For Immediate Release

Contact:

Merrill Miller, merrillmiller@americanhumanist.org, 202-238-9088 ext. 105

(Washington, DC, May 2, 2014)—The Stiefel Freethought Foundation has pledged $50,000 toward a collaboration of three humanist nonprofit organizations: the American Humanist Association, the Institute for Humanist Studies and The Humanist Institute. The gift is the first in the secular movement to fund grantseeking efforts to mainstream foundations and philanthropists.

“Humanism embraces love for the one life we have, and it seeks to increase well-being for oneself and others,” said Todd Stiefel, founder of the Stiefel Freethought Foundation. “I am proud to support organizations that collaborate together to focus on long-term sustainability and bring humanism to the mainstream.”

Since its founding in 2009, the Stiefel Freethought Foundation has funded numerous nonprofits that promote freethought and the acceptance of atheists and humanists in the United States. A successful former businessman, Todd Stiefel now works as a full-time freethought activist and leverages his background in marketing, sales and strategy to volunteer as a consultant with organizations that work to end discrimination against atheists and humanists. He has given over $3.5 million to nonprofit organizations within the freethought and humanist movements.

“The number of humanists and atheists is growing, and it’s time for philanthropists to become more aware of what the secular movement can do toward improving society,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, who also serves on the board of directors of The Humanist Institute and the Institute for Humanist Studies. “We’re grateful to the Stiefel Freethought Foundation for this generous donation.”

All three organizations are dedicated to promoting humanism. The American Humanist Association advocates for the civil rights of humanists, atheists and other nontheists. The Institute for Humanist Studies is a think tank committed to developing information and practices that address the socio-political, economic and cultural challenges facing communities within the United States and a global context. The Humanist Institute educates and trains leaders to shape and deliver the message of humanism.

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Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington, DC, the American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists and other non-religious Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming philosophy of humanism, which—without beliefs in any gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.