Diverse faith leaders standing before the United States Capitol at dusk

501(c)(3) Public Charity · EIN 42-3822094

Defending Religious
Freedom for All

The Center for Religious Freedom and Policy advances interfaith advocacy, faith-based public policy research, and ethical leadership at the intersection of faith and governance.

501(c)(3) IRS-Recognized Public Charity
July 2026 Effective Date of Exemption
3 Core Programs
Texas Based in Richmond, TX

Our Mission

Faith and Freedom
Are Inseparable

The Center for Religious Freedom and Policy was founded on the conviction that religious freedom is not merely a legal right — it is the foundation upon which all other civil liberties rest. When faith communities are free to worship, organize, advocate, and serve, society flourishes.

CRFP is a nonpartisan, interfaith organization that brings together Christians, Muslims, Jews, and people of every faith tradition who share a commitment to the principle that no person should face discrimination, persecution, or legal disadvantage because of what they believe.

Nonpartisan

We cross party lines to defend liberty for all traditions.

Interfaith

Every faith tradition represented at the table.

Evidence-Based

Policy grounded in research, law, and lived experience.

Illustration of interfaith unity and policy advocacy — open book surrounded by religious symbols

What We Do

Three Programs,
One Mission

Every initiative CRFP undertakes serves the same purpose: ensuring that faith communities can live, worship, and advocate freely in American public life.

Religious Freedom Policy Research & Advocacy

We monitor federal and state legislation affecting houses of worship and faith-based nonprofits. We submit public comments, publish policy briefs, and engage directly with lawmakers and federal agencies to protect the constitutional and statutory rights of faith communities.

  • Congressional testimony and advocacy letters
  • Federal agency comment submissions
  • Legislative tracking and rapid-response alerts
  • Policy research publications

Interfaith Dialogue & Community Education

We convene forums, workshops, and educational programs that bring faith leaders and communities together across traditions. In a nation increasingly divided, CRFP creates spaces where difference is honored, common ground is discovered, and communities are strengthened.

  • Interfaith roundtables and public forums
  • Community education workshops
  • Faith leader networking events
  • Cross-tradition dialogue facilitation

Capacity Building for Faith-Based Organizations

We equip faith-based nonprofits with the governance, compliance, and advocacy tools they need to sustain their missions. From board development and IRS compliance to grant readiness and policy engagement, CRFP walks alongside smaller faith organizations.

  • Nonprofit governance training
  • 501(c)(3) compliance guidance
  • Grant readiness and fundraising support
  • Policy advocacy skills development

Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Advocacy

Drawing on deep expertise in clinical pastoral education and healthcare chaplaincy, CRFP advocates for the recognition and funding of professional chaplaincy in hospitals, correctional facilities, and community settings — ensuring spiritual care is accessible to all.

  • Advocacy for chaplaincy in healthcare settings
  • Correctional and community chaplaincy support
  • Bereavement and spiritual care resources
  • Trauma-informed pastoral care training

International Religious Freedom

Religious persecution is a global crisis. CRFP monitors international religious freedom conditions, supports the USCIRF reauthorization process, and advocates for U.S. foreign policy that prioritizes the protection of persecuted religious minorities worldwide.

  • USCIRF engagement and advocacy
  • Country-of-concern monitoring
  • Diaspora community outreach
  • Interfaith solidarity campaigns

Faith, Health & Community Wellness

Faith communities are among the most trusted institutions in their neighborhoods. CRFP partners with faith-based organizations to address mental health, substance use recovery, and health equity — integrating spiritual care with public health approaches.

  • Faith-based mental health and recovery programming
  • Substance use recovery support
  • Health equity partnerships
  • Community wellness workshops
"Religious freedom belongs to everyone — not as a privilege granted by government, but as a right endowed by the Creator and protected by the Constitution."
— Edmund Akintunde, MPPA, MSP · President & Founder, CRFP

Our Leadership

Grounded in Faith,
Trained in Policy

Edmund Akintunde, President and Founder of CRFP

Edmund Akintunde, MPPA, MSP

President & Founder

Edmund brings over 30 years of experience at the intersection of faith, public policy, and community service. A Master of Public Policy and Administration graduate, he is a certified Multistakeholders' Processes Facilitator (MSP) and Certified Local Economic Development Expert. His professional background spans the Houston Health Department, the Delaware Department of Labor, and clinical pastoral education at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center — uniquely equipping him to lead CRFP's work at the nexus of faith, law, and governance.

MPPA MSP Certified Certified LEDE CPE Chaplain Public Policy Analyst

Board of Directors

Edmund Akintunde President & Founder
Temitope Paulson Treasurer
Rachael Babalola Secretary

Policy Updates

Recent Advocacy

Policy

DOJ Religious Liberty Commission Finalizes Recommendations

The Department of Justice Religious Liberty Commission released draft recommendations affecting federal grants, church-state policy, and the Johnson Amendment. CRFP is monitoring developments closely.

Legislation

Right to Worship Act Introduced with Bipartisan Support

H.R. 10052/S. 5289, the Right to Worship Act, was introduced in Congress with bipartisan cosponsors, proposing enhanced protections for houses of worship. CRFP is tracking the bill's progress.

Get in Touch

Contact CRFP

We welcome inquiries from faith communities, policy professionals, researchers, ministry leaders, and anyone committed to religious freedom in America.

8710 Grand Mission Blvd, Suite H PMB 1001
Richmond, TX 77407
EIN: 42-3822094 · 501(c)(3) Public Charity