501(c)(3) Public Charity · EIN 42-3822094
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.
Our Mission
Advancing religious freedom through advocacy, research, and interfaith dialogue.
The Center for Religious Freedom and Policy (CRFP) was founded on the conviction that religious freedom is a legal right and the foundation upon which all other civil liberties rest. When faith communities are free to worship, organize, advocate, and serve, society flourishes. When that freedom is threatened, every American bears the cost.
CRFP is a nonpartisan, interfaith organization based in Richmond, Texas, recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN: 42-3822094, effective July 14, 2026). We bring together Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, 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.
"Religious freedom in America is under pressure from multiple directions — in courtrooms, in congressional committee rooms, and in the daily experiences of faith communities navigating an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment. CRFP exists to be a vigilant, credible, and constructive voice in every arena where those pressures are felt."
We cross party lines to defend liberty for all traditions, in every arena.
Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists — every tradition at the table.
Policy grounded in research, constitutional law, and lived experience.
What We Do
CRFP advances its mission through three core programs that work together — monitoring the law, building community, and strengthening the organizations that serve faith communities on the ground.
We monitor federal and state legislation affecting houses of worship, faith-based nonprofits, and religiously motivated individuals. 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.
In our first months of operation, we have already submitted advocacy letters to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in support of USCIRF reauthorization and engaged with the Department of Justice Religious Liberty Commission on draft federal policy recommendations.
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.
Our programs serve the Houston-Richmond metropolitan area and engage faith leaders across Texas and beyond — building the relational infrastructure that makes sustained interfaith cooperation possible.
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 so that their voices are heard and their work endures.
Additional Program Areas
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.
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.
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.
Religious freedom in America is under pressure from multiple directions — in courtrooms, in congressional committee rooms, and in the daily experiences of faith communities navigating an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment. CRFP exists to be a vigilant, credible, and constructive voice in every arena where those pressures are felt.
Your gift to CRFP is fully tax-deductible and goes directly to this work. We keep our overhead lean and our focus sharp. Every dollar you give funds research, advocacy, and community programs — not administrative excess.
100% tax-deductible · EIN 42-3822094
"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
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.
Policy Updates
CRFP submitted a formal advocacy letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in support of S. 3984, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026, urging passage before the Commission's authorization expires.
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.
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.
Support the Work
CRFP is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Every contribution is fully tax-deductible and goes directly to policy advocacy, interfaith education, and capacity building for faith communities.
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Get in Touch
We welcome inquiries from faith communities, policy professionals, researchers, ministry leaders, and anyone committed to religious freedom in America.
