The Family Leader
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| The Family Leader | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Urbandale, Iowa |
| Type: | 501(c)(4) |
| Affiliation: | Conservative |
| Top official: | Bob Vander Plaats, President and CEO |
| Year founded: | 1997 |
| Website: | Official website |
The Family Leader (TFL) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) based in Urbandale, Iowa. TFL is a politically and socially active Conservative Christian organization that was founded 1997. The organization also hosts the annual Family Leadership Summit, which, in 2015, was attended by 10 Republican presidential candidates. Bob Vander Plaats is the CEO and president of TFL.[1]
Mission
According to The Family Leader website, the organization's mission is as follows:[2]
| “ |
Strengthen families, by inspiring Christ-like leadership in the home, the church, and the government.[3] |
” |
Background
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Founded in 1997, The Family Leader is a politically active Christian organization. It focuses on seven key issues, according to their website, that support their mission; the issues include:[4]
- Marriage: "We believe marriage is a permanent, lifelong commitment between a man and a woman."
- Sanctity of life: "The Family Leader actively supports protection of life from conception to natural death."
- Sexuality: "The Family Leader affirms sexual relations within the bond of marriage, and opposes distortions of sexuality or special rights to those practicing distorted sexual behavior."
- Judicial activism: "The Family Leader strongly supports efforts to keep judicial activism in check."
- Education: "We believe truth exists and educational responsibility lies first with parents. The Family Leader works to ensure parents can choose the type of education that reflects their values."
- Gambling: "The Family Leader challenges the establishment and spread of gambling due to its destructive impact on individuals, families, and communities."
- Taxes and spending: "We believe the costs of excessive government and over-taxation is a direct threat to family well-being."
The Organization's president and CEO is Bob Vander Plaats, who worked as the Iowa chair for former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's (R) presidential campaign in 2008.[5] The New York Times noted the social conservative aspects of Huckabee's campaign, saying he "grounded his views on issues like abortion and immigration in Scripture, rallied members of the clergy for support, benefited from the anti-Mormon sentiment dogging a political rival and relied on the down-to-earth style he honed in the pulpit to help catapult him in the polls."[6]
2016 election
In November 2015, TFL hosted the Presidential Family Forum in Des Moines. According to TFL, the forum was part of their pre-caucus educational program, in which the organization examined the 2016 presidential candidates and their stance on pro-family issues. TFL described the forum as allowing "[o]bservers will learn what candidates believe about an issue, why they believe that way, how their beliefs frame their ultimate vision for America, and the level of sincerity for implementing their stated vision."[7] According to TFL, 1,100 people attended the forum and along with candidates Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Rick Santorum.[8]
TFL announced that it would not endorse a presidential candidate, stating that "our board unanimously decided The FAMiLY LEADER needs to remain a standard bearer for Christian principles in our culture and government, and not endeavor to be a kingmaker in the election process."[9]
Leadership
The following was a list of the leadership for The Family Leader as of October 2015:[10]
- Greg Baker, Executive, Director of TFL Ambassador Network
- David Barnett, Deputy Director of Ambassador Network
- Danny Carroll, Family Advocate
- Glen Cornell, Multi-Media Director
- Chuck Hurley, Vice President and Chief Counsel
- Chris Nitzschke, Director of Operations
- Tamara Scott, Family Advocate
- Julie Summa,, Director of Development
- Bob Vander Plaats, President and CEO
- Drew Zahn, Director of Communications
The following was a list of board members for TFL as of October 2015:[11]
- Tome and Sue Spay
- Dean and Judy Lauterbach
- Dave and Cheryl Kutscher, Co-Chair and Treasurer
- Robert and Lori Cramer
- Steve and Janet Boender, Secretary
- Dr. Chad and Amanda Carlson
- Mike and Jody Wohlenhaus
- Dr. Todd and Mary Troll, Co-Chair
Finances
The following is a breakdown of TFL's revenue from contributions and grants, total revenue, and expenses for 2010-2014 fiscal years, as reported to the IRS. (Note: TFL's fiscal year is October to September).
| Annual contributions and grants received, total revenue and expenses for TFL, 2010-2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Year | Contributions and grants received | Total annual revenue | Expenses |
| 2013/2014[11] | $284,566 | $468,926 | $667,686 |
| 2012/2013[12] | $863,954 | $983,046 | $791,789 |
| 2011/2012[13] | $698,549 | $814,817 | $836,176 |
| 2010/2011[13] | $314,039 | $323,081 | $435,878 |
Affiliated programs
The Family Leadership Summit
The Family Leadership Summit is an annual conference hosted by TFL. Religious leaders as well as politicians participate. In 2015, Republican presidential candidates Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum and Donald Trump spoke at the conference along with former candidates Rick Perry and Scott Walker. According to the Des Moines Register, the Summit is an important conference for presidential candidates seeking to appeal to the religious right.[14]
Media
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms The Family Leader. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ TFL, "TFL Staff," accessed February 26, 2015
- ↑ TFL, "Our Mission and Beliefs," accessed October 19, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ TFL, "Issues," accessed October 19, 2015
- ↑ George Washington University Democracy in Action, "Key People-Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)," accessed July 9, 2015
- ↑ New York Times, "Pulpit Was the Springboard for Huckabee’s Rise," December 6, 2007
- ↑ TFL, "Presidential Family Forum," accessed February 26, 2016
- ↑ TFL, "VIDEO: Watch the 2015 Presidential Family Forum here!" accessed February 26, 2016
- ↑ TFL, "Endorsement: The FAMiLY LEADER chooses to remain a standard bearer," accessed February 26, 2016
- ↑ TFL, "TFL Staff," accessed October 19, 2015
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Guidestar, "TFL, IRS Form 990 (2013/2014)," accessed September 14, 2015
- ↑ Guidestar, "TFL, IRS Form 990 (2012/2013)," accessed October 19, 2015
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Guidestar, "TFL, IRS Form 990 (2011/2012)," accessed October 19, 2015
- ↑ The Des Moines Register, "8 things to watch for at GOP's Family Leadership Summit," July 16, 2015
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