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Support your right to know

The Georgia First Amendment Foundation’s advocacy work is unique, narrowly focused and essential. We spend 100 percent of our time advocating for access to public information, government transparency and free speech. We do that crucial work at the General Assembly, in the courts and in municipal offices across Georgia. To continue this important work, we need your help.

Please make a tax-deductible donation to the Georgia First Amendment Foundation, a federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

And consider leaving a gift of cash or stocks to the Georgia First Amendment Foundation in your will. Your bequest will ensure that your support for the foundation’s important work and your commitment to freedom of speech and the press continue into the future. Contact us at info@gfaf.org to learn more.

With funding from our donors, the Georgia First Amendment Foundation has:

  • Supported a reporter’s fight to make local government meetings properly accessible to the public.
  • Educated citizens and elected officials on how to ensure public meetings remain open during the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.
  • Called for increased transparency around COVID-19 public health data.
  • Encouraged police departments across Georgia to adopt Citizens’ Right to Record policies.
  • Collaborated with other nonprofits to develop transparency training for police officers in Georgia.
  • Advocated for strong public access to Georgia State-wide Business Court proceedings.
  • Partnered with other First Amendment advocates to provide resources for journalists covering protests.
  • Taken the lead in calling for the Georgia Attorney General to investigate the City of Atlanta for Sunshine Law violations, leading to the first criminal prosecution under Georgia’s Open Records Act.
  • Successfully advocated in court for expanding public access to information about private entities performing functions for government; reinforcing citizens’ right to record in public spaces; and empowering government agencies to release public information otherwise exempted under the Open Records Act.
  • Educated lawmakers and citizens on the hazards of transparency-reducing proposals, such the creation of a state-backed board to investigate and oversee the media and all-party consent for recordings.
  • Worked with First Amendment advocates and media organizations statewide to help usher through the Legislature a major expansion of free speech rights — the largest legislative gains in this area in two decades.
  • Successfully advocated for increased penalties for government entities that don’t allow access to public meetings, proceedings and records, as required by Georgia law.
  • Formally objected to the arrests of journalists covering issues of public interest.
  • Conducted in-person and virtual workshops to train citizens, public officials, law enforcement officers and journalists about Georgia’s Sunshine Laws; rights to access public health data; rights to access video from drones and police body cameras; protections for citizens and journalists recording police via personal mobile phones or cameras.
  • Written letters of inquiry to help Georgia citizens and journalists gain access to government meetings, court proceedings and public records.