The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa is the Iowa affiliate of the Interfaith Alliance. It promotes left-of-center policies in Iowa and opposes the political activities of conservative Christians.

Background

Incorporated in 1996, two years after its national sister organization, the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa advocates for abortion access, gun control, and Iowa’s ban on the death penalty. It opposes school vouchers and asserts that the United States is systemically racist. ¹

The organization maintains an affiliated 501 (c)(4) group, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund. ²

The chairman of the board of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa is John McCormally, who has worked for the Iowa Democratic Party and whose criticism of the Democratic National Committee featured extensively in coverage of the confusion and reporting delays that plagued the 2020 Iowa Democratic Caucus. ³

Activities

In 2023, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa denounced and organized opposition to Iowa’s pro-life heartbeat bill, claiming that protecting children in the womb after six weeks imposes religious views on others. ^{4 5} Its executive director also claimed the phrase “unborn child” is non-medical. ⁶

Both the Iowa-based alliance and its national affiliate in 2023 signed a letter that protested Target’s decision to roll back its annual catalog of Pride Month-themed merchandise for children. ⁷

Given Iowa’s traditional status as a swing state and as the first state to hold a presidential caucus every four years, the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa is often involved in high-profile national debates. In 2019, its executive director called on Democratic presidential candidates not to accept an invitation from The Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Platts to that year’s annual summit. ⁸

In the 2016 election, the group supported retaining three justices of the Iowa Supreme Court who had ruled in favor of compelling recognition of same-sex marriage. ⁹ It also supported retention votes for other justices in 2010 and 2012 and accused those who opposed retaining the justices of religious extremism. ¹⁰

The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa condemned a joke told by then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in Iowa in 2016. ¹¹

The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa belongs to the Iowa Interfaith Exchange, which includes other left-leaning organizations that promote left-leaning causes from a professed religious perspective. ¹²

Funding

Since 2011, the organization has reported more than $400,000 in revenue only in 2021. ¹³ That year, approximately 62 percent of the organization’s expenditures were directed to the salaries, wages, and compensation of its employees. ¹⁴

1. “Issues.” Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. Accessed November 24, 2023. https://www.interfaithallianceiowa.org/education-initiatives/issues.
2. “Donate.” Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. Accessed November 24, 2023. https://www.interfaithallianceiowa.org/donate.
3. Clayworth, Jason. “DNC-Ordered Security Patch Fouled Iowa Caucus App, Ex-Democratic Official Says; Official Denies.” Des Moines Register, February 6, 2020. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/2020/02/06/dnc-security-patch-resulted-in-iowa-caucus-app-malfunction/4678980002/.
4. Henderson, O. Kay. “Iowa Legislature Poised to Pass ‘Fetal Heartbeat’ Bill Again.” RadioIowa, July 11, 2023. https://www.radioiowa.com/2023/07/11/iowa-legislature-poised-to-pass-fetal-heartbeat-bill-again/.
5. Alviz-Gransee, Noelle. “Iowa Faith Leaders Voice Opposition to Abortion Law Set for Special Legislative Session.” Des Moines Register, July 9, 2023. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2023/07/09/iowa-faith-leaders-object-to-kim-reynolds-abortion-special-session/70395852007/.
6. Sostaric, Katarina. “Board of Medicine Advances Rules for Iowa Abortion Providers If ‘fetal Heartbeat’ Law Takes Effect.” Iowa Public Radio, November 17, 2023. https://www.iowapublicradio.org/health/2023-11-17/board-of-medicine-advances-rules-for-iowa-abortion-providers-if-fetal-heartbeat-law-takes-effect.
7. “BREAKING: Over 200 LGBTQ+ and Allied Organizations Call on Target, Business Community to Speak Out Against Extremist Anti-LGBTQ+ Attacks.” Human Rights Campaign, June 5, 2023. https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/breaking-over-200-lgbtq-and-allied-organizations-call-on-target-business-community-to-speak-out-against-extremist-anti-lgbtq-attacks.
8. Ryan, Connie. “Civility Is More than Words; The Family Leader’s Actions Don’t Respect LGBTQ People.” Des Moines Register, May 3, 2019. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/caucus/2019/05/03/family-leader-actions-dont-respect-lgbtq-people-uncivil-bob-vander-plaats-iowa-caucuses-democrats/1091292001/.
9. Rodgers, Grant. “Faith Leaders Denounce Politics in Judicial Retention Election.” Des Moines Register, October 27, 2016. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2016/10/27/faith-leaders-denounce-politics-judicial-retention-election/92842250/.
10. Danielson, Dar. “Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Urges Support of State Supreme Court Judges.” RadioIowa, October 27, 2016. https://www.radioiowa.com/2016/10/27/interfaith-alliance-of-iowa-urges-support-of-state-supreme-court-judges/.
11. “Donald Trump Asks if Non-Conservative Christians Should Be Removed From Iowa Campaign Event.” Interfaith Alliance: Achieving Democracy Together, September 29, 2016. https://www.interfaithalliance.org/donald-trump-asks-non-conservative-christians-removed-iowa-campaign-event/
12. “About.” Iowa Interfaith Exchange. Accessed November 24, 2023. https://www.iowainterfaithexchange.com/about/.
13. Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), Tax Filings by Year.  Accessed November 24, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/421459354.
14. Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/421459354/202301679349301700/full.