Advancing American Freedom

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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]

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:

CNP Board of Governors Members:

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 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

AAF is not required to disclose its funders. Major funders, however, were found through a search of IRS filings. Here are the known funders:

Personnel

As of April 2021:[2]

Staff

  • Mike Pence, Chairman
  • Paul Teller, Executive Director

Advisory Board

Co-Chairs

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

Freedom Agenda

Related SourceWatch

References

  1. ↑ 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. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Advancing America's Freedom, About, organizational website, accessed April 12, 2021.
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