About the Coalition
Identity, Core Values & Operating Model
The Free Society Coalition is a principled convener, advancing civil discourse rooted in the founding ideals of America, equipping others, and building shared agreement without erasing disagreement.
What We Are
- A coalition that advances civil discourse rooted in the principles of the Declaration of Independence to cooperate across world views.
- The Philadelphia Declaration is foundational as a living process. To extend its ethics and approach, the Coalition engages audiences with the principles of the Declaration of Independence, using them as a common framework for dialogue across differences.
- The real asset of the Philadelphia Declaration in finding principled agreement is that it can be used for the purpose of convening people with deep differences, without requiring a compromise of identity.
- A diverse group of Board of Advisors that believe in the process and Civil Discourse, not required agreement with the Philadelphia Declaration.
- A structured convener of principled dialogue across differences.
- A builder of shared agreement without erasing disagreement.
- An activator of founding principles into modern civic engagement.
- A platform that equips others.
- A connector and amplifier of aligned partner organizations.
- A content and convening platform, not just an idea shop.
- A catalyst for post-A250 momentum.
- A resource for teachers and educators focused on our primary purpose.
- Focused on key moral and ethical truths regarding freedom.
- FSC is not a neutral process facilitator. It is a principled convener.
What We Are Not
- Not a traditional think tank producing original academic research.
- Not a content organization that just publishes ideas.
- Not a partisan or political advocacy organization.
- Not a persuasion or advocacy campaign.
- Not a coalition in name only (loose affiliation).
- Not a lowest-common-denominator consensus effort.
- Not a grantmaking foundation.
- Not a standalone program operator competing with partners.
- Not a donor-forward fundraising entity and not a competitor to other liberty organizations.
- Not a moral relativist organization.
- We do not facilitate dialogue that is untethered from core principles.
- We do not pursue agreement for its own sake.
- We do not dilute foundational truths to achieve broader buy-in.
- We do not endorse every outcome simply because it emerges from a group process.
- We are not just another A250 civic group.
- We are not driven by metrics; personal testimonials are more powerful.
Our Origin and Foundation
The Free Society Coalition began with the convening of leaders and thinkers who developed what is now known as the Philadelphia Declaration.
The Declaration articulates the ethics that guide our work and are grounded in the ideals of the American founding and a commitment to civil discourse.
It serves as a foundation for the Coalition's efforts, informing our partnerships, programming, and content, while allowing for continued growth and application in new contexts.
"The Philadelphia Declaration launched the Coalition, but the Coalition exists to carry those principles into ongoing action, partnership, and public engagement."
"FSC was not created to promote a document. It was created out of a process and exists to apply and scale that method."
"The Philadelphia Declaration is the product of a rigorous, cross-perspective process that defines how the Coalition operates."
"This is not just a process anyone can replicate casually. It is a principled discipline that requires structure, grounding, and stewardship."
Our Distinctive Approach
The Free Society Coalition emerged from a unique convening process that brought together individuals with differing worldviews, religious and secular, libertarian and otherwise, to identify areas of principled agreement without requiring compromise of core beliefs.
This was not an exercise in persuasion or conversion. It was a disciplined process of civil discourse aimed at discovering shared foundations.
The Philadelphia Declaration is the result of that process. The Coalition exists to apply, extend, and replicate this approach across institutions, communities, and public life.
Non-Negotiables of the FSC Approach
The Coalition's approach is open to and encourages participants from diverse perspectives. However, it is not value-neutral.
The process is grounded in a commitment to enduring principles drawn from the ideals of the American founding, human dignity, and the conditions necessary for a free society.
The goal is not to produce consensus at any cost, but to identify areas of principled agreement that are consistent with these foundations.
Our Distinctions
What We Do
- We convene serious participants willing to engage within a clear structure or guiding principles.
- We uphold standards for intellectual and moral rigor.
- We curate and guide the process, not just host it.
- We stand behind outcomes that reflect those principles.
What We Do Not Do
- We do not facilitate dialogue that is untethered from core principles.
- We do not pursue agreement for its own sake.
- We do not dilute foundational truths to achieve broader buy-in.
- We do not endorse every outcome simply because it emerges from a group process.