Advancing American Freedom
Advancing American Freedom (AAF) is a conservative 501(c)(4) nonprofit established in April 2021 by Former Vice President Mike Pence.[1]
About the organization, Pence said, "Advancing American Freedom plans to build on the success of the last four years by promoting traditional conservative values and promoting the successful policies of the Trump administration."[1]
According to the organization's website, "AAF serves the Conservative Movement by developing innovative policy solutions, strategies, coalitions, and messaging that builds upon those accomplishments, expands freedom for all Americans, and hampers anything that would threaten America’s standing as the greatest nation on the face of the Earth."[2]
AAF has a sister organization: Advancing American Freedom Foundation (AAFF)
Contents
Ties to the Council for National Policy
Mike Pence and multiple members of AAF's advisory board are connected to the secretive Christian Right Council for National Policy (CNP), as guest speakers, members, board members, or executive committee members.
CNP Guest Speakers:
- Kirk Cameron (2020)
- Rick Santorum (2015)
CNP Members:
- Ed Meese
- Edwin J. Feulner
- Kellyanne Conway
- Lisa Nelson
- Marjorie Dannenfelser
- Michael P. Farris
- Mike Pence
- Star Parker
CNP Board of Governors Members:
- David McIntosh
- Kay Coles James
- Rebecca Hegelin
- Scott Walker
CNP Executive Committee Members:
- Jenny Beth Martin
- Jim DeMint
- Penny Y. Nance
| Council for National Policy |
|---|
The Council for National Policy (CNP) is a secretive, Christian Right organization of funders and activists founded in 1981 by activist Morton Blackwell, commentator Paul Weyrich, direct-mail pioneer Richard Viguerie, right-wing activist Phyllis Schlafly and Left Behind author Tim LaHaye. Anne Nelson's book about CNP, Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right, describes how the organization connects "the manpower and media of the Christian right with the finances of Western plutocrats and the strategy of right-wing Republican political operatives.” CNP membership as of September 2020 is available here. |
Ties to the Koch Political Network
AAF pays Koch operative Marc Short's Advanced Strategies $180,000 a year for "strategic consulting services."[3]
| Koch Wiki |
|---|
Charles Koch is the right-wing billionaire owner of Koch Industries. As one of the richest people in the world, he is a key funder of the right-wing infrastructure, including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the State Policy Network (SPN). In SourceWatch, key articles on Charles Koch and his late brother David include: Koch Brothers, Americans for Prosperity, Stand Together Chamber of Commerce, Stand Together, Koch Family Foundations, Koch Universities, and I360. |
Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council
Lisa Nelson, the CEO of the American Legislative Exchange Council, is a member of AAF's advisory board.
| About ALEC |
|---|
ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our ExposedbyCMD.org site.
|
Funding
Advancing American Freedom
AAF is not required to disclose its funders. Major funders, however, were found through a search of IRS filings. Here are the known funders:
- American Economic Freedom Alliance: $100,000 (2021)
- Bradley Impact Fund: $110,000 (2022)
- Freedom's Future Fund: $470,000 (2022)
- James and Joan Lindsey Family Foundation: $450,000 (2022-2023)
- Sgt Mark Antonowitsch Foundation: $25,000 (2022)
- The Concord Fund: $2,000,000 (2020-2022)
Advancing American Freedom Foundation
AAFF is not required to disclose its funders. Major funders, however, were found through a search of IRS filings. Here are the known funders:
- DonorsTrust: $380,000 (2022)
- Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund: $10,367 (2022)
- Hampton Roads Community Foundation: $15,000 (2022)
- John William Pope Foundation: $250,000 (2022)
- Searle Freedom Trust: $100,000 (2022)
- Tim And Steph Busch Family Foundation: $25,000 (2023)
Core Financials
2022[3]
- Total Revenue: $12,562,090
- Total Expenses: $13.474,427
- Net Assets: $2,099,054
2021[4]
- Total Revenue: $7,697398
- Total Expenses: $4,686,007
- Net Assets: $3,011,391
Personnel
As of January 2024:[2]
Staff
- Mike Pence, Chairman and Founder
- Paul Teller, Executive Director
Advisory Board
- Jessica Anderson
- Gary Bauer
- David Bernhardt
- Ken Blackwell
- Brent Bozell
- Kirk Cameron
- Kellyanne Conway
- Kelly Craft
- Ken Cribb
- Jim Daly
- Marjorie Dannenfelser, president, Susan B. Anthony List
- Jim DeMint, chairman, Conservative Partnership Institute; former president, Heritage Foundation
- Betsy DeVos
- Doug Ducey
- Michael P. Farris, president and CEO, Alliance Defending Freedom
- Ed Feulner, founder, Heritage Foundation
- David Friedman
- Callista Gingrich
- Newt Gingrich
- Kristan Hawkins
- Jeb Hensarling
- Kay Coles James, president, Heritage Foundation
- Robert Jeffress
- Larry Kudlow
- Robert Lighthizer
- Joan Lindsey
- Jenny Beth Martin, co-founder and CEO, Tea Party Patriots
- David McIntosh, president, Club for Growth
- Ed Meese
- Penny Nance
- Lisa Nelson, CEO, American Legislative Exchange Council
- Star Parker
- John Ratcliffe
- Rick Santorum
- Scott Turner
- Seema Verma
- Scott Walker, president, Young America's Foundation
- Andrew Wheeler
Former Members
- Rebecca Hegelin
- Russ Vought
Co-Chairs
- Marty Obst
- Chip Saltsman
- Marc Short
Contact Information
Advancing American Freedom
47 South Pennsylvania Street, Ste. 201
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Website: https://advancingamericanfreedom.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Advancing-American-Freedom-106925294739244
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advancingamericanfreedom/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanFreedom
Articles and Resources
IRS Form 990 Filings
2022
2021
Publications
Freedom Agenda
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Seth McLaughlin, "Former VP Mike Pence establishes 'Advancing American Freedom' to combat 'radical left'", Washington Times, April 7, 2021, accessed April 12, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Advancing America's Freedom, About, organizational website, accessed April 12, 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Advancing American Freedom, 2022 Form 990, American Accountability Foundation, November 11, 2023.
- ↑ Advancing American Freedom, 2021 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, November 2022.
