Blue background and red and white wavy stripes with white stars. Headshot of CEO David Harmer. Text on the image reads, "We the People of the United States, in Order to Form A More Perfect Union."

By David Harmer

With Election Day just four weeks away, and partisan passions running high, Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge reaffirms its longstanding policy of political neutrality. The Foundation and its local chapters are nonpartisan and nonpolitical.

Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge is incorporated and legally recognized as a tax-exempt charitable and educational organization. Contributions to us are tax-deductible. In return for that favored tax status, we are prohibited from engaging in political activity. That prohibition applies with equal force to our local chapters.

No activity, communication, event, meeting, or program hosted or sponsored by or at the Foundation or its local chapters may be used to promote or oppose any political campaign or candidate. Members, officers, and staff at the national and chapter levels alike must never use any Foundation or chapter position or resource to promote or oppose any political campaign or candidate. Any reference in any chapter communication to any political campaign or candidate jeopardizes the Foundation’s tax-exempt status and is strictly forbidden. The Internal Revenue Service warns:

Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.

Avoiding the legal and financial consequences of violation ought to be motivation enough for compliance. But an even more fundamental consideration should govern our words and deeds.

Freedoms Foundation exists to create and build an understanding of the spirit and philosophy of the American founding, as reflected in its core documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. We fail to further that mission if we limit our audience to those who already share our personal political views. We aim to build an appreciation of the founding ideals among Americans of all political persuasions. We seek to serve as a trusted resource for conscientious citizens regardless of party. Everyone who loves our country is welcome.

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