The First Amendment Coalition is an award-winning, nonprofit public interest organization dedicated to advancing free speech, more open and accountable government, and public participation in civic affairs.
The mission of the First Amendment Coalition is to protect and promote freedom of expression and the people’s right to know. The Coalition is a non-profit, nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization serving the public, public servants, and the media in all its forms. Its constituency reflects an increasingly diverse society. The Coalition is committed to the principle that government is accountable to the people, and strives through education, public advocacy, litigation, and other efforts to prevent unnecessary government secrecy and to resist censorship of all kinds. (Board of Directors, August 18, 2008)
Read a summary of FAC’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan.
FAC’s greatest asset is the legal experience accrued over 30 years of holding governments accountable at the local, state, and federal levels, supporting journalists and citizens in how to enforce their First Amendment rights.
FAC Regularly holds public forums bringing together lawyers, journalists and citizens in venues from coast to coast to discuss on government transparency, free speech and citizen engagement
Every year FAC honors First Amendment champions who have made outstanding commitments to free speech and government transparency.
We engage in oversight of the legislative process, working with legislators and providing testimony in support of First Amendment-friendly bills, and against bills that would turn the clock back.
Links to all of FAC’S resources for California’s open-meetings law, the Brown Act, including our Brown Act Primer, Text of The Ralph M. Brown Open Meeting Act (2013) and a sample “Cure & Correct” demand letter
Links to all of FAC’S resources for California’s open-meetings law, the Brown Act, including our Brown Act Primer, Text of The Ralph M. Brown Open Meeting Act (2013) and a sample “Cure & Correct” demand letter
Subscribe to FAC’s quarterly Flash e-newsletter and keep up our legal work and public events, other timely initiatives and Executive Director David Snyder’s latest “On Access” opinion column.
We receive our funding from foundation grants, individual and corporate contributions, membership dues, portions of attorney’s fee awards in selected cases, and income from a modest endowment fund.
The Coalition’s principal patrons and benefactors have been media consultant (and former newspaper publisher) Rowland (“Reb”) Rebele and his wife, Patricia Rebele. The First Amendment has never had more steadfast and supportive friends than the Rebeles.
The Coalition receives significant institutional support from the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, The Craig Newmark Philanthropic Foundation, First Look Media, Inc., the James B. McClatchy Foundation, and the Raymond Pryke Foundation.
Major gifts have also been given by Will Hearst, Allen McCombs, and Doug and Carol Melamed. Other supporters include the Southern California News Group (SCNG), Davis Wright Tremaine and Sheppard Mullin.
Startup support for the Coalition was provided by the National Society of Professional Journalists and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, among others.