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Idaho Freedom Foundation
| Idaho Freedom Foundation | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Boise, Idaho |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | Ron Nate, President |
| Founder(s): | Wayne Hoffman and Heather Lauer |
| Year founded: | 2009 |
| Website: | Official website |
The Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Boise, Idaho that, according to its website, uses "research, journalism, education and advocacy dovetail to help Idaho policymakers make better decisions, rooted in conservative principles, so that Idahoans will be better off."[1] The foundation was founded in 2009. As of September 2025, the Center for American Education (CAE) is a part of the foundation. According to the center's website, it "conduct[s] research on and advocate[s] for policies that empower students and their families and prepare individuals to pursue academic truth, advance knowledge, and contribute to the growth of a strong moral order and prosperous society."[2]
Background
The Idaho Freedom Foundation was founded in 2009 by Wayne Hoffman and Heather Lauer.[1] According to its website, the foundation started after Ralph Smeed and Maurice Clements, who started the Center for the Study of Market Alternatives, reached out to Hoffman about starting "a new state-focused, free-market think tank dedicated to Idaho issues."[1] Norm Semanko then connected Hoffman with Lauer, who was at the time in the process of starting a think tank.[1]
As of September 2025, the foundation's website said it "exists to advance the conservative principles—limited government, free markets and self-reliance—that made our country the envy of the world" and "hold[s] lawmakers accountable when they say one thing and do another, when they promise conservative leadership but then vote to expand government, support special interests or make it harder for Idahoans to get ahead and stay ahead."[1]
Leadership
As of September 2025, the following individuals held leadership positions at the Idaho Freedom Foundation:[1]
- Ron Nate, President
- Fred Birnbaum, Legislative Affairs Director
- Samuel T. Lair, Director of the Center for American Education
- Jake Wyman, Communications Director
- Rachel Hazelip, Policy Analyst and Legislative Liaison
- Sarah Clendenon, Director of Operations
- Bryan Hyde, Host of "Nowhere to Hyde"
As of September 2025, the Idaho Freedom Foundation's Board of Directors included the following individuals:[1]
- Brent Regan, Chair
- Bryan Smith, Vice Chair
- Ron Crane, Treasurer
- Graye Wolfe, Board Member
- Doyle Beck, Board Member
- Bob Tikker, Board Member
- Tina DeBoer, Board Member
- Heather Lauer, Board Member
Work and activities
Center for American Education
In October 2024, the Idaho Freedom Foundation announced the return of the Center for American Education and hired Samuel T. Lair as the center's director.[3] According to the foundation's website, the center "works with state legislators, policymakers, and parents to promote transformational change to our state and national education system so that it best serves the families and students who utilize it."[2]
Idaho Freedom Index
As of September 2025, the Idaho Freedom Foundation measures "how well legislators vote according to the principles of freedom and limited government."[4] The foundation website states that the index calculates "the percentage of times each legislator votes for legislation with positive ratings and votes against legislation with negative ratings."[4] The foundation released its first index calculation in 2015.[5]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the Idaho Freedom Foundation's revenues and expenses from 2011 to 2023. The information comes from ProPublica
| Year | Revenue | Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $832,678 | $1.07 million |
| 2022 | $1.04 million | $1.08 million |
| 2021 | $895,196 | $862,887 |
| 2020 | $1.14 million | $748,426 |
| 2019 | $710,374 | $716,579 |
| 2018 | $806,862 | $888,321 |
| 2017 | $763,312 | $697,821 |
| 2016 | $526,658 | $668,356 |
| 2015 | $1.04 million | $663,117 |
| 2014 | $757,402 | $731,027 |
| 2013 | $695,200 | $688,748 |
| 2012 | $541,631 | $447,108 |
| 2011 | $355,673 | $350,348 |
See also
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Idaho Freedom Foundation official website
- Idaho Freedom Foundation on Facebook
- Idaho Freedom Foundation on X
- Idaho Freedom Foundation on Instagram
- Idaho Freedom Foundation on YouTube
- Idaho Freedom Foundation on Rumble
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Idaho Freedom Foundation, "About," accessed September 4, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Idaho Freedom Foundation, "About the Center for American Education," accessed September 4, 2025
- ↑ The Gem State Chronicle, "Idaho Freedom Foundation Announces Return of Center for American Education, Hires New," October 17, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Idaho Freedom Foundation, "How does the Idaho Freedom Index work?" April 30, 2025
- ↑ Idaho Freedom Foundation, "Idaho Freedom Index," accessed September 4, 2025
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