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{{#badges:SPN|AEX}}The '''Foundation for Government Accountability''' (FGA) is a right-wing advocacy group based in Naples, Florida. It is run by former Maine legislator [[Tarren Bragdon]]. It is affiliated with a member of the [[State Policy Network]] (SPN), a web of state pressure groups that denote themselves as "think tanks" and drive a right-wing agenda in statehouses nationwide.
The FGA describes its own agenda as developing free market public policies that “achieve limited, constitutional government and a robust economy that will be an engine for job creation across [Florida].” The FGA “believes personal liberty and private enterprise are key to our economic future,” the website states.
Bragdon launched the website FloridaOpenGov.org as part of the Foundation for Government Accountability.
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=="Nonpartisan Think Tank" or Right-Wing Lobbying Machine?==
==Funding==
The FGA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and does not disclose the source of its funding. Bragdon has previously said that ”initial donors who were interested in having [him] here” in Florida were responsible for his move to the state.<ref name="WAInd"/>However, the non-profit has received a lot of its funding from national organizations, including:*[[Donors Trust]] and [[Donors Capital Fund]]: $3,098,900 (2012-2014)*[[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]: $575,000 (2013-2015)
==Core Finances==
'''<big>2014</big>''':<ref>Foundation for Government Accountability, [http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2016_02_EO/45-2637507_990_201412.pdf 2014 Form 990], annual organizational IRS filing, November 4, 2015.</ref>
* Total Revenue: $4,052,421
* Total Expenses: $3,924,746
* Net Assets: $663,498
'''<big>2013</big>''':<ref>Foundation for Government Accountability, [http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2014_10_EO/45-2637507_990_201312.pdf 2013 Form 990], annual organizational IRS filing, September 18, 2014.</ref>
* Total Revenue: $1,970,689
* Total Expenses: $1,418,627
* Net Assets: $535,823
'''<big>2012</big>''':<ref>Foundation for Government Accountability, [http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2013_12_EO/45-2637507_990_201212.pdf 2012 Form 990], annual organizational IRS filing, November 14, 2013.</ref>
* Total Revenue: $731,950
* Total Expenses: $736,756
* Net Assets: $55,649
'''Grants Distributed'''
* [[Kansas Policy Institute]]: $3,500
* [[Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs]]: $3,500
* [[Idaho Freedom Foundation]]: $3,500
* Legacy Foundation: $50,000
'''<big>2011</big>''':<ref>Foundation for Government Accountability, [https://bulk.resource.org/irs.gov/eo/2012_11_EO/45-2637507_990_201112.pdf 2011 Form 990], annual organizational IRS filing, October 15, 2012.</ref>
==Personnel==
===Staff===
As of September 2016:<ref>Foundation for Government Accountability, [https://thefga.org/team/ Team], organizational website, accessed September 2016.</ref>
*Chris Hudson, Government Relations (although not disclosed on FGA's website, Hudson is also Florida Public Affairs Director for Strategic Advocacy, a public affairs consulting firm based out of Maine and registered as a foreign corporation in Florida -- Hudson registered as a lobbyist to represent FGA April 16, 2013, as well as LifeStream Behavioral Center, Mental Health Care, Inc., and Apalachee Center, Inc. -- all of which are Medicaid providers in Florida -- in March and April of 2013.)<ref name="lobby">Florida Legislature, [http://www.leg.state.fl.us/data/lobbyist/Reports/Lobbyist_LEG_2013.pdf 2013 REGISTRATIONS BY LOBBYIST NAME], state governmental website, accessed November 11, 2013, pp. 167-168.</ref>
*Zachary Crockett, Operations Coordinator
*Joyce Errecart, Senior Fellow for Tax Policy
*Joyce Errecart, Senior Fellow for Tax Policy
*Joseph Burk, PhD, Fellow for Entrepreneurship
*Megan Teague, Research Fellow
===Board of Directors=== As of September 2016:<ref>Foundation for Government Accountability, [https://thefga.org/the-foundation/ The Foundation], organizational website, accessed September 2016.</ref> * [[Tarren Bragdon]], President and CEO* Roberty Levy (Chairman of the Board, [[Cato Institute]])* Andrea Forrest Brock (Zoneup, Inc.; married to Republican former Vermont State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Randy Brock)* Bridgett Wagner, Board of Directors* Bob Harden* Betty Neighbors '''Former Directors'''* William A. Dunn (DUNN Capital Management) ==ContactInformation==
Foundation for Government Accountability <br>
Suite 201-279 <br>
15275 Collier Blvd <br>
Naples, FL 34119 <br>
==Articles and Resources==
[[Category:Think tanks]][[Category:ALEC Non-Profits]]