Faith and Freedom Coalition

Organization

History

The organization was founded and officially incorporated on 14 May 2009, 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 after organizing a debate for the Republican candidates, and a state chapter was also involved in state elections in 2011.

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.

Conferences

Faith and Freedom Conference & Strategy Briefing

Faith and Freedom Coalition (FFC) held its first conference in September 2010 in Washington, D.C., with prominent speakers Newt Gingrich, Karl Rove, and Bob McDonnell, the governor of Virginia. Other well-known attendees included Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, Rep. Randy Forbes, and Rep. Tom Price.

The 2011 conference was also held in Washington in June with several hundred attendees. Nearly all the Republican 2012 presidential hopefuls spoke, including Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman Jr., Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul. 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. Haley Barbour and Donald Trump, both of whom considered running but decided not to do so, also spoke. Cain was the keynote speaker at the closing banquet.

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.

Road to Majority

On 19 June 2014, FFC marked its 5th annual Road to Majority policy conference in Washington, DC. 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. 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.

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.

The conference returned to Washington DC during 23–24 June 2023 at the Washington Hilton. The conference marked the first time all eleven declared GOP presidential candidates had appeared together at an event. 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". The speech marked the one year anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

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.

References

References

1. "[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.
2. "[https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=1443685&businessType=Domestic%20Nonprofit%20Corporation Faith and Freedom Coalition]" ''Georgia Corporations Division''. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
3. "[https://www.ffcoalition.com/staff/ Staff] {{Webarchive. link. (3 January 2018 ". ''Faith and Freedom Coalition''. Retrieved 1 August 2017.)
4. Gilgoff, Dan. (June 23, 2009). "Exclusive: Ralph Reed Launches New Values Group: 'Not Your Daddy's Christian Coalition'". U.S. News & World Report.
5. (September 16, 2010). "Ralph's way: The Wunderkind returns". [[The Economist]].
6. (November 5, 2012). "Ryan: Obama's agenda 'compromises Judeo-Christian values'". MSNBC.
7. "GOP Hopefuls Kick Off P-5 With Pre-Debate Rally". Sunshine State News.
8. "Evangelicals and Abortion Foes Dive Into Wisconsin Recalls". Mother Jones.
9. [http://ffcoalition.com/about/ About the Faith and Freedom Coalition]
10. (August 13, 2010). "Grassroots to Gather at Faith & Freedom Conference and Strategy Briefing". Christian Newswire.
11. [https://www.politico.com/story/2010/09/mcdonnell-tip-of-the-spear-042000 Bob McDonnell 'tip of the spear']
12. "GOP Candidates Woo Social Conservatives". Beltway Happenings.
13. (December 29, 2010). "Iowa Gets First Big 2012 GOP Forum". Fox News.
14. (March 7, 2011). "Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Forum Brings 5 Mulling GOP Presidential Bids To Stage". Huffington Post.
15. (5 June 2011). "Conference Offers Tryout for Hopefuls (Published 2011)". The New York Times.
16. [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-religious-conservatives-20110605,0,212779.story Republican contenders compete for Christian conservatives]
17. [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]
18. [https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/trump-dings-cantor-reprises-birtherism-056240 Donald Trump dings Eric Cantor, reprises birther talk]
19. [https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/cain-says-2012-is-his-to-lose-056271 Herman Cain says 2012 is his to lose]
20. "The American Spectator : Renaissance of Faith".
21. (4 June 2014). "Chris Christie to speak to 'pro-family' group". Politico.
22. (June 8, 2017). "Trump shores up evangelical support but alienates gays". The Washington Times.
23. (June 9, 2017). "Trump to speak at religious conference during Comey testimony". The Hill.
24. (June 8, 2017). "During Comey testimony, Trump addresses religious group". CBS News.
25. "Trump to Address Anti-LGBTQ Leaders Before Equality March in D.C.". OUT Magazine.
26. (June 8, 2017). "Trump will honor pride month today by speaking at an anti-LGBT conference". LGBTQ Nation.
27. (May 31, 2021). "How a faith-based conservative group you've never heard of is impacting American politics". Desecret News.
28. (2023-06-25). "Faith in Trump dominates annual gathering of religious conservatives".
29. "GOP 2024 candidates appear at faith-focused conference - CBS News".
30. Ward, Myah. (2023-06-24). "Trump touts Dobbs decision to cheers at Faith & Freedom".
31. "GOP 2024 candidates mark anniversary of overturning Roe at conference".
32. (2013-05-09). "Faith And Freedom Coalition Inc, Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer".