The American Culture Foundation (ACF) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance free markets and the founding principles by providing strategic insights and public policy solutions to community leaders, activists, and policy makers. 1
The American Culture Project (ACP) is the electoral advocacy arm of the American Culture Foundation. 2
Activities
The American Culture Foundation formerly sponsored Virginia Works, which is now sponsored by the American Culture Project. 3 Virginia Works is a nonpartisan organization that seeks to educate Virginians about public policy choices on issues like the state’s economy and education system in support of freedom and prosperity. 4
As the American Culture Foundation does not have a website, it is unclear what the organization does outside of supporting the American Culture Project, its 501(c)(4) advocacy arm. 5
Funding
The American Culture Foundation is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While ACF does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm contributions from the Bradley Impact Fund ($200,000 in 2022), 6 the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program ($200,000 in 2022), 7 and the Searle Freedom Trust ($175,000 in 2021). 8
Board of Directors
John Tillman is the chair and CEO of both the American Culture Foundation and the American Culture Project, the chair and former CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, and the chair of the Franklin News Network. Tillman is a cofounder and former chair of the Liberty Justice Center. 9
Mark Miller is the secretary and treasurer of the boards of both ACF and ACP. Miller is the president of Bearing Tree, whose clients include the Illinois Policy Institute, the Franklin News Network, and Iron Light, and a former partner at Ernst & Young. Miler sits on the boards of the Illinois Policy Institute, Iron Light, and the American Culture Foundation. 10
Paul Jacob is president of the Liberty Initiative Fund and sits on the boards of ACP, U.S. Term Limits, Citizens in Charge, the Citizens in Charge Foundation, the Great Communicators Foundation, and Taxpayers United of America. Jacob is the host of Common Sense, an online and print opinion program sponsored by the Great Communicators Foundation. 11 Jacob is a former member of the Libertarian Party National Committee, a former president of the Citizens in Charge Foundation, and formerly sat on the board of the Center for Independent Thought. 12
Craig Manske is a co-managing principal of Development Solutions and sits on the boards of ACP, the Illinois Policy Institute, and the Neighborhood Capital Institute. Manske is a former president of the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association. 13
Dick Weiss is a founding member of the Club for Growth and sits on the board of ACP. 14
References
- American Culture Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022, Part I, Line 1.
- American Culture Project, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022, Schedule R, Part II.
- “About.” Virginia Works. Archived from the original March 30, 2023. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20230330085654/https://virginiaworks.org/about/.
- “About.” Virginia Works. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://virginiaworks.org/about/.
- American Culture Project, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022, Schedule R, Part II.
- Bradley Impact Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022, Schedule I, Part II.
- Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022, Schedule I, Part II.
- Searle Freedom Trust, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2021, Part XV, Line 3.
- “John Tillman.” Illinois Policy. Accessed June 6, 2024. https://www.illinoispolicy.org/author/john-tillman/.
- “Mark Miller.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 6, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/markpetermiller/.
- “About Paul Jacob.” ThisIsCommonSense.org. Accessed June 6, 2024. https://thisiscommonsense.org/about-paul-jacob-2/.
- “Board of Directors.” U.S. Term Limits. Accessed June 6, 2024. https://www.termlimits.com/about/board-of-directors/.
- “Craig S. Manske.” Illinois Policy. Accessed June 6, 2024. https://www.illinoispolicy.org/author/cmanske/.
- “Mary Beth Weiss.” Network of enlightened Women. Accessed June 6, 2024. https://enlightenedwomen.org/about/mary-beth-weiss/.