FIRST AMENDMENT FOUNDATION INC

The First Amendment Foundation aims to keep Florida's Sunshine Laws strong and honestly and effectively executed. Each legislative session brings scores of new challenges. Most often the new proposals coming before the Legislature would in some way diminish the public's right to information. FAF seeks to remediate or halt the harmful legislation and support beneficial legislation.


FAF aims to educate and train Florida citizens and public officials on the Sunshine Laws through workshops and publishing training manuals..
FAF will expand its electronic outreach to citizens and to civic non-profits through website improvements, webinars and social networking.
FAF will create partnerships to expand its educational programs
FAF will step-up its montioring of records and meetings law implementation across Florida, alerting the public and public officials of possible violations.

FAF is developing a strategic plan to create new programs over the next five years. FAF will seek grants to create a legal, journalism and civic fellows program with the ultimate goal of creating an endowment to support the fellows program. FAF hired a fundraising professional to launch the fundraising effort in 2014 to raise $500,000. Foundation, corporate and individual grant applications will be submitted at the state and national level. Since 1984, the Foundation has been primarily supported by a news industry that believed the public has a right to know what their government is doing and why. This support has diminished, and the Foundation must look for support beyond the founders. By creating new programs through the fellows program, the Foundation will expand its works with public policy centers, NGOs, and citizen activists. All have the potential to support the Foundation and provide greater public awareness. This vigorous advocacy on behalf of open government in Florida will secure FAF's future for the next 30 years.

The First Amendment Foundation has a singular purpose to embrace the fundamental principle that open government meetings and public records are the keys to citizen trust in government and participation in democracy. As the pioneer in open government in Florida, FAF has had a profound impact and is capable of moving forward with its strategic five-year goals. The Board supports the goals and will engage in fundraising. There are more than 300 members of FAF and a network of citizen activists that will provide a base of support to launch the fundraising campaign. A professional has been hired to direct the fundraising campaign and work with the Board. A Board Development Committee has been created and the Committee is actively identifying major gifts prospects. A fundraising training session for the Board is scheduled for the June 2014 meeting.

FAF is preparing for a major gifts fundraising campaign to secure $500,000 to launch the Legal, Civic and Jounalism Fellows program in the fall of 2014. The Board and the staff will begin making cultivation and solicitation calls in May 2014.