Institute for Free Speech
| Institute for Free Speech | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Alexandria, Va. |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Affiliation: | Nonpartisan |
| Top official: | David Keating, President |
| Founder(s): | Bradley A. Smith |
| Year founded: | 2005 |
| Website: | Official website |
| Budget | |
| 2013: | $1,754,752 |
The Institute for Free Speech (formerly known as the Institute for Free Speech) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a focus on protecting First Amendment rights through education, research, and litigation. It is located in Alexandria, Va.
Mission
The organization describes its mission as follows:[1]
| “ |
The Institute for Free Speech (IFS) promotes and defends the First Amendment rights to freely speak, assemble, publish, and petition the government through strategic litigation, communication, activism, training, research, and education. Our dedicated professional staff works tirelessly to protect political speech under these freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. We are the nation’s largest organization dedicated solely to protecting First Amendment political speech rights.[2] |
” |
History
The Institute for Free Speech was founded as the Institute for Free Speech in 2005 by Bradley Smith, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission. According to the organization's website, part of Smith's motivation for founding the CCP was to "address serious misconceptions" about campaign finance and money in politics. One of the center's first major steps was to draft an amicus brief supporting the nonprofit organization Citizens United in its lawsuit against the FEC.[3]
Work
The IFS conducts legal research and strategic litigation and offers pro bono representation on First Amendment cases. Its primary concern is fighting restrictions on political speech. The organization has contributed original research to numerous campaign finance cases, including Wisconsin Right to Life v. FEC and Davis v. FEC.[1]
David Keating, current president of CCP, was a plaintiff in another campaign finance case decided shortly after Citizens United.[4] Keating's organization SpeechNOW.org, which he founded in 2007, won its lawsuit against the FEC on appeal to the D.C. Circuit, which based its reasoning on the judgment issued in Citizens United. That decision led to the creation of the political committees known as Super PACs.[5]
Leadership
The board of directors of the Institute for Free Speech included the following individuals as of August 28, 2018:[6]
- Bradley A. Smith (Chairman and founder), Blackmore-Nault Professor of Law, Capital University Law School; former Chairman, Federal Election Commission
- Hunter Bates, Partner, Akin Gump
- Edward H. Crane, Founder and President Emeritus, Cato Institute
- Cleta Mitchell, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP
- Stephen Modzelewski, Managing Member, Maple Engine LLC
- Eric O'Keefe, Chairman of the Board, Citizens for Self-Governance
- John Snider, Shareholder, CPA-Retired, Treasurer
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the IFS's revenues and expenses for the 2008-2013 tax years (at which time the organization was known as the Institute for Free Speech):
| Annual revenue and expenses, 2008-2013[3] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax year | Total revenue | Total expenses |
| 2014 | $1,951,006 | $1,495,165 |
| 2013 | $1,754,752 | $1,545,035 |
| 2012 | $1,420,276 | $1,252,639 |
| 2011 | $1,816,786 | $1,577,324 |
| 2010 | $1,535,085 | $1,333,560 |
| 2009 | $1,631,103 | $1,172,140 |
| 2008 | $1,443,030 | $1,597,753 |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Institute for Free Speech. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
- SpeechNOW.org v. Federal Election Commission
- 501(c)(3)
- Nonprofit organization
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Institute for Free Speech, "About the Institute for Free Speech," accessed August 28, 2018
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 CCP, "Financial Disclosure," accessed June 1, 2015
- ↑ Intelligence Squared Debates, "David Keating," accessed June 2, 2015
- ↑ Wall Street Journal, "Meet the Parents of the Super PACs," February 10, 2012
- ↑ CCP, "Board of Directors," accessed July 2, 2015
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