Friends Committee on National Legislation


The Friends Committee on National Legislation is a lobbying organization in the public interest founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends. FCNL works for social and economic justice, peace, stewardship of the environment, and good government in the United States.
FCNL has a General Committee of about 220 Quakers from across the United States. FCNL advocates on several issues that are extensions of the Quaker testimonies of peace, equality, simplicity, and integrity.
FCNL is a member of Win Without War and Alliance for Peacebuilding, among other working groups and coalitions.

Mission

The organization's mission statement has been in use since 1977 "as a guidance for considering Quaker stances on national legislation":

We seek a world free of war and the threat of war

We seek a society with equity and justice for all

We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled

We seek an earth restored.

Organization

Establishment

FCNL was established on June 12–13, 1943 in Richmond, Indiana by Quakers from 15 yearly meetings. It was preceded by the Friends War Problems Committee, a three-year temporary lobbying organization against universal conscription.

Funding

Two separate organizations comprise FCNL: the FCNL Education Fund and the Friends Committee on National Legislation. The Education Fund is a 501 non-profit which does not engage in lobbying, and donations to it are tax deductible. The Friends Committee on National Legislation is a 501 civic organization which lobbies Congress.
The majority of FCNL's budget comes from individual donations. FCNL is also supported by contributions from Quaker Meetings and churches, foundations, bequests and endowments.
In 2016, FCNL had a budget of US$8.0 million and net assets of US$28.0 million.

Positions

FCNL's legislative advocacy is based on their policy statement: The World We Seek which identifies the organization's policy positions.
Policy positions for FCNL's work during the 116th Congress :
Like other Quaker groups, FCNL's General Committee comes to unity on policy and priorities.