 | |
| Abbreviation | FFC |
|---|---|
| Founded | 14 May 2009 (16 years ago) (2009-05-14)[1] |
| Founder | Ralph Reed[2] |
| Type | nonprofit |
| 27-0182697[3] | |
| Legal status | 501(c)(4) |
| Focus | |
| Headquarters |
|
Area served | United States |
| Ralph Reed[2] | |
| Timothy Head[2] | |
| Subsidiaries | Freedom and Values Alliance Inc.(501(c)(4)), Faith and Freedom Action(527) |
| Revenue | $24,429,473[4] (2022) |
| Expenses | $26,653,399[4] (2022) |
| Employees | 17[3] (2015) |
| Volunteers | 0[3] (2015) |
| Website | www |
TheFaith and Freedom Coalition (FFC) is aconservative political advocacy501(c)(4)[5] non-profit organization in theUnited States.
The organization was founded and officially incorporated on 14 May 2009,[1] byChristian Coalition founderRalph Reed, who described it as "a 21st century version of the Christian Coalition".[6] Reed designed the coalition as a bridge between theTea Party movement andevangelical voters.[7] The organization has grown quickly with hundreds of thousands of supporters and several hundred local chapters.[6] Reed and his organization were a major supporter of theRomney–Ryan campaign in 2012[8] after organizing a debate for the Republican candidates,[9] and a state chapter was also involved in state elections in 2011.[10]
According to its website, the coalition opposesabortion,medical marijuana (amendment 2 in Florida), andsame-sex marriage, and otherwise supportslimited government. They also endorse lower taxes, the privatization of public services,free markets, a strong national defense, and Israel.[11]
Faith and Freedom Coalition (FFC) held its first conference in September 2010 in Washington, D.C.,[12] with prominent speakersNewt Gingrich,Karl Rove, andBob McDonnell, thegovernor of Virginia.[6][13] Other well-known attendees includedRep. Lynn Westmoreland,Rep. Randy Forbes, andRep. Tom Price.[12]
The 2011 conference was also held in Washington in June with several hundred attendees.[14][15] Nearly all theRepublican2012 presidential hopefuls spoke, including Gingrich,Tim Pawlenty,Mitt Romney,Michele Bachmann,Herman Cain,Jon Huntsman Jr.,Rick Santorum,[16] andRon Paul.[17] TheAssociated Press described the conference as a "tryout for candidates hoping to fill a void left by former Gov.Mike Huckabee ofArkansas, an ordainedBaptist minister who won the 2008 Iowa caucus but is not running for the 2012 Republican nomination."[17] TheLos Angeles Times said Bachmann was the most enthusiastically received by the crowd.[7]Haley Barbour andDonald Trump, both of whom considered running but decided not to do so, also spoke.[18][19] Cain was the keynote speaker at the closing banquet.[20]
In May 2012, the organization announced a Jewish outreach component. At the June 2012 conference, aShabbat program was held, with traditional,kosher Shabbat meals andOrthodox Jewish prayer services.[21]
On 19 June 2014, FFC marked its 5th annual Road to Majority policy conference in Washington, DC.[22] 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 LeaderKevin McCarthy, andMike Huckabee. Conservative activistPhyllis Schlafly received theWinston Churchill Award for Conservative Leadership for her history of conservative activism.
On 8 June 2017,PresidentDonald Trump gave his support to the organization and vowed to protectreligious liberty and expand therole of religion in politics andeducation. Trump's speech was praised byFrank Pavone which he said that it inspired him in hisanti-abortion campaign. However, his speech and attendance to the conference was criticised by LGBT leaders along with his lack of official recognition of thePride Month, which started in June.[23] Vice PresidentMike Pence,Counselor to the PresidentKellyanne Conway,Speaker of the HousePaul Ryan,Senate Majority LeaderMitch McConnell, Senator Ted Cruz,James Dobson,House Majority LeaderKevin McCarthy,Steve Scalise,Pat Boone andMichael Medved also attended the conference.[24][25][26][27]
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.[28]
The conference returned to Washington DC during 23–24 June 2023 at theWashington Hilton.[29] The conference marked the first time all eleven declared GOP presidential candidates had appeared together at an event.[30]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".[31] The speech marked the one year anniversary of theSupreme Court's decision to overturnRoe v. Wade.[32]
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.[4]
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