Fundraising Campaign

| Campaign Leadership |

Top Three Campaign Highlights:  

1. The Commonwealth of Virginia has appropriated a matching gift of $1,000,000 for the Council for America’s First Freedom. These monies are currently available and, as we match them on a one-to-one basis, will provide significant momentum to the work of the Council in the next couple of years. The value of a matching gift is obvious: Every good thing counts twice! We can develop programs twice as quickly. We can double the impact of our educational initiatives. We immediately double your investment as well, as every dollar becomes two.

2. The Council has gained more first-time supporters including, among others, The Dominion Foundation, Genworth Financial, Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia, and Patient First.

3. The Council has raised nearly $10 million to date.

Campaign News
With the opening of the Council’s new space at 1321 E. Main Street, the arrival earlier this year of our new President, Ambassador Robert Seiple, and a dramatic expansion of educational programs, the Council has more momentum than ever before!

As Council President, Ambassador Seiple has met with over 100 talented and influential people in Richmond and beyond, increasing awareness of the Council’s ever growing programmatic “footprint” and garnering essential campaign support. He also continues his long legacy of speaking to groups around the world about religious freedom, and recently returned from a trip to the South of France to attend the International Religious Freedom Association’s annual meeting.

Thomas Jefferson interpreter, Bill Barker, addressed the Virginia General Assembly during the Council's visit to enlist support for a matching State appropriation in January 2006.

The Council has rejoined the Virginia Arts and Culture Economic Growth Coalition, an alliance of new or expanding artistic and cultural projects expected to drive the economic engine of the Commonwealth of Virginia toward lasting prosperity, by attracting visitors from far beyond the cities and towns where they are built.  The museums, science and education centers, and performing arts venues that make up the coalition will bring tourist revenue to Virginia, while ensuring that each of its citizens learns and enjoys the rich heritage of the Commonwealth and its communities.

The next First Freedom Awards Dinner is scheduled for January 25, 2007. With an exciting list of Award winners, and distinguished keynote speaker and award recipient, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, we expect this to be an outstanding event.

FFC Development / Programming Highlights

1. 14th and Main Street Property. Renovations are complete and staff moved into to this long-ignored but historically significant stretch of buildings, which the Council purchased for office and exhibit space, as well as income-producing apartment rental space. Look for teacher education programs and exhibit displays to launch this new space in the coming months.

2. Educational Programming. The Council continues its annual student competition, now in its second year as a national essay contest. The Council is holding a “Framing the Debate” series, featuring two experts from opposing sides of the issue of religion in public schools and the public square. The Council, Institute of Bill of Rights Law at the College of William & Mary Law School and The Journal of American History are bringing Sandra Day O’Connor to speak on religion and the law on October 7, 2006, to be followed by a panel discussion.

3. Exhibit Design. The Council is working with the local design firm, Riggs Ward, to develop a learning experience entitled Faces of Religious Freedom, to be displayed in the 14th and Main space and as a virtual web based exhibit presentation, with corresponding display illustrations. Visitors to both the physical and virtual exhibits will gain a deeper understanding of the Council’s mission and the significance of religious freedom in America and around the world.

4. First Freedom Awards Dinner. Every year the Council honors distinguished champions of religious freedom with Virginia, National and International First Freedom Awards; and this January the first ever First Freedom Distinguished Service Award will go to former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, who will keynote the dinner. Winners are honored at a world class gala, attended by hundreds of religious freedom supporters. This year marks the 13th annual First Freedom Awards Dinner, to be held at the Jefferson on January 25. Proceeds from the dinner will go to the Council’s educational programs. Look for the exciting 2007 First Freedom Award winners in a September, 2006, press release!

First Freedom Center Comprehensive Campaign

The comprehensive campaign to build the First Freedom Center is a multi-year effort to raise capital funds and operating reserves to build a national education center dedicated to providing educational programs, materials and exhibits about religious freedom as an American historical development, as a contemporary controversy, and as an international human right.


How You Can Help

If you would like to contribute your time, talent, information or financial resources, please go to How You Can Help.

Financial Contributions. Gifts to the First Freedom Campaign can provide lasting recognition and tribute to a family, individual, business or foundation. Each gift will be recognized appropriately as determined by the donor and the Council.

An investment in the First Freedom Center Campaign may be characterized as a charitable expense pursuant to Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Council assists donors who wish to plan their gifts to achieve the greatest benefit under current tax regulations. Please contact the Council or your tax advisor for assistance.