Grassroots Organization Launches Campaign to Promote America’s Founding Principles

A conservative grassroots organization launched a major campaign Wednesday to rally Americans around the nation’s founding principles ahead of next year’s 250th anniversary. 

Americans for Prosperity’s “One Small Step” campaign “will be a bold, multi-year initiative to build a movement to defend our founding principles and reignite the American Dream,” the organization said. The campaign will feature stories of American entrepreneurs and inventors “to build a movement to defend our founding principles and reignite the American Dream.” 

The first phase, called “250,000 Steps for Freedom,” challenges each AFP state chapter to take 250,000 actions, from digital outreach to door knocking, to promote policies advancing the Founders’ vision of freedom and opportunity. With AFP chapters in 38 states, the organization hopes to see 9.5 million actions taken in response to its challenge. 

 “This is our rallying cry to mobilize Americans across the country to take action on issues that matter most to their communities—from the economy and education to health care and civil liberties,” AFP President and CEO Emily Seidel said. 

AFP’s campaign reflects the growing momentum among conservative organizations leading up to the nation’s 250th anniversary.  

In June, The Heritage Foundation announced five Innovation Prizes—at $50,000 each—for groups working on projects related to the anniversary. Winners included Cana Academy, Emergent Order Foundation, Herzog Foundation, Sophia Institute for Teachers, and Matthew Mehan of Hillsdale College. 

Due to the popularity of the prizes, Heritage is conducting a second round with a Sept. 2 deadline for applications. 

PragerU also unveiled the Founders Museum exhibit at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building as part of a larger collaboration with the White House and the Department of Education in June to honor the men and women who shaped America’s founding.