Local Politics

Americans for Prosperity North Carolina

Americans for Prosperity concentrates on fiscal and tax issues. Structurally it is two different groups, one a charitable foundation and the other an advocacy arm. Its North Carolina chapter is a branch of a larger organization and has played a role in both political campaigns and legislative advocacy. It is a conservative group.

Posted 2013-02-25T21:22:18+00:00 - Updated 2015-01-12T15:58:58+00:00

As they describe themselves: AFP-NC is part of the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP-NC believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity. More here.

On the web: americansforprosperity.org/north-carolina/

Affiliates and brands: Americans for Prosperity North Carolina is a chapter of a national organization. The group operates two nonprofits. A charitable 501(c)(3) organization known as Americans for Prosperity Foundation, and a 501(c)(4) group that may engage in advocacy work known simply as Americans for Prosperity.

As described by Dallas Woodhouse, the North Carolina chapter director, the foundation conducts more think tank-like work, while Americans for Prosperity is involved more in organizing and pushing for and against certainly policy ideas. The local chapters are not independent organizations, so the documents on this page are for the national group.

Network*: Pope

Funding: Total funding for the AFP Foundation was roughly $17 million in 2010, the most recent year for which records are available. The (c)4 group took in another $22 million. Those numbers don't separate out funding for other state chapters or national efforts. However, in 2011, the Pope Foundation reported giving $350,000 to the organization's North Carolina chapter and other $1 million to the foundation.

IRS 990: Americans for Prosperity 2012 IRS 990

State Information: Click here for more information on the AFP Foundation from the N.C. Secretary of State's office. Click Click here for more information on AFP's (c)(4) advocacy group from the N.C. Secretary of State's Office.

Lobbyist: AFP registered Woodhouse and one other staffer as a lobbyists in 2012, but the organization has not listed any registered lobbyists for the 2013 legislative session.

Media Profile: Americans for Prosperity concentrates on fiscal and tax issues, so they don't get the media bump that comes from wading into high profile fights like gun control or medical marijuana. However, their staff is sought out as informed sources on news of the day and their national and state groups are important enough, particularly because of their political involvement, to draw attention to issues they wish to push. They are most often referred to as a "conservative" group.

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* Many of the public policy think tanks and advocacy groups active in North Carolina fall into one of two camps: A liberal circuit with ties to the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and a conservative circuit with ties to the John William Pope Foundation. For more, click here.