The Project on Fair Representation advocates for race-neutral policies in education, voting, and government action. It uses education, advocacy, and public interest litigation to challenge racial and ethnic classifications that it deems unconstitutional, unfair, and harmful. ¹

Activities

In May 2022, the Project on Fair Representation submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in an Alabama redistricting case. The Project opposes racial gerrymandering and argues that the U.S. Constitution requires the elimination of racial sorting in redistricting. The Project further claims that although districts drawn by connecting compact, contiguous neighborhoods may not have the racial percentages sought by political parties, these race-neutral districts could eliminate racial stereotyping. ²

In April 2022, the Project on Fair Representation sent a letter warning the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) that its “30-30-30 plan” violates the Fourteenth Amendment. The Project claims that OHSU’s plan to ensure that underrepresented minorities make up at least 30% of its students imposes an illegal racial quota. The Project further alleges that OHSU’s plan creates an unconstitutional racially discriminatory admissions program. ³

In January 2022, the Project on Fair Representation sent a letter to the New York Department of Health concerning its guidance on the prioritization of COVID-19 treatments, which the Project alleged were racially discriminatory. The Project claimed that the Department’s COVID-19 treatment guidance considered non-white individuals to be at a higher risk solely based on ethnicity and to be prioritized for treatment over white individuals. The Project further claimed that the guidance would result in needless loss of life and would perpetuate racial categories, which are immoral and illegal. ⁴

Funding

The Project on Fair Representation is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. While the Project on Fair Representation does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from Donors Trust ($100,000 in 2019), ⁵ the Searle Freedom Trust ($100,000 in 2018), ⁶ and the Bader Family Foundation ($85,000 in 2019). ⁷

People

Edward Blum is the executive director of the Project on Fair Representation, the president of the Alliance for Fair Board Recruitment, ⁸ and a former fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. ⁹

Members of the board include secretary Edward Pfenninger and treasurer Patricia Brooks. ¹⁰

1. “Project on Fair Representation Submits Amicus Brief to SCOTUS in Alabama Redistricting Case.” The Project on Fair Representation. May 2, 2022. Accessed June 27, 2022. https://projectonfairrepresentation.org/project-on-fair-representation-submits-amicus-brief-to-scotus-in-alabama-redistricting-case/.
2. “Project on Fair Representation Submits Amicus Brief to SCOTUS in Alabama Redistricting Case.” The Project on Fair Representation. May 2, 2022. Accessed June 27, 2022. https://projectonfairrepresentation.org/project-on-fair-representation-submits-amicus-brief-to-scotus-in-alabama-redistricting-case/.
3. “Project on Fair Representation Warns Oregon Health & Science University of Unconstitutional Racial Discrimination in New “30-30-30” Admissions Plan.” The Project on Fair Representation. April 19, 2022. Accessed June 27, 2022. https://projectonfairrepresentation.org/project-on-fair-representation-warns-oregon-health-science-university-of-unconstitutional-racial-discrimination-in-new-30-30-30-admissions-plan/.
4. “Project on Fair Representation Warns New York Department of Health About Racially Discriminatory Prioritization of COVID-19 Treatments.” The Project on Fair Representation. January 19, 2022. Accessed June 27, 2022. https://projectonfairrepresentation.org/project-on-fair-representation-warns-new-york-department-of-health-about-racially-discriminatory-prioritization-of-covid-19-treatments/.
5. Donors Trust, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Schedule I, Part II.
6. Searle Freedom Trust, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2018, Part XV, Line 3.
7. Bader Family Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2019, Part XV, Line 3.
8. “Join Us.” Alliance for Fair Board Recruitment. 2021. Accessed June 22, 2022. https://fairrecruitment.org/join-us.
9. “Edward Blum.” American Enterprise Institute. 2022. Accessed June 22, 2022. https://www.aei.org/profile/edward-blum/.
10. Project on Fair Representation Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.