 4, 2014 |date=December 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908202006/http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/18512235/iowa-gets-first-big-2012-gop-forum |archive-date=September 8, 2014 }} Nearly all the Republican 2012 presidential hopefuls spoke, including Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman Jr., Rick Santorum,{{cite web|last1=Glover|first1=Mike|title=Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Forum Brings 5 Mulling GOP Presidential Bids To Stage|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/07/iowa-faith-freedom-forum_n_832525.html|website=huffingtonpost.com/politics/|publisher=Huffington Post|access-date=September 4, 2014|date=March 7, 2011}} and Ron Paul.{{cite news |title=Conference Offers Tryout for Hopefuls (Published 2011) |work=The New York Times |date=5 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630234059/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/us/politics/05right.html |archive-date=30 June 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/us/politics/05right.html}} The Associated Press described the conference as a "tryout for candidates hoping to fill a void left by former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, an ordained Baptist minister who won the 2008 Iowa caucus but is not running for the 2012 Republican nomination." The Los Angeles Times said Bachmann was the most enthusiastically received by the crowd.[http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-religious-conservatives-20110605,0,212779.story Republican contenders compete for Christian conservatives] Haley Barbour and Donald Trump, both of whom considered running but decided not to do so, also spoke.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110608132111/http://nation.foxnews.com/gov-haley-barbour/2011/06/04/barbour-rnc-chair-warn-conservatives Barbour, RNC Chair Warn Conservatives][http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56240.html Donald Trump dings Eric Cantor, reprises birther talk] Cain was the keynote speaker at the closing banquet.[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56271.html Herman Cain says 2012 is his to lose]

In May 2012, the organization announced a Jewish outreach component. At the June 2012 conference, a Shabbat program was held, with traditional, kosher Shabbat meals and Orthodox Jewish prayer services.{{Cite web |url=http://spectator.org/archives/2012/06/18/renaissance-of-faith |title=The American Spectator : Renaissance of Faith |access-date=2013-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124155228/http://spectator.org/archives/2012/06/18/renaissance-of-faith |archive-date=2013-01-24 |url-status=dead }}

=Road to Majority=

On 19 June 2014, FFC marked its 5th annual Road to Majority policy conference in Washington, DC.{{cite web|last1=Allen|first1=Mike|title=Chris Christie to speak to 'pro-family' group|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/chris-christie-headline-road-to-majority-faith-and-freedom-coalition-june-10-ralph-reed-107415.html|website=politico.com/|date=4 June 2014 |publisher=Politico|access-date=September 2, 2014}} The event was attended by national grassroots activists and featured notable speakers such as Gov. Bobby Jindal, Monica Crowley, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Mike Huckabee. Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly received the Winston Churchill Award for Conservative Leadership for her history of conservative activism.

On 8 June 2017, President Donald Trump gave his support to the organization and vowed to protect religious liberty and expand the role of religion in politics and education. Trump's speech was praised by Frank Pavone which he said that it inspired him in his anti-abortion campaign. However, his speech and attendance to the conference was criticised by LGBT leaders along with his lack of official recognition of the Pride Month, which started in June.{{cite news|author1=S. A. Miller|title=Trump shores up evangelical support but alienates gays|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/8/donald-trump-shores-up-evangelical-support-but-ali/|access-date=June 9, 2017|work=The Washington Times|date=June 8, 2017}} Vice President Mike Pence, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Ted Cruz, James Dobson, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Pat Boone and Michael Medved also attended the conference.{{cite news|last1=Easley|first1=Jonathan|title=Trump to speak at religious conference during Comey testimony|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/336508-trump-to-speak-at-religious-conference-during-comey-testimony/|access-date=June 9, 2017|work=The Hill|date=June 9, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Guild|first1=Blair|title=During Comey testimony, Trump addresses religious group|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/during-comey-testimony-trump-addresses-religious-group/|access-date=June 9, 2017|work=CBS News|date=June 8, 2017}}{{cite news|title=Trump to Address Anti-LGBTQ Leaders Before Equality March in D.C.|url=http://www.out.com/news-opinion/2017/6/06/trump-address-anti-lgbtq-leaders-equality-march-dc|access-date=June 9, 2017|work=OUT Magazine}}{{cite news|last1=Gremore|first1=Graham|title=Trump will honor pride month today by speaking at an anti-LGBT conference|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2017/06/trump-will-honor-pride-month-today-speaking-anti-lgbt-conference/|access-date=June 9, 2017|work=LGBTQ Nation|date=June 8, 2017}}

The COVID-19 pandemic forced FFC to move their conference out of Washington. The conference was held at the Cobb galleria in their hometown of Atlanta Georgia in 2020, and at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee Florida during 17–19 June 2021.{{cite news|last1=Jaradat|first1=Mya|title=How a faith-based conservative group you've never heard of is impacting American politics|url=https://www.deseret.com/faith/2021/5/31/22440368/how-conservative-religious-groups-impact-american-politics-faith-freedom-coalition-josh-hawley-trump|access-date=June 7, 2021|work=Desecret News|date=May 31, 2021}}

The conference returned to Washington DC during 23–24 June 2023 at the Washington Hilton.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-25 |title=Faith in Trump dominates annual gathering of religious conservatives |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/faith-trump-dominates-annual-gathering-religious-conservatives-rcna90931 |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=NBC News |language=en}} The conference marked the first time all eleven declared GOP presidential candidates had appeared together at an event.{{Cite web |title=GOP 2024 candidates appear at faith-focused conference - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/video/gop-2024-front-runners-appear-at-faith-and-freedom-coalition-conference/ |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} President Donald Trump served as the closing speaker of the conference where during the Gala dinner he received "raucous applause from a packed ballroom of evangelical Christian activists".{{Cite web |last=Ward |first=Myah |date=2023-06-24 |title=Trump touts Dobbs decision to cheers at Faith & Freedom |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/24/trump-touts-dobbs-decision-to-cheers-at-faith-freedom-00103547 |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} The speech marked the one year anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.{{Cite web |title=GOP 2024 candidates mark anniversary of overturning Roe at conference |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/video/gop-2024-candidates-mark-anniversary-of-overturning-roe-at-conference-184325701976 |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

Fundraising and finances

Faith and Freedom Coalition contracts with outside firms American Target Advertising and Unisource Direct LLC for solicitations through direct mail and telephone calls.

Finances for the fiscal year ending 31 December 2022 (the latest available) consist of: revenue of $24,429,473 expenses of $26,653,399; and donations of $24,448,17.{{Cite web |last1=Suozzo |first1=Andrea |first2=Alec |last2=Glassford |first3=Ash |last3=Ngu |first4=Brandon |last4=Roberts |date=2013-05-09 |title=Faith And Freedom Coalition Inc, Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/270182697/202343199349318179/full |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=ProPublica |language=en}}