NC Family Policy Council: A Christian Approach to Research, Education & Community

Updated December 9, 2009

Mission
The mission of the North Carolina Family Policy Council is to "strengthen the family by educating North Carolinians on public policy issues that impact the family and equipping citizens to be voices of persuasion on behalf of traditional family values in their localities."

History
Since being founded in 1992, the North Carolina Family Policy Council has maintained its mission by partnering with other organizations in and around the heart of Raleigh to provide speakers, and conduct seminars to educate citizens in North Carolina. Through public policy stances and educational efforts, the council has become a notable voice in the crowd, focusing strongly on socially sensitive issues such as gay marriage and the Freedom of Choice Act.

Background
The NC Family Policy Council is an independent nonpartisan nonprofit organization that focuses on three key issues: research, education, and community impact. Combined, the three pronged approach is used to ensure that "Judeo-Christian values are maintained in the North Carolina community-in the same spirit in which our country was founded."

The Council notes several key events and publications on their site, which they strongly support. Recent topics include:

• Day of Silence Walkout
• Study on improving NC's lottery marketing potential
• Tax Freedom Day 2009 (a project of the Tax Foundation)
• Red Envelope Day
• Opposition to a bill pertaining to grandparent visitation rights

Programs
From speaking at FCC hearings to participating in joint press conferences at the NC General Assembly, the North Carolina Family Policy Council strives to leave no stone unturned in their quest to impact North Carolina public policy with regard to conservative family values, with a focus on research, education, and community impact.

Research
The research conducted by the council is intended to be easily understood and timely with regard to public policy and how it affects families and is distributed as well to state and local lawmakers. From policy papers to a radio show, the council voices a strictly socially conservative angle on many hot-button topics discussed daily around the country. From research on abstinence vs. comprehensive sex education, to the relationship between churches, lobbying, and political campaigning, information is pulled together for a plethora of topics.

The organization also maintains a weekly radio show, Family Policy Matters. In early January of 2009, host Bill Brooks (also President of the Council) interviewed a group that went undercover investigating whether Planned Parenthood was acting in an appropriate capacity upon being made aware of a sex crime.

­Education
The NC Family Policy Council prides itself on the drive to educate the General Assembly in their beliefs, noting that “After the research is done, educating members of the North Carolina General Assembly and other citizens of our state is of paramount importance.”

In addition to the radio show, the organization also publishes a bimonthly magazine, Family North Carolina. The magazine covers topics such as in vitro fertilization, praying, and even advance directives. The North Carolina Family Policy Council approaches its issues from a Christian point-of-view and they make no qualms about it. In a recent commentary by Bill Brooks, he even notes the Book of Jobe and the Garden of Eden.

Research and education comprised the vast bulk (88%) of program service expenditures by the organization in 2008.

Community Impact
The Council is actively involved in grassroots efforts directed toward aiding church leaders, its members, and others to ensure that they know how to “respond effectively to public policy issues.” The group lobbies the General Assembly on issues such as 2009's School Violence Prevention Act, an "anti-bullying" bill which the Council attempted to amend to remove specific language alluding to sexual orientation or gender identity and/or expression.

Staff & Governance
The North Carolina Family Policy Council is headed by President and Executive Director Bill Brooks. He leads a staff of seven, including researchers, an attorney, a communication manager, and an intern.

The board of directors is chaired by Henry Williamson, former Chief Operating Officer of BB&T, as well as a former director for the Forsyth Medical Center Foundation. There are a total of six other members, and those who make political contributions tend to give exclusively to Republicans.

Financial Profile

The North Carolina Family Policy Council is a private 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization. According to their federal filing of 2008 IRS Form 990, the fair market value of all assets of the council for the fiscal year ended 2008 was $119,658.  Contributions, gifts, grants and other revenues received by the council totaled $834,770 primarily from direct public contributions. Other revenue came from program service revenue, as well as interest and dividends. The organization also spent over 100% of the year’s revenue of program service expenses in 2008 (the latest available financial data).

Summary
As a loud voice for the social right-wing, the North Carolina Family Policy Council is in the heart of the matter. From their radio show and magazine, to legislative efforts and outspoken criticism of what they believe to be questionable relationships between lobbyists and campaign contributions, the organization prohibits any public policy debate in North Carolina from occurring absent their socially conservative viewpoint.

Contact
North Carolina Family Policy Council
PO Box 20607
Raleigh, NC 27619
Phone: (919) 807-0800
Email: admin@ncfamily.org
Website: www.ncfamily.org