Summary
The Family Research Council (FRC) champions marriage and family as the foundation of civilization, the seedbed of virtue, and the wellspring of society. FRC shapes public debate and formulates public policy that values human life and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family. Believing that God is the author of life, liberty, and the family, FRC promotes the Judeo-Christian worldview as the basis for a just, free, and stable society. FRC is a nonprofit organization and contributions to it are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, it is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact Information: [ Back to top ]
| Mailing Address: | 801 G St NW.
Washington, DC
20001-0001 |
| Website: | www.frc.org |
| Phone: | (202) 393-2100 |
| Email: | You need to enable javascript to see the email |
Organization Details [ Back to top ]
EIN: 521792772
| CEO/President: |
Tony Perkins |
Tax Deductible: |
Yes |
| Chairman: |
Thomas R. Anderson |
Fiscal Year End: |
September 30 |
| Board Size: |
10 |
Financial info from: |
990 |
| Founder: |
|
Member of ECFA: |
Yes |
| Year Founded: |
1992 |
Member of ECFA since: |
2000 |
The Family Research Council ("FRC") exists to provide educational materials to the general public concerning traditional Judeo-Christian family values and ethics, and information concerning legislative and judicial developments affecting family life and values. To accomplish this task, the Council will, promote and defend traditional family values in print, broadcast and other media outlets. It will develop and advocate legislative and public policy initiatives, which strengthen and fortify the family and promote traditional values. Further it will establish and maintain an accurate source of statistical and research information, which reaffirms the importance of the family in our civilization. Finally, it will inform and educate citizens on how they can promote Biblical principles in our culture.
FRC is a nonprofit organization and contributions to it are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, it is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
The Family Research Council's Mission Statement is::
Family Research Council (FRC) exists to provide educational materials to the general public concerning traditional Judeo-Christian family values and ethics, and information concerning legislative and judicial developments affecting family life and values.
Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]
- FRC mailed copies of over 425 different information products, including books, research reports, speech and radio transcripts, booklets and brochures, and audio and video tapes.
- Information requests were filled for over 20,000 recipients based on telephone and mail contacts of over 15,000 each month. A total of over 105,000 educational items were shipped.
- FRC’s regular informational newsletter, Washington Watch, reached an average of 42,000 recipients.
- FRC’s radio show, Washington Weekly, is being aired on two major radio networks. And the FRC Daily Radio Commentary is carried on approximately 300 radio stations nationwide.
- FRC served as a resource for congress, handling dozens of requests for data, research, and analysis of family policy issues; developed and distributed action alerts for cata-list recipients; and responded to executive branch activity affecting the family. Particular focus included measures for strengthening the institution of marriage, tax relief for families, pornography on the internet, religious liberty issues, education policy, sanctity of human life issues, family structure, and human rights.
- The FRC staff developed policy papers, legal briefs, and regular publications on a wide variety of family issues, which include booklets, perspective papers, pamphlets, insight papers, lecture summaries, “From the Podium” papers, and Infocus papers.
- FRC was responsible for the production and distribution of an annual version of Family Policy Review, and updated version of Family Portrait outlining key family statistics; Getting it Straight and Outrage, publications filled with statistical information regarding the homosexual community, and undertook mailings of public policy memoranda and fact sheets to over 1,200 key policy makers.
- FRC distributed specialized publications in several areas including: Culture Facts, a monthly newsletter sent to over 3,800 recipients on key cultural indicators, press release list that relates approximately 9,000 media specialists, and cata list constituent alerts to over 100,000 recipients.
Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]
The Family Research Council express their core values as follows:
- God exists and is sovereign over all creation. He created human beings in his image. Human life is, therefore, sacred and the right to life is the most fundamental of political rights.
- Life and love are inextricably linked and find their natural expression in the institutions of marriage and the family.
- Government has a duty to promote and protect marriage and family in law and public policy.
- The American system of law and justice was founded on the Judeo-Christian ethic.
- American democracy depends upon a vibrant civil society composed of families, churches, schools, and voluntary associations
The idea of the Family Research Council originated at the 1980 White House Conference on Families. Among the conferees, James Dobson stood out because of his rare combination of Christian social values and academic and professional credentials. A practicing clinical psychologist and noted author, Dobson had recently transitioned into radio broadcasting and also launched a nonprofit, family service organization. He felt that the time was ripe to establish an organization that would drive the national debate on family issues. In 1983, the Family Research Council incorporated as a nonprofit educational institution in the District of Columbia; its founding board included Dobson and two noted psychiatrists, Armand Nicholoi Jr. of Harvard University and George Rekers of the University of South Carolina.
Under the leadership of Gerry Regier, a former Reagan Administration official at the Department of Health and Human Services, FRC began to link policy makers with researchers and professionals from a variety of disciplines. Gary Bauer, a domestic policy advisor to President Reagan, succeeded Regier in 1988 and by the mid-1990s the organization had grown into a $10 million operation with a nationwide network of support.
After Bauer resigned to seek public office in 2000, the board appointed Ken Connor -- a prominent attorney from Tallahassee and former Florida gubernatorial candidate -- to lead FRC. As a pro-life advocate, Connor had served as president and board chairman of Florida Right to Life, vice chairman of Americans United for Life, and board chairman of Care Net, an umbrella organization for five hundred pre-natal care centers. Under Connor's tenure, FRC launched the Center for Human Life and Bioethics and the Center for Marriage and Family, thereby reaffirming FRC's commitment to provide the nation's lawmakers with critical research on public policy affecting the family.
In July of 2003, Connor resigned to return to the practice of law and was succeeded by veteran pro-family activist and policy maker Tony Perkins. Described as a legislative pioneer by the national media, Perkins had a significant impact on Louisiana politics as a two-term state representative and as a candidate for the United States Senate in 2002. Recognized as the leading conservative voice in the Louisiana Legislature, Perkins had been the main opponent to the state's gambling industry and one of the state's most vocal pro-life advocates. In an effort to address the growing social problems brought about by the instability of marriage and no-fault divorce, he authored and passed the nation's first Covenant Marriage law. Perkins is the fourth president in FRC's history. He and his wife have four children.
The Family Research Council express its needs as follows:
One may join in the work of FRC by supporting FRC financially, they also provide a number of other stewardship opportunities. More information may be found on their website.
Research Analysis
Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]
| Transparency Grade of : A |
| Criteria category | Grade | Other Comments |
| Timeliness: | 100 | |
| Financial Information: | 100 | |
| Foundational Clarity: | 100 | 10/28/2011 3:59:51 PM: Descriptive information was abundant and thorough. |
| Level of Cooperation: | 100 | |
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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]
| Ranking Category | Rating | Overall Rank | Advocacy Sector |
|---|
| Overall Efficiency Rating |  | 159 of 347 | 10 of 22 |
| Fund Acquisition Decision |  | 258 of 347 | 15 of 22 |
| Resource Allocation Decision | | 168 of 347 | 9 of 22 |
| Asset Utilization Decision | | 88 of 347 | 9 of 22 |
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2006 MinistryWatch.com Shining Light top ministry list
Prior MinistryWatch.com Shining Light ‘Top 30’ Exemplary Ministry. Previously listed from 2005 - 2007.
MinistryWatch.com desires to see overall giving to Biblical Christian values increase and as such we developed this format to highlight those ministries which are exemplary. The list is a sampling of the “best ministries” and outstanding examples when we consider Philippians 4:8 and weigh and take account of those ministries that are excellent and worthy of praise.
These ministries are called ‘Shining Lights’ because they are indeed models of letting their Christian light shine before men so that the Gospel may be proclaimed and God be glorified. Consequently, we are shining a figurative light on them so that donors may be aware of their good works and other ministries may learn from their examples.
While identifying the best ministries is challenging given the selfless work that so many do for the cause of Christ, MinistryWatch.com believes that the list of 30 excellent ministries will be helpful to many. Each of the ministries has the following important features in common:
- Legitimate nonprofit ministry and purpose.
- Have shown a willingness to treat donors fairly via a Transparency Grade of “A”.
- Are unashamed of being identified as an evangelical Christian ministry.
- MinistryWatch.com researchers knows of no significant issues that would be of concern to donors.
A high MinistryWatch.com Financial Efficiency Rating was not a requirement for inclusion on this list although most do have good ratings. Many factors were reviewed and strengths in other areas can offset weakness in financial efficiency when determining whether a ministry should be of interest to donors seeking to be good stewards of their giving. Only you can decide for yourself with confidence if a ministry shares your values and with your giving plan.
This is just another step in our mission of encouraging Christians to give more of their talents and resources to Kingdom-building efforts. In short, we wish to help spread the Gospel of Christ by helping Christians give more and more effectively to the works of the Lord. If the Lord uses our list as part of that process, we will have been a blessing to both those ministries who have been ‘good and faithful servants’ with the Lord’s resources and to Christian donors who are seeking to be good stewards of their giving.
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MinistryWatch.com’s Take
Family Research Council Exists To Defend the Family
Critically important to the survival of America is the God-ordained institution of the family. As evidenced by the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion – Roe v. Wade – the family is under attack. Divorce, societal acceptance of homosexuality, and the rampant growth of Internet pornography are just some of the other manifestations of this onslaught.
Nevertheless, one need not despair; for Christians and others concerned about societal decay, the Family Research Council (FRC) exists for a time such as this. The Washington-based political advocacy organization conducts research and supports legislation which is designed to strengthen our nation’s traditional institutions, in particular the family. The group’s Internet
Citizen Action Alert, radio programs and various publications serve to educate citizens regarding current events affecting the family. Experienced policy and media experts pool their extensive experience to offer media and legislative responses to issues impacting the family.
On just the abortion issue alone, there are four pieces of pending federal legislation endorsed by the FRC that are designed to reduce the number of abortions performed in the U.S. – presently occurring at a rate of about 1.3 million a year. They are:
- The Abortion Nondiscrimination Act, which would allow health-care workers the right to opt out of participating in the act of killing an innocent life;
- The Child Custody Protection Act, which would empower parents with the right to be involved in their minor child’s decision concerning abortion and make it illegal for a person, without parental consent, to transport the child across state lines for purposes of abortion;
- The Partial Birth Abortion Ban, which would halt the taking of the unborn life within days or even minutes of a viable birth;
- The Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which would give the unborn an identity legally separate from their mother when they suffer from acts of violence.
The Family Research Council, promotes life-affirming choices for women who are faced with crisis pregnancies. One of their golas is to help rebuild a culture of life in which every child is welcomed in life and protected by law, as FRC believes that Americans should not have to choose between a woman and her child. FRC believes that our hearts are big enough to love them both
While giving a voice and actively pursuing the pro-life cause, the FRC is equally entrenched in fighting other attacks upon the family. They champion efforts by President Bush to return judges to the federal bench that honor our nation’s founding documents, which are based upon God’s Word.
The FRC is also engaged in the war for the hearts and minds of our nation’s children through the public education system. The misguided “safe-sex” curriculum has been proven a failure; the FRC is unrelenting in its effort to replace it with abstinence until marriage teaching, which has been proven a success in places such as North Carolina, where it is state law. The FRC is also supporting proposed legislation designed to protect the rights of home-schoolers, religious freedom in schools, and school choice.
The FRC’s involvement in these issues is a reflection of its mission: “To champion marriage and family as the foundation of civilization (and to) shape public opinion and formulate public policy believing that God is the author of life.” While not acting exclusively as an evangelical Christian organization, the FRC’s activities are nevertheless aligned with many orthodox Christian beliefs. It exists to safeguard the nation’s founding principles. As Abraham Lincoln expressed, “It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proved by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.” Our nation is established upon the rule of law and institutions; among the most critical institutions is the family. Indeed, it is the first institution established by God. For a nation to be blessed, it must honor this most basic institution. The FRC does that.