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Non-profit

Louisiana Family Forum

Website:

lafamilyforum.org
Location:

Baton Rouge, LA
Tax ID:

72-1416555
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2017):

Revenue: $466,320
Expenses: $482,825
Assets: $169,985
Formation:

1999
Type:

Non-profit
President:

Gene Mills
President's Salary:

$100,8041

References

  1. Louisiana Family Forum Inc., Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2018, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.

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The Louisiana Family Forum (LFF) is a non-partisan public policy think tank that advocates for policy based on the principles of limited government, individual liberty, free enterprise, and traditional family values. 1 LFF is primary concerned with traditional marriage, criminal justice reform, abortion laws, and free speech on college campuses. 2

The Louisiana Family Forum is an associate member of the State Policy Network, a coalition of free-market state-level policy organizations. 3 While LFF is non-partisan, members of its staff and board have affiliations with the Republican Party.

Activity

The Louisiana Family Forum is a non-partisan public policy think tank that advocates for policy based on the principles of limited government, individual liberty, and free enterprise. 4 LFF’s primary issues are traditional marriage and family, criminal justice reform, abortion laws, and free speech, especially at colleges and universities. 5

LFF has been publishing annual legislative scorecards since 2004, which scores legislators’ votes based on LFF’s policy agenda and what it calls “Louisiana’s values.” 6

In 2020, LFF supported legislation to strengthen school choice policy by establishing new disbursement rules for education savings programs and to enhance Second Amendment protections, including protecting the right to carry a firearm in a place of worship. 7

In 2019, LFF supported legislation opposing boycotts and sanctions of Israel and legislation to add an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution that would make explicit that the Louisiana state constitution contained no right to abortion or guarantee of public funding for abortions. LFF advocated against legislation that would revive the federal Equal Rights Amendment, claiming it would eliminate current distinctions between men and women and add abortion rights to the U.S. Constitution. 8

In 2018, LFF supported legislation that strengthened free speech on college campuses, stopped public funding to entities where abortions are performed, and promoted signs saying “In God We Trust” in public schools. LFF opposed legislation that would redefine marriage, legalize marijuana, and eliminate the death penalty. 9

LFF advocates for the traditional definition of marriage between a man and a woman and supports policy that denies state recognition to same-sex marriages. LFF believes that marriage policy decisions should be made by elected officials in state government and not by unelected federal court judges. 10

In 2008, LFF supported the Louisiana Science Education Act, a bill it suggested to then-Senator Ben Nevers (D-Bogalusa) who proposed it as the Louisiana Academic Freedom Act. The Act would allow public school teachers to use materials in the science classrooms that are critical of theories like evolution. Critics of the Louisiana Science Education Act, which passed in 2008, claim that it allows for religious views, like creationism, to be taught in public schools. 11

LFF is a co-sponsor of the Louisiana Life March12 and is a member of the NOLA Needs Peace Coalition, lead by Louisiana Right to Life. 13

LFF has collaborated with national-level conservative organizations such as the Heritage Foundation, Family Policy Alliance, State Policy Network, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Family Research Council. 14

Funding

The Louisiana Family Forum is funded by donations from individuals, businesses, churches, and other organizations. LFF notes past donors on its website, including 40 Days for Life, Justice Action Network, and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. 15 Tax records show donations from Alliance Defending Freedom in 2015 and 2016 for LFF’s “marriage project.” 16

People

Staff

Kristie Pospisil Cross works as general counsel for LFF and as a legislative liaison for CHEF (Christian Home Educators Fellowship) of Louisiana. 17

Kathleen Benfield works as legislative director for LFF. Benfield is involved with Louisiana Right to Life, where she serves on the committee for its annual Proudly Pro-Life Gala18 and was previously awarded its Proudly Pro-Life Award. 19

Tim Grant serves as communications and Information technologies director for LFF. Grant formerly served two elected terms as a member of the Livingston Parish Republican Party executive committee. 20

Board of Directors

Derek Babcock serves as vice chair of the board of LFF, as a member of both the Republican State Central Committee and the Livingston Parish Executive Committee, and on the boards of the American Judicial Alliance and Health Agents for America. Babcock served as a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 2012 and 2016. 21

Charles Carpenter serves as secretary of the board of LFF and on the board of the Baton Rouge Right to Life. 22

Charlie Davis serves on the Republican State Central Committee. Davis formerly served as deputy chairman and executive director of the Republican Party of Louisiana, as a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention, and as the political director of GOPAC. 23

References

  1. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Louisiana Family Forum, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.lafamilyforum.org/faq/.
  2. Home.” Louisiana Family Forum, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.lafamilyforum.org/.
  3. “The Network: Louisiana.” State Policy Network, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://spn.org/directory/#LA.
  4. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Louisiana Family Forum, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.lafamilyforum.org/faq/.
  5. Home.” Louisiana Family Forum, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.lafamilyforum.org/.
  6. “LFF Action.” Louisiana Family Forum, 2020. Accessed December 23, 2020. https://www.lafamilyforum.org/action/.
  7. “2020 Legislative Scorecard.” Louisiana Family Forum, 2020. Accessed December 23, 2020. https://www.lafamilyforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020scorecard-1pager-final-web.pdf.
  8. “2019 Legislative Scorecard.” Louisiana Family Forum, 2020. Accessed December 23, 2020.  https://www.lafamilyforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019scorecard-senate.jpg.
  9. “2018 Sessions of the Louisiana Legislature.” Louisiana Family Forum, 2020. Accessed December 23, 2020. https://www.lafamilyforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018wins-losses-final.pdf.
  10. “Traditional Marriage Depends On Louisiana!” Louisiana Family Forum, 2020. Accessed December 23, 2020. https://www.lafamilyforum.org/traditional-marriage-depends-on-louisiana/.
  11. Schon, Sylvia. “Bill allows teaching creationism as science.” Hammond Star, April 6, 2008. Archived from the original April 19, 2012. Accessed December 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20120419040815/http://www.hammondstar.com/articles/2008/04/06/top_stories/9327.txt.
  12. “About.” Louisiana Family Forum, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.lafamilyforum.org/about/.
  13. “Coalition.” Louisiana Right to Life, 2020. Accessed December 23, 2020. https://prolifelouisiana.org/learn/no-abortion-in-nola-east/coalition/.
  14. “About.” Louisiana Family Forum, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.lafamilyforum.org/about/.
  15. “About.” Louisiana Family Forum, 2020. Accessed December 23, 2020. https://www.lafamilyforum.org/about/.
  16. Alliance Defending Freedom, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2015 and 2016, Schedule I, Part II.
  17. “Kristie Pospisil Cross.” LinkedIn, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristie-pospisil-cross-53853074/.
  18. “2021 Proudly Pro-Life Gala.” Louisiana Right to Life, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://prolifelouisiana.org/gala.
  19. “Fighting for the Right.” My New Orleans, May 1, 2014. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.myneworleans.com/fighting-for-the-right/.
  20. “Tim Grant.” LinkedIn, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-grant-8191001/.
  21. “Home.” Elect Derek Babcock, 2020. Accessed December 17, 2020. http://derekbabcock.com/.
  22. “Saving Babies…by Loving their Mothers.” Baton Rouge Christian Life Magazine, January 2018. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://batonrougechristianlifemagazine.com/2018/01/01/saving-babiesby-loving-their-mothers/.
  23. “Press Release – Ron Paul Endorsed by Louisiana State Rep. Joel Robideaux and Fmr. LAGOP Deputy Chair Charlie Davis.” The American Presidency Project, January 20, 2012. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-ron-paul-endorsed-louisiana-state-rep-joel-robideaux-and-fmr-lagop-deputy.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: March 1, 1999

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2017 Dec Form 990 $466,320 $482,825 $169,985 $15,654 N $479,849 $0 $0 $140,839 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $602,353 $496,286 $172,351 $1,515 N $618,106 $0 $0 $119,022 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $498,031 $624,440 $64,907 $138 N $531,281 $0 $0 $228,544
    2014 Dec Form 990 $679,482 $663,448 $202,090 $10,912 N $721,981 $0 $0 $187,023 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $541,109 $465,616 $179,968 $4,824 N $587,727 $0 $0 $135,633 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $477,812 $513,610 $78,264 $6,961 N $485,324 $0 $0 $156,482 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $397,675 $413,095 $108,428 $1,327 N $401,695 $0 $0 $62,540 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Louisiana Family Forum

    655 SAINT FERDINAND ST
    Baton Rouge, LA 70802-6152