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The '''Georgia Center for Opportunity''' (GCO) is a member of the [[State Policy Network]], a web of right-wing state "think tanks.".<ref>State Policy Network, [https://spn.org/organization/georgia-center-for-opportunity/ Georgia Center for Opportunity], organizational website, accessed August 2016.</ref> It describes itself as "an independent, non-partisan think tank dedicated to increasing opportunity and improving the quality of life for all Georgians."<ref>Georgia Center for Opportunity, [http://www.georgiaopportunity.org/about-gco/ About], organizational website, accessed October 2013.</ref> It was founded in 1990 as the Georgia Family Education and Research Council,<ref name="2011_990">Georgia Family Education and Research Council, [https://bulk.resource.org/irs.gov/eo/2013_06_EO/58-1928520_990_201206.pdf 2011 Form 990], organizational annual IRS filing, May 15, 2013.</ref> but changed its name in March 2013.<ref>Georgia Center for Opportunity, [https://www.facebook.com/georgiafamilycouncil/posts/131556760358490 Georgia Family Council has a new name!], ''Facebook'' organizational page, March 13, 2013, accessed October 2013.</ref> ==News and Controversies=====GCO VP of Public Policy Praised Kemp Reopening, Criticized GOP's "Cult of Personality"===Buzz Brockway, GCO's Vice President of Public Policy, is quoted praising Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's decision to reopen Georgia in April 2020 despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In a GCO statement, Brockway wrote: “We applaud Governor Kemp’s decisions during this time of crisis.”<ref>Isaac Stanley-Becker, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/states-that-raced-to-reopen-let-businesses-write-their-own-rules-documents-show/2020/07/09/732064aa-bb06-11ea-bdaf-a129f921026f_story.html "States that raced to reopen let businesses write their own rules, documents show"], ''Washington Post'', July 9, 2020, accessed August 27, 2020.</ref> Brockway has criticized the cult of personality surrounding [[Donald Trump]], cautioned against the GOP's embrace of "QAnon candidates", and condemned former Trump advisor [[Steve Bannon]].<ref name=bbint>Jim Galloway, [https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/opinion-a-democrat-eager-to-vote-for-donald-trump-and-the-republican-who-isnt-but-will/QCXNGWHTRZF2XBCHUEFHZNH6UI/ "Opinion: A Democrat eager to vote for Donald Trump, and the Republican who isn’t – but will"], ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', August 25, 2020, accessed August 27, 2020.</ref> He accused both Democrats and Republicans of apocalyptic rhetoric ahead of the 2020 presidential election, saying "I don’t... believe America is finished if [[Joe Biden|Biden]] wins. 2016 was not a ‘Flight 93’ election and neither is 2020... This is dangerous thinking in my opinion."<ref name=bbint/> ==Ties to the State Policy Network==GCO is a member of the [[State Policy Network]]. {{About_SPN}}

Through 2016 the 2018, Georgia Center for Opportunity received [[Contributions of the Bradley Foundation | $12,525225,000]] from the [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]].

Bradley detailed the most recent grants in internal documents examined by the [[Center for Media and Democracy ]] (CMD). Below is a description of the grant prepared by CMD. The quoted text was written by Bradley staff.

'''2015-2016''' (Barder Fund): $1.5 million over 3 years to create a multi -pronged Health Healthy Families Initiative “to "to measurably increase the number of healthy relationships, strong marriages, and stable families in metro Atlanta.”"{{In 2014, Bradley contacted several individuals regarding their opinion on state infrastructure investments. Randy Hicks, GCO's president and CEO, is among those named in internal documents examined by the CMD.<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/bradley-foundation-state-infrastructure-interviewees/ Bradley}}Foundation “State Infrastructure Interviewees”], ''Exposed by CMD'', accessed August 29, 2020.</ref>

In addition to receiving funding from the [[Donors Capital Fund]], [[DonorsTrust]], and [[State Policy Network and the Donors Capital Fund]], both with ties all tied to the Kochs, the Georgia Center for Opportunity GCO is a partner organization in the [[Charles Koch Institute]]'s Liberty@Work program.<ref>Charles Koch Institute, [https://www.charleskochinstitute.org/professional-education/year-long-opportunities/liberty-work/ Partner Organizations], ''Charles Koch Institute'', 2016.</ref>

The Georgia Center for Opportunity does not disclose its donors, but some of its funding sources are known through other tax filings. GCO's known funders include:*[[State Policy Adolph Coors Foundation]]: $290,000 (2016-2017)*[[Alliance for School Choice]]: $791,500 (2013-2015)*[[The American Federation for Children|American Federation for Children]]: $100,000 (2015)*[[Atlas Network]]: $73,510 (2017-2018)*[[Bank of America Corp.| Bank of America]] Charitable Foundation: $1,000 (2014-2017)*Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta: $275,850 (2013-2018)*Dan and Merrie Boone Foundation: $5,000 (2018)*[[Donors Capital Fund]]: $403,850 (2012-2016)*[[DonorsTrust]]: $328,600 (2017-2018)*Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund: $10,100 (2018)*[http[Heritage Foundation]]: $75,000 (2022)*Hugh and Charlotte MacClellan Charitable Trust: $5,000 (2018)*Hughes Family Foundation: $5,000 (2017)*[[JM Foundation]]://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Contributions_of_the_State_Policy_Network $40,000] (20132015)*[[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]: [httphttps://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Contributions_of_the_Bradley_Foundation $25725,000] (2013-2018)*National Christian Charitable Foundation: $1,197,194 (2012-2017)*Schwab Charitable Fund: $26,500 (2017-2018)*[[Donors Capital FundState Policy Network]]: [httphttps://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/DonorsTrust_and_Donors_Capital_Fund_Grant_Recipients Contributions_of_the_State_Policy_Network $92203,400500] (2013-2018)*Thames Family Foundation: $73,880 (2014-2018)

'''<big>2016</big>'''<ref name="2016_990">Georgia Center for Opportunity, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7043989-Georgia-Center-for-Opportunity-2016-990.html 2016 990 Form], ''Georgia Center for Opportunity'', April 7, 2018.</ref>* Total Revenue: $2,110,977* Total Expenses: $1,640,826* Net Assets: $1,007,505 '''<big>2015</big>'''<ref name="2015_990">Georgia Center for Opportunity, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7206869-Georgia-Center-for-Opportunity-2015-990.html IRS 2015 990 Form], ''Georgia Center for Opportunity'', May 13, 2016.</ref>* Total Revenue: $1,697,836* Total Expenses: $1,285,690* Net Assets: $572,149 '''<big>2014</big>'''<ref name="2014_990">Georgia Center for Opportunity, [httphttps://pdfswww.citizenauditdocumentcloud.org/2016_08_EOdocuments/587206882-Georgia-Center-for-Opportunity-2014-1928520_990_201506990.pdf html 2014 990 Form], ''Georgia Center for Opportunity'', May 13, 2016.</ref>

As of September 2016:<ref>Georgia Center for Opportunity, [http://georgiaopportunity.org/about-gco/our-team-2/ Our Team], organizational website, accessed September 2016.</ref>'''Former Staff'''*Randy HicksJonathan Butcher, President and CEOContributing Scholar*Eric CochlingJason Leming, Senior Vice President and General CounselDigital Strategy*Katherine GreeneDanielle LeSure, Operations Manager*Katelyn KingDirector, Education Policy Analyst

*Kimberly SawatkaDawn Steele, Communications ManagerDirector of Breakthrough Programs* Terry T. Tucker, ContractorCOO and General Counsel*Josiah Vega, Development Associate*Eric Wearne, Contributing Scholar

As * Keith Schneider, Vice Chairman; President and CEO, GPS Trackit* Randy Hicks, GCO CEO & President; Elder, Perimeter Church; Board of May 2015:<ref name="2013_990"/>Directors, Segue Ministries* Karin Douglas, Secretary; VP of Development, Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential* Shaunti Feldhahn, Author and Speaker* Tony Kitchens, Reintegration Services Professional* Tim Bentsen, Director, Synovus Financial Corp.* Christina Coors Williams, Trustee, [[Adolph Coors Foundation]]

* Bill Rodgers, Chairman'''Former Board Members'''* Giulio Gianturco, Vice ChairmanKevin Broyles* Allen Sells, Treasurer* Kevin Loechl, SecretaryVernadette Broyles

* Shaunti FeldhahnCami Fetz

* Chris GabrielMarilyn Hicks

 '''Former Board Members'''* Becky LoechlGerald Thames* Marilyn HicksRhonda Thomas

Employer Identification Number (EIN): 58-1928520<br><br>'''Georgia Center for Opportunity'''<br>

NorcrossPeachtree Corners, GA 30092<br><br>Phone: (770) 242-0001<br>Fax: (770) 242-0501<br>Website: https://georgiaopportunity.org/<br>

TwitterFacebook: [https://twitterwww.facebook.com/GAOpportunitygaopportunity @gaoopportunity]<br>FacebookTwitter: [https://www.facebooktwitter.com/gaopportunityGAOpportunity @GAOopportunity]<br>

==Articles and Resources and Articles=====IRS Form 990 Filings===<div class="docframe"><p>'''2017'''</p><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7043988-Georgia-Center-for-Opportunity-2017-990.html|width=350|height=250}}</p></div><div class="docframe"><p>'''2016'''</p><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7043989-Georgia-Center-for-Opportunity-2016-990.html|width=350|height=250}}</p></div><div class="docframe"><p>'''2015'''</p><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7206869-Georgia-Center-for-Opportunity-2015-990.html|width=350|height=Related SourceWatch Articles250}}</p></div><div class="docframe"><p>'''2014'''</p><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/7206882-Georgia-Center-for-Opportunity-2014-990.html|width=350|height=250}}</p></div>

===Related PRWatch Articles=== {{Template:SPN PRW}} ===External Resources=== {{Template: SPN Ex}} ===References===