Diverse faith leaders standing before the United States Capitol at dusk

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

Defending Religious
Freedom for All

CRFP advances religious freedom through policy advocacy, research, interfaith dialogue, and capacity building for faith communities.

Our Programs Support Our Work
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

Advancing religious freedom through policy advocacy, research, and interfaith dialogue.

The Center for Religious Freedom and Policy (CRFP) was founded on the conviction that religious freedom is a foundational civil liberty. When faith communities are free to worship, organize, advocate, and serve, society flourishes. When that freedom is threatened, communities and democratic institutions bear the cost.

CRFP is a nonpartisan, interfaith public charity based in Richmond, Texas. We bring together people of faith and conscience across traditions to protect religious liberty, strengthen faith-based organizations, and support communities affected by religious discrimination and violence. CRFP is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN: 42-3822094, effective July 14, 2026).

Our work connects policy with practical service. We provide technical assistance to governments and faith-based organizations, strengthen the capacity of community leaders, and mobilize spiritual, emotional, financial, and material support for people affected by religious violence. From the United States to communities facing persecution in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and beyond, CRFP works so that religious liberty is protected in law and experienced in daily life.

"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."

Nonpartisan

We cross party lines to defend liberty for all traditions, in every arena.

Interfaith

People of faith and conscience across traditions are welcomed at the table.

Evidence-Based

Policy grounded in research, constitutional law, and lived experience.

See Our Programs Support the Work
Illustration of interfaith unity and policy advocacy, open book surrounded by religious symbols
501(c)(3) IRS-Recognized Public Charity EIN 42-3822094

What We Do

Three Core Programs,
One Enduring Mission

CRFP advances its mission through three core programs, complemented by work in chaplaincy, international religious freedom, and community wellness.

Religious Freedom Policy Research & Advocacy

We monitor federal and state legislation affecting houses of worship, faith-based nonprofits, and people of faith and conscience. 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.

  • Congressional testimony and advocacy letters
  • Federal agency public comment submissions
  • Legislative tracking and rapid-response alerts
  • Policy research briefs and publications
  • Direct engagement with DOJ Religious Liberty Commission

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.

Our programs serve the Greater Houston region, including Richmond, and engage faith leaders across Texas and beyond, building the relationships that make sustained interfaith cooperation possible.

  • Interfaith roundtables and public forums
  • Community education workshops for faith leaders
  • Faith leader networking and coalition-building
  • Cross-tradition dialogue facilitation
  • Regional and statewide engagement in Texas

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 so that their voices are heard and their work endures.

  • Nonprofit governance and board development training
  • 501(c)(3) compliance and IRS guidance
  • Grant readiness and fundraising support
  • Policy advocacy skills for faith communities
  • Organizational sustainability planning

Additional Program Areas

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 trauma-informed pastoral care
  • Professional chaplaincy credentialing support

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 reauthorization advocacy
  • Country-of-concern monitoring and reporting
  • Diaspora faith 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 by integrating spiritual care with public health approaches.

  • Faith-based mental health programming
  • Substance use recovery support networks
  • Health equity partnerships with faith institutions
  • Community wellness and wholeness workshops

Why Your Support Matters

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.

CRFP is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Your gift supports CRFP’s research, policy advocacy, interfaith education, and capacity-building programs.

Give Today

Tax-deductible as permitted by law · 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

Grounded in Faith,
Trained in Policy

Edmund Akintunde, President and Founder of CRFP

Edmund Akintunde, MPPA, MSP

President & Founder

Edmund Akintunde is a public policy professional, hospital chaplain, multistakeholder process facilitator, and certified local economic development practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in ministry, interfaith leadership, healthcare chaplaincy, and public service.

He holds a Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA). His experience includes public service with the Houston Health Department and the Delaware Department of Labor, clinical pastoral education at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, and service as Program Coordinator with the Millennium Cities Initiative and Millennium Villages Project of Columbia University’s Earth Institute.

Edmund also advocated for the rights and dignity of people living with HIV/AIDS through the U.S. Government’s PEPFAR program. He founded CRFP to ensure that faith communities across traditions have a credible, well-resourced advocate at the intersection of law, governance, public health, and community life.

MPPA MSP Certified Certified LEDE CPE-Trained Chaplain Public Policy Analyst 30+ Years in Ministry Columbia Earth Institute PEPFAR Advocate
Millennium Cities Initiative / Millennium Villages Project Program Coordinator, Earth Institute, Columbia University
PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) HIV/AIDS Rights Advocate, African Continent
Houston Health Department Staff Analyst
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center Clinical Pastoral Education
Delaware Department of Labor Workforce & Policy

Board of Directors

Edmund Akintunde, MPPA, MSP President & Founder
Temitope Paulson Chief Financial Officer
Rachael Babalola Secretary & Health Mission Officer

Policy Updates

Recent Advocacy & News

CRFP is active in the policy arena from day one, monitoring legislation, engaging federal agencies, and advocating for faith communities across the country.

Advocacy

CRFP Urges Senate to Pass USCIRF Reauthorization Before September 30 Deadline

CRFP submitted a formal advocacy letter to the U.S. 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 on September 30. The letter emphasized USCIRF’s irreplaceable role in monitoring global religious persecution and informing U.S. foreign policy on behalf of persecuted religious minorities worldwide.

View official bill text
Policy

CRFP Engages DOJ Religious Liberty Commission on Draft Federal Recommendations

The Department of Justice Religious Liberty Commission released draft policy recommendations affecting federal grants, church-state policy, and the Johnson Amendment. CRFP engaged directly with the Commission, providing input on faith-based nonprofit funding protections and urging recommendations that preserve the independence of religious organizations in the public square.

View DOJ resources
Grant Closed

DOJ Houses of Worship Security Grant Closed September 2

The Bureau of Justice Assistance FY 2026 Enhancing Security Measures for Houses of Worship opportunity (O-BJA-2026-172658) closed on September 2, 2026. CRFP continues to help faith-based organizations strengthen grant readiness and SAM.gov registration for future opportunities.

View official opportunity
Federal

State Department Announces Nearly $2 Billion in Faith-Based Partnerships

The U.S. Department of State announced nearly $2 billion in health and humanitarian assistance partnerships with faith-based and community organizations. CRFP is monitoring implementation details and evaluating advocacy and partnership opportunities for faith communities in the Greater Houston region and across Texas.

View State Department announcement
Federal

FEMA Announces $266 Million in FY2025 Nonprofit Security Grant Awards

FEMA announced $266 million in FY2025 Nonprofit Security Grant Program awards to help protect houses of worship and nonprofit organizations facing security threats. CRFP helps faith communities prepare for future funding opportunities and strengthen organizational readiness.

View FEMA bulletin
Organization

CRFP Receives IRS 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status, Effective July 14, 2026

The Internal Revenue Service formally recognized the Center for Religious Freedom and Policy as a 501(c)(3) public charity, effective July 14, 2026 (EIN: 42-3822094). This recognition enables CRFP to receive contributions that are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and positions the organization to pursue grants and philanthropic support.

Get in Touch

Contact CRFP

We welcome inquiries from faith communities, policy professionals, researchers, ministry leaders, and anyone committed to religious freedom in the United States and around the world.

info@crfpolicy.org
(832) 657-7760
8710 Grand Mission Blvd., Suite H, PMB 1001
Richmond, TX 77407
EIN: 42-3822094 · 501(c)(3) Public Charity