Encyclopedia · Organization

Coalitions for America

American conservative policy-coordination and advocacy organization

Organization details

Established: 1977; predecessor ad hoc meetings began in 1972
Founder: Paul Weyrich
Type: 501(c)(4) social-welfare organization
Original base: Washington, D.C.
Historic policy caucuses: Kingston Group; Library Court Group; Stanton Group
President, 2025 filing: Tom Fitton
Vice president, 2025 filing: Morton C. Blackwell
Treasurer, 2025 filing: Tom Goeglein (as listed)
2025 revenue: $101,140 (2025 Form 990-EZ)
2025 expenses: $112,345 (2025 Form 990-EZ)
EIN: 52-1096056

Coalitions for America is an American conservative social-welfare organization formed in 1977 to convene policy caucuses involving advocacy organizations, congressional staff and government officials. It developed from earlier meetings organized by Paul Weyrich.

Formation and purpose

Paul Weyrich began convening conservative organizers and congressional contacts in 1972. In 1977 the meetings were placed within a dedicated organization named Coalitions for America. Its tax-exempt recognition dates to November of that year.

The organization was designed to let participants exchange information and coordinate voluntary action on legislation, nominations and other public policies. Its meetings did not make every participating group a subsidiary or bind every attendee to a common position.

Policy caucuses and activities

During the 1970s and 1980s its networks included the Kingston Group for economic policy, the Library Court Group for social issues, and the Stanton Group for defense and foreign policy. Later historical materials also described working groups dealing with judicial, international and religious-policy subjects.

The format brought together speakers from government and advocacy organizations and sought commitments from organizations that volunteered to act. Weyrich chaired the network, which expanded its outreach through satellite-linked regional meetings by the late 1980s.

Lobbying and public records

Coalitions for America appears in federal lobbying disclosure reports. A 2008 filing names Weyrich as a lobbyist on issues including climate policy and patent legislation. Such a filing establishes the disclosed activity, not that every historical participant supported the same policy.

Its early history is documented in Weyrich’s own organizational booklet, preserved among exhibits in a Federal Election Commission case file. The case file contains allegations in a broader election-law proceeding; inclusion of the booklet is not a finding of wrongdoing by the organization.

Later leadership and financial disclosures

Public IRS-derived records show that Coalitions for America continued filing returns after Weyrich’s death in 2008. Its 2025 Form 990-EZ lists Tom Fitton as president, Morton C. Blackwell as vice president, and Tom Goeglein as treasurer.

The 2025 return reports $101,140 in revenue, $112,345 in expenses and $43,301 in year-end net assets. Officer names and figures refer to that reporting year, rather than establishing the organization’s full current membership or meeting schedule.

Documented relationships

Weyrich established the meetings that became Coalitions for America and chaired the organization. Later officers and group speakers are recorded in dated tax, lobbying and contemporary documents; shared attendance alone does not establish enduring partnerships.

References

Research compiled through November 12, 2026. Sources and historical roles are dated where known.