Mission Organizations

Based in San Francisco, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is a donor-supported membership organization working to protect our fundamental rights regardless of technology; to educate the press, policymakers and the general public about civil liberties issues related to technology; and to act as a defender of those liberties. Founded in 1990 in response to a … Read more

The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) is the leading national law and policy center in disability civil rights. DREDF was founded in 1979 by a unique alliance of adults with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities. DREDF’s mission is to secure and advance the civil rights of people with disabilities. DREDF carries … Read more

For over 25 years, DataCenter has put the power of professional research into the hands of people working to change the world. DataCenter exists to build the capacity of a broad-based social justice movement that embodies, embraces, and honors diverse cultures to create the new systems and institutions essential to building a just and equitable … Read more

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is a public benefit organization dedicated to investigating and exposing psychiatric violations of human rights. It also ensures that criminal acts within the psychiatric industry are reported to the proper authorities and acted upon. Since its founding in 1969, CCHR has helped to save the lives of millions … Read more

Founded in 1974, Bet Tzedek, meaning The House of Justice in Hebrew, provides free legal assistance to thousands of people who would otherwise be denied access to the legal system underpinning our democracy. Bet Tzedek’s services are provided both by full-time staff members and by hundreds of volunteers. Clients include low-income, elderly and disabled people … Read more

The national American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is comprised of affiliates in each state. The ACLU of Northern California (ACLU-NC), based in San Francisco, is the affiliate that works to protect civil liberties in this region of the country. Founded in 1934, the ACLU-NC, is at the forefront of every civil liberties battle in the … Read more

FSEEE (Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics) is a unique concept — a national organization made up of thousands of concerned citizens, present, former, and retired Forest Service employees, other government resource managers, and activists holding the Forest Service accountable for responsible land stewardship. FSEEE works to forge a socially responsible value system for the … Read more

The Vanished Children’s Alliance (VCA) was formed in 1980 by VCA’s Executive Director, Georgia K. Hilgeman, along with other professionals and victims in order to address the growing need for victim parents to obtain credible, effective and compassionate assistance in the location and recovery of their missing or abducted child(ren). As one of the country’s … Read more

Since 1978, Women’s Educational Media has produced and distributed films on issues ranging from environmental concerns to affordable housing to preventing prejudice. No matter the topic, we approach each project with the goal of creating lasting social change, and we have a proven track record of achieving results. All of the films in The Respect … Read more

In 1984, John Walsh co-founded the private, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC serves as a focal point in providing assistance to parents, children, law enforcement, schools, and the community in recovering missing children and raising public awareness about ways to help prevent child abduction, molestation, and sexual exploitation. Since its establishment, … Read more

On October 1, 1987, a group of young determined conservatives set out to not only prove – through sound scientific research – that liberal bias in the media does exist and undermines traditional American values, but also to neutralize its impact on the American political scene. Thus the Media Research Center (MRC) was created to … Read more

Founded in 1981, Human Life International’s (HLI) mission is to train, organize and equip pro-life leaders around the world to promote and defend the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the family. We fulfill this mission through prayer, service and education, in accordance with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. While we … Read more

Freedom Alliance was founded in 1990 by LtCol Oliver L. North, who now serves as the organization’s honorary chairman. Freedom Alliance has worked diligently to advance the American heritage of freedom by honoring and encouraging military service, defending the sovereignty of the United States and promoting a strong national defense. From the loss of government … Read more

Equal Justice America (EJA) is an independent non-profit corporation established in 1993. For more than a decade EJA has put law students to work with organizations across the country providing civil legal services to those most in need. Our efforts expose a new generation of law students to the urgency for pro bono assistance to … Read more

The Concord Coalition is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization advocating fiscal responsibility while ensuring Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are secure for all generations. The Concord Coalition was founded in 1992 by the late former Senator Paul Tsongas (D-Mass.), former Senator Warren Rudman (R-N.H.), and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Peter Peterson. The Coalition supports other … Read more

Founded in 1981 by Lois Gibbs, the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) is the only national environmental organization founded and led by grassroots leaders. CHEJ believes in environmental justice, the principle that people have the right to a clean and healthy environment regardless of their race or economic standing. Our experience has shown … Read more

Care Net supports a network of 800 pregnancy resource centers in the United States and Canada. These centers offer free pregnancy tests, peer counseling, post-abortion support and other practical help to empower women and men facing pregnancy related concerns. Our focus is women in need. Care Net operates Option Line, a state of the art … Read more

Established in 1942, Army Emergency Relief (AER) is the Army’s own emergency financial assistance organization and is dedicated to “Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own.” AER provides commanders a valuable asset in accomplishing their basic command responsibility for the morale and welfare of soldiers. AER funds are made available to commanders having AER … Read more

American Life League (ALL) exists to serve God by helping to build a society that respects and protects innocent human life from fertilization to natural death, without compromise, without exception, without apology. The distinguishing mark of American Life League, by which we will be recognized, is our absolute commitment to the sacredness of human life. … Read more

The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) is the official charity of the United States Air Force. Since its creation in 1942, AFAS has helped to relieve financial distress of Air Force members and their families and to assist them in financing their higher education goals. AFAS is rooted in the original Army Air corps and … Read more

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation. Founded in 1993 ADF’s prime concern is the dramatic loss of religious freedom in America’s courts and the resulting challenges to people of faith to live and proclaim the Gospel. ADF … Read more

Established in 1978, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) works to organize for collective power by advancing transformative work, thinking and leadership of communities and individuals working to end the violence in our lives. NCADV’s work includes coalition building at the local, state, regional and national levels; support for the provision of community-based, non-violent … Read more

Mountain States Legal Foundation (MSLF) is a public interest legal center dedicated to individual liberty, the right to own and use property, limited and ethical government and the free enterprise system. MSLF undertakes nationally significant public interest litigation, throughout the country, without charge (pro bono) on behalf of deserving clients who cannot afford to hire … Read more

The Hemlock Foundation, End-of-Life Choices, and Compassion in Dying have merged into End-of-Life choices. End-of-Life Choices develops and delivers educational and outreach programs to help people plan a peaceful death, including patient advocacy, as well as the availability of books, tapes, and other educational materials. The Hemlock Foundation for End-of-Life Choices is the charitable segment … Read more

Project Vote Smart (PVS) was founded in 1992 by 40 national leaders, including former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. PVS believes that a knowledgeable electorate is the strongest component of a functioning democracy. Information about elected officials and candidates is crucial to maintaining the defense of one’s rights and privileges guaranteed in the Constitution. … Read more