About NFOIC

(Credit: TPopova / iStockPhoto)

History
Board of Directors & Bylaws
Funding

The National Freedom of Information Coalition protects our right to open government.

We are a nonpartisan alliance of citizen-driven nonprofit freedom of information organizations, academic and First Amendment centers, journalistic societies and attorneys.

Twice annually, NFOIC awards grants to strengthen state coalitions and member organizations, foster their growth, and support a broad range of open government endeavors in individual states.

We are an education and outreach resource for state and local governments to counsel on transparency and open government issues, laws and legislation.

The NFOIC also administers the Knight FOI Fund, which offers financial support to defray costs and expenses in open government court cases throughout the year.

Our goal is nothing short of ensuring everyone’s right to information, and helping public institutions meet their legal obligations in the most efficient manner possible. To do this, we:

• Work to start up new, and support existing, citizen-driven Freedom of Information and First Amendment organizations.
• Foster the open exchange of information through networking and an annual conference.
• Counsel and educate appointed and elected public officials on their legal responsibilities around open government and transparency.
• Offer a national, collective voice on freedom of Information issues.
• Support member fundraising.
• Explore critical issues, making recommendations for either state or national action.
• Prepare educational reports or other publications.

Simply put: We protect your right to open government.

(The NFOIC bi-fold, tri-panel brochure, available in 3.3 mb PDF.)

History

The NFOIC first met in 1989 in Dallas, Texas. It was called the National Freedom of Information Assembly. The meeting arose out of a need to support specialized First Amendment organizations with the expressed goal to protect the public's right to know. Known as "free standing,'' these organizations began around the country in response to a recognition that government entities and officials were not always willing to recognize the public's right to access public records and meetings, a necessity in a democracy.

The Assembly met again in Dallas in 1991, the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights, and planned to meet in January of the next year to formulate a plan for mutual support. At that meeting, the National FOI Assembly was formally renamed the National Freedom of Information Coalition.

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Board of Directors

A board of directors governs the NFOIC. Each board member serves a three-year term. The chairman designate serves for two years and may be reelected for one term. The board meets at least twice a year, once in conjunction with the coalition's annual meeting.

Meet NFOIC's current board of directors, read NFOIC's bylaws and NFOIC's Form 990.

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Funding

The NFOIC is supported by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving journalism worldwide.

NFOIC headquarters are housed in the new Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute.

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