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Nonprofiteer
← ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$13,667,982
Total expenses
$10,998,810
Contributions and grants received
$9,126,985
Grants paid
$15,000
Program service revenue
$4,508,656
Investment income
$0
Other revenue
$32,341
Total assets, end of year
$5,521,454
Total liabilities, end of year
$730,476
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$4,790,978
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,683,858
Management and general expenses
$2,450,432
Fundraising expenses
$4,864,520
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,683,858

Program services were 33.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $9,126,985

  • 2a · Program service revenue: DIRECT MAIL/DIGITAL

    total $4,508,656 · related or exempt $4,508,656

  • 11a · Other revenue: LIST RENTAL INCOME

    total $32,341 · related or exempt $21,703 · unrelated business $10,638

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $32,341

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $15,000 · program services $15,000

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $961,826 · program services $428,179 · management and general $274,703 · fundraising $258,944

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $64,404 · program services $25,963 · management and general $19,803 · fundraising $18,638

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $6,278 · program services $4,733 · management and general $1,545

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $18,438 · program services $5,068 · management and general $6,018 · fundraising $7,352

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $69,510 · program services $27,607 · management and general $21,755 · fundraising $20,148

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $180,000 · program services $180,000

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $22,433 · management and general $22,433

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $123,478 · management and general $123,478

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $1,755,577 · fundraising $1,755,577

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,233,554 · program services $796,397 · management and general $15,610 · fundraising $421,547

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $1,437,526 · program services $1,257,154 · fundraising $180,372

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $207,381 · program services $5,029 · management and general $127,657 · fundraising $74,695

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $28,840 · program services $220 · management and general $28,620

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $380,385 · management and general $380,385

  • 17 · Travel

    total $92,959 · program services $44,474 · management and general $4,844 · fundraising $43,641

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $241,673 · program services $198,076 · management and general $40,490 · fundraising $3,107

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $8,268 · management and general $8,268

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $3,590 · management and general $3,590

  • 24a · Other expenses: MEDIA CAMPAIGN

    total $2,724,901 · program services $667,538 · management and general $391 · fundraising $2,056,972

  • 24b · Other expenses: POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS

    total $1,350,000 · management and general $1,350,000

  • 24c · Other expenses: CREDIT CARD PROCESSSING

    total $23,340 · fundraising $23,340

  • 24d · Other expenses: RESEARCH/POLLING

    total $20,000 · program services $20,000

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $29,449 · program services $8,420 · management and general $20,842 · fundraising $187

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $2,200,999 · end of year $2,989,275

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $243,077 · end of year $1,992,434

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $55,492

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $30,957

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $32,803 · end of year $24,535

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $780,168 · end of year $515,210

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $267,186 · end of year $150,425

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $868,055 · end of year $580,051

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,121,806 · end of year $4,790,978

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM PROMOTES AND DEFENDS THE SUCCESSFUL POLICIES OF RECENT YEARS THAT YIELDED UNPRECEDENTED PROSPERITY AT HOME AND RESTORED AMERICA'S STRENGTH ABROAD, WHILE ELEVATING TRADITIONAL AMERICAN VALUES. AAF SERVES THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT BY DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE POLICY SOLUTIONS, STRATEGIES, COALITIONS, AND MESSAGING THAT BUILDS UPON THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, EXPANDS FREEDOM FOR ALL AMERICANS, AND HAMPERS ANYTHING THAT WOULD THREATEN AMERICA'S STANDING AS THE GREATEST NATION ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

Activities or mission (Part I)

ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM (AAF) IS A 501(C)(4) ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING FOR CONSERVATIVE VALUES AND POLICY PROPOSALS BY MEANS OF POLICY CONFERENCES, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FREEDOM AGENDA, COALITION MEETINGS, AND AMICUS BRIEFS FILED WITH FEDERAL COURTS.

  • WITH DONATIONS FROM OUR SUPPORTERS, AAF HELD A POLICY CONFERENCE, HAD MATERIAL IMPACT ON NATIONAL POLICY THROUGH OUR GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY WORK, AND EXTENSIVE COALITION OUTREACH TO RESEARCH THE POLICY COMPONENTS THAT TOOK FORM AS THE FREEDOM AGENDA, DISTRIBUTED IN PRINT AND ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE. AAF PRODUCED VIDEOS, MAILINGS, AND PROVIDED SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC FORUMS AND MEDIA APPEARANCES TO EDUCATE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ON POLICY CHOICES THAT WILL ENHANCE HUMAN FLOURISHING.

    Expenses $3,683,858 · Grants $15,000 · Revenue $4,530,359

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • BETHANY SCULLY

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $231,117
    From this org
    $220,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,117
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $200,000
    Bonus
    $20,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $11,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $117
    Filer's total
    $231,117

  • JEFFREY KNIGHT

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • JOSHUA PITCOCK

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • MARC SHORT

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    25 + 1 related

  • PAUL TELLER

    EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $317,492
    From this org
    $293,065
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,427
    Hours/week
    65 + 4 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $278,065
    Bonus
    $15,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $17,400
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,027
    Filer's total
    $317,492

  • TIMOTHY CHAPMAN

    PRESIDENT (AS OF 8/19/24)

    Total calculated
    $363,697
    From this org
    $311,856
    From related orgs
    $45,480
    Other
    $6,361
    Hours/week
    65 + 4 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $186,856 + $45,480 related
    Bonus
    $125,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,200
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,161
    Filer's total
    $318,217 + $45,480 related

  • ED FEULNER

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $95,000
    From this org
    $95,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ART POPE

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • VICTOR SMITH

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MIKE PENCE

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • GREG JACOB

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DOUGLAS CARLSON

    DIRECTOR OF CORRESPONDENCE/PROTOCOL

    Total calculated
    $181,657
    From this org
    $165,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,657
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $165,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,300
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,357
    Filer's total
    $181,657

  • JOHN SHELTON

    POLICY DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $188,882
    From this org
    $171,250
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,632
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $171,250
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,275
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,357
    Filer's total
    $188,882

  • JOHN WHEAT

    GENERAL COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $296,267
    From this org
    $280,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,267
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $280,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $16,150
    Nontaxable benefits
    $117
    Filer's total
    $296,267

  • ZACHARY BAUER

    DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $152,357
    From this org
    $145,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,357
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $145,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,357
    Filer's total
    $152,357

  • BRIAN SCHMITT

    MANAGER OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

    Total calculated
    $157,957
    From this org
    $144,375
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,582
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $144,375
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,225
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,357
    Filer's total
    $157,957

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
13 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202513179349308481

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