Concerned Women for America/ CWFA/ Beverly LaHaye

Summary

Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy women's organization with a rich 25-year history of helping the members across the country bring Biblical principles into all levels of public policy. They help people focus on six core issues- Definition of the Family, Sanctity of Human Life, Education, Pornography, Religious Liberty and National Sovereignty which CWA has determined need Biblical principles most and where the organization can have the greatest impact. At its root, each of these issues is a battle over worldviews.

CWA is a unique blend of policy experts and an activist network of people in small towns and big cities across the country working to address mutually held goals and concerns.

This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Concerned Women for America ("CWA") strives to be the voice for women who embrace traditional family values and to educate the general public on certain non partisan issues (i.e. abortion, abuse, family values). CWA promotes public policy that strengthens women and the family. CWA is the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization, with over 500,000 members nationwide. The vision of CWA is for women and like-minded men, from all walks of life, to come together and restore the family to its traditional purpose and thereby allow each member of the family to realize their God-given potential and be more responsible citizens. Beverly LaHaye founded CWA in 1979.

This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Concerned Women for America uses the following to express its mission statement:

The mission of CWA is to protect and promote Biblical values among all citizens - first through prayer, then education, and finally by influencing our society - thereby reversing the decline in moral values in our nation.

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

On Capitol Hill, CWA lobbyists work hard with members of Congress and their staffs to ensure that families have a voice in the legislative process.

"Project 535", named for the total number of senators and representatives in Congress, Project 535 is a volunteer lobbying group. Women (mothers, teachers, business professionals) from the East Coast meet once a month to focus on a particular issue and then to lobby on Capitol Hill.

Fax Alerts: Regular alerts detailing action items are faxed to CWA’s network of state activists.

FYI - A weekly bulletin featuring CWA’s take on current issues is faxed to activists, donors, pro-family groups and members of Congress.

E-mail: Approximately once a week, CWA's Legislation Department sends a notification of legislation action items and other news.

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

Concerned Women for America uses the following to express its statement of faith:

We believe the Bible to be the verbally inspired, inerrant Word of God and the final authority on faith and practice.

We believe Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death, rose bodily from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven from where He will come again to receive all believers unto Himself.

We believe all men are fallen creations of Adam's race and in need of salvation by grace through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe it is our duty to serve God to the best of our ability and to pray for a moral and spiritual revival that will return this nation to the traditional values upon which it was founded.

History [ Back to top ]

In 1979, Beverly LaHaye watched a television interview of Betty Friedan, founder of the National Organization for Women. Realizing that Friedan claimed to speak for the women of America, Beverly LaHaye was stirred to action. She knew the feminists' anti-God, anti-family rhetoric did not represent her beliefs, nor those of the vast majority of women.

With the vision of protecting the family through prayer and action, Beverly LaHaye founded Concerned Women for America (CWA). Its headquarters were located in San Diego, California, until January 1985, when the organization moved its national headquarters to Washington, D.C.

Today, Concerned Women for America - with members in 50 states - is the largest public policy women's organization in the nation. Although CWA is primarily a women's organization, its issues deal with the family, so men are also encouraged to join. Its membership includes women and men of all ages, various church affiliations and multiple political parties.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

To give members a voice in each community, hundreds of CWA Prayer/Action Chapters have been formed in cities and towns across America. Prayer/Action Chapters are truly the heartbeat of CWA. These chapters consist of faithful women and men who meet on a regular basis to pray for leaders and issues, and then take action. And they are making a difference - keeping pornography out of the community, supporting crisis pregnancy centers and organizing voter registration drives.

Contact the CWA National Field Office for more information on how one can become involved in CWA at the local level.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

Ranking Category	Rating	Overall Rank	Advocacy Sector
Overall Efficiency Rating		304 of 348	19 of 22
Fund Acquisition Decision		304 of 348	19 of 22
Resource Allocation Decision		of 348	22 of 22
Asset Utilization Decision		of 348	22 of 22