Beacon Center of Tennessee
General Information
Contact Information
Nonprofit
Beacon Center of Tennessee
Address
PO Box 198646
Nashville, TN 37219
Phone
(615) 383-6431
Fax
615 383-6432
Web Site
Web Site
Facebook
Facebook
Twitter
Twitter
Email
[email protected]
At A Glance
Year of Incorporation
2004
Beacon Center
Former Names
Tennessee Center for Policy Research
1
Mission & Impact
Statements
Mission
The Beacon Center empowers Tennesseans to reclaim control of their lives, so that they can freely pursue their
version of the American Dream.
Background
The Beacon Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and independent organization dedicated to providing concerned
citizens and public leaders with expert empirical research and timely free market solutions to pressing public
policy issues in Tennessee.
The Beacon Center promotes personal freedom and limited government through policy solutions that:
• Generate economic growth through reduced tax and regulatory burdens
• Expand educational opportunity by empowering parents, students and teachers with choices and
opportunities
• Advance healthcare solutions that restore dignity and encourage personal responsibility
• Identify opportunities to reduce cost and increase efficiency at all levels of government
• Reflect the Founding Fathers’ vision of a free society grounded in property rights and individual liberty based
in personal responsibility
The Beacon Center generates and encourages public policy remedies grounded in the capacity of private
enterprise, the ingenuity of individuals and the abilities of active communities to achieve a freer, more
prosperous Tennessee.
Impact
Beacon achieved major accomplishments in a number of key areas:
1. Repeal of the Hall Income Tax:
• Beacon led the charge to successfully repeal the Hall Tax—an income tax on stocks and bonds enacted in
1929—to be fully phased out by 2022. Tennessee can now truly call itself an “income tax-free” state, and
became just the second state in history to repeal an income tax. Our successful “Tackle the Hall Tax” project
led to 1.8 million complete views of our video advertisement, 30,000 website views, and 75,000 emails
generated to legislators in just six weeks.
2. The Right to Earn a Living Act:
• As part of its long-term focus on occupational licensing reform, Beacon successfully passed the Right to Earn
a Living Act, which will require legislative review of all state occupational licensing laws in 2017.
3. Direct Primary Care & Certificate of Need Reform:
• After successfully stopping an expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare in Tennessee, Beacon has continued
to push for positive, free market healthcare reforms. In 2016, Beacon overwhelmingly passed Direct Primary
Care, allowing patients to contract with their doctors for an average cost of $40/month. Additionally, Beacon
passed the most robust reforms to certificate-of-need (CON) laws in our state’s history. With 20 different
regulations ranging from restraints on the number of hospital beds to the number of available MRI machines,
we can proudly say we eliminated nearly half of those restrictions, and will look for further reforms in the
future.
4. Protecting Property Rights & Strategic Litigation:
• Rachel and P.J. Anderson live just outside of Nashville with their two children. P.J., a musician, often brings
his family along while traveling. Like many Nashvillians, the Andersons rent out their home through Airbnb to
supplement their household income. Unfortunately, the Nashville City Council implemented strict and
burdensome regulations on using one’s private property for this purpose. Beacon filed a lawsuit against
Nashville on behalf of the Andersons, and won our case when Judge Kelvin Jones ruled that the law is
unconstitutional. This victory forced Nashville to recognize property rights as rights rather than privileges, and
was the first legal victory of its kind anywhere in the country.
2
Other ways to donate, support, or volunteer
While all of Beacon’s donors share our passion for free markets, individual liberty, and limited government, they
are comprised of people from all walks of life. Thus, we understand the importance of having a diverse set of
options for donors to give in the most convenient way for them.
Below you’ll find a wide range of options for making a gift. You may give any amount, in one or more of
the following categories, at any time throughout the calendar year:
Write a Check
Your gift will be safely received when mailed to:
Beacon Center of Tennessee
PO Box 198646
Nashville, TN 37219
Give Online
A donation can be made with your debit or credit card at www.beacontn.org/donate.
Recurring Gift
While making your online gift, select the “Monthly” checkbox before choosing your donation amount.
Private or Family Foundation
If giving through your foundation is preferred, a gift or grant to Beacon can be sent to the address above.
Corporate Gift
A check can be made out to the mailing address above.
Donor Advised Funds
Simply let your sponsoring institution know that you’d like to make a gift to the Beacon Center of
Tennessee.
Donate Stock
Instructions for transferring stock:
Name: Beacon Center of Tennessee
Account #: 3575-4842
DTC #: 0141
Wells Fargo Advisors
1 N Jefferson St
St. Louis, MO 63103
In-Kind
We accept goods and/or services that advance our mission.
Endowment
Endowment is added to the contributions of other donors and responsibly invested by Beacon. The
principal remains intact, while annual interest income is used for programs.
Planned Giving
By making a gift by including Beacon in your will, you can leave a legacy of liberty for Tennessee.
Direct Deposit or Wired Funds
Beacon can accept donations through Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments.
Volunteer Opportunities
Please give us a call, tell us your story, and a team member will find a way to help you make a difference.
3
Service Categories
Primary Organization Category
Public & Societal Benefit / Research Institutes and/or Public Policy Analysis
Secondary Organization Category
Education / Research Institutes & Public Policy Analysis
Tertiary Organization Category
Community Improvement, Capacity Building / Research Institutes and/or Public Policy Analysis
Areas of Service
Areas Served
TN
Although the Beacon Center is based in Nashville, the organization serves the entire state of Tennessee.
CEO Statement
Reclaiming and sustaining economic liberty over the long-term is what really matters to the Beacon Center.
Individual policy victories are only the starting point. The Beacon Center exists not simply to repeal a regulation
here or to lower a tax there, but to reclaim and preserve an economic environment whereby the greatest
number of Tennesseans--regardless of race, sex, creed, or circumstance--can freely pursue their version of the
American Dream.
The Beacon Center is the conduit through which Tennesseans can advance free markets, individual liberty, and
limited government. While Beacon or one of our staff members may be written about in the newspaper, or
achieve our policy priorities, or receive awards for our work, we know that the real heroes are the generous
donors investing in liberty, without whom none of our work is possible in the first place. We will never lose sight
of that fact.
Unfortunately, many charitable organizations have broken faith with their donors. But when you
support the Beacon Center, you can rely on three things: To use your gift to advance our mission; to honor your
intent as a donor; and to treat you with respect, no matter what. We regard your support as a trust, and hold
ourselves accountable to you.
Your gift to Beacon does more than to produce excellent public policy research and solutions. Your gift
improves lives.
4
Programs
Programs
Occupational Licensing Reform
Description
The rising tide of licensure requirements in the marketplace has been
drastic. Just five percent of workers required a license or certificate in
1950. Today, it’s close to 30 percent. Among those careers now requiring
a license to earn a living are fortunetellers, party planners, florists,
shampoo assistants, beekeepers, librarians—and that’s just scratching the
surface.
Often touted as a way to protect the consumer, occupational licensure
more often used to shield big companies from competition. When
someone who wishes to earn an income by simply shampooing hair is
forced to get a license that requires more educational hours than an EMT,
at a cost of more than $15,000, then our state is allowing a stacked deck
against those trying to participate in the market. These barriers arbitrary,
destructive, and unfair—especially for low-income people.
We will challenge the state legislature to hold these unelected licensing
boards accountable to the public.
Category
Employment, General/Other Employment, General/Other
Population Served
Adults, At-Risk Populations, Minorities
Examples of Program Success
The Right to Earn a Living Act (2016)
5
Expanding Educational Freedom
Description
We believe the education system should benefit children, not systems.
Tennessee still leaves behind thousands of students who continue to
languish in schools that aren’t meeting their needs. Because ZIP codes
determine a child’s school, low- and middle-income families have no
options.
If a child is zoned for a school that can’t meet their needs, the family must
assume the financial burden—a cost barrier that prevents the majority of
families across the state from being able to send their child to the school
that best suits their needs, and prepares them for a bright future.
We challenge lawmakers to commit to the following agenda and embrace
the changes necessary to expand the horizons of hope for future
generations:
-Expand the Individualized Education Account program’s eligibility to
include more student populations.
-Allow universities and trade schools to expand the number of courses
offered in the new Course Access Program.
-Pass an education savings account program for all students.
Category
Education, General/Other Education Policy Programs
Population Served
K-12 (5-19 years), Families, Poor,Economically Disadvantaged,Indigent
Program Success Monitored By
Ms. Lindsay Boyd, Director of Public Policy at Beacon Center of
Tennessee.
Examples of Program Success
1. Individualized Education Account Program (2015)
2. Course Access Program (2016)
6
Criminal Justice Reform
Description
The Beacon Center believes a just and fair criminal justice system will
ensure that every Tennessean has the opportunity to become a
productive member of society.
To that end, we will advocate for reforms that enhance public safety,
promote rehabilitation and re-entry, and save taxpayers dollars.
Category
Crime & Legal, General/Other Criminal Justice & Corrections
Population Served
Adults, Adolescents Only (13-19 years), Poor,Economically
Disadvantaged,Indigent
Long term Success
Our efforts will focus on the following areas:
-Public Safety – We will work to uphold the principle that criminal law
should be reserved for conduct that threatens public safety, but not
wielded to grow government and undermine economic freedom.
-Workforce Readiness – Understanding that most prisoners will return to
their communities once they’re no longer incarcerated, we will seek to
establish opportunities that allow them to receive an education that
prepares them for a stable career, such as high school equivalent degrees
and ability to learn specific vocations or trades.
-Re-Entry Preparation – Our endeavors will revolve around converting
released prisoners into taxpayers and productive members of society. To
that end, we will work with stakeholders and lawmakers to foster a
criminal justice system that emphasizes personal responsibility, restitution,
community service, and treatment—while in prison and during probation
and parole.
Program Success Monitored By
Ms. Lindsay Boyd, Director of Public Policy at Beacon Center of
Tennessee.
7
Governance
Board Chair
Board Chair
Mr. John Cerasuolo
Company Affiliation
President & CEO, ADS Security
Term
Oct 2014 to Oct 2017
Board Members
Name
Affiliation
Status
Mr. Lee Beaman
Owner, Beaman Auto Group
Voting
Mr. David Johnson
Virtus Benefits, LLC
Voting
Mr. Ken Meyer
K12 Management, Inc.
Voting
Mr. Pat Shepherd
Avondale Partners
Voting
Mr. Larry White
Retired
Voting
Board Demographics - Ethnicity
African American/Black
0
Asian American/Pacific Islander
0
Caucasian
7
Hispanic/Latino
0
Native American/American Indian
0
Other
0
Board Demographics - Gender
Male
7
Female
0
Unspecified
0
Governance
Board Term Lengths
3
Board Term Limits
0
Board Meeting Attendance %
86%
Written Board Selection Criteria?
Yes
Written Conflict of Interest Policy?
Yes
Percentage Making Monetary Contributions
100%
Percentage Making In-Kind Contributions
0%
Number of Full Board Meetings Annually
4
8
Board CoChair
Board CoChair
Mr. Joe Scarlett
Company Affiliation
Retired Chairman, Tractor Supply Company
Term
Apr 2016 to Apr 2019
9
Management
Executive Director/CEO
Executive Director
Mr. Justin D. Owen
Email
[email protected]
Experience
Justin manages day-to-day operations, oversees all policy initiatives, and serves as the main point of contact for
members of the Tennessee General Assembly, the media, and the public on policy issues. He formerly served
as director of policy and general counsel for the organization.
In his time as president & CEO of Beacon, Justin has helped usher in comprehensive tort reform, assisted in the
repeal of collective bargaining by government unions, and worked to end Tennessee’s death tax, among many
smaller achievements. He also frequently appears on television and radio and writing opinions pieces for
newspapers across Tennessee. He has appeared on all four major network news stations in Nashville, as well
as stations in Memphis, Knoxville, and the Tri-Cities. For four years, he had a weekly radio segment on the
“Ralph Bristol Show” on WTN 99.7 FM, and often appears on other talk radio stations throughout the state to
educate citizens on public policy issues. His writing has appeared in newspapers such as the Wall Street
Journal, the Daily Caller, the Tennessean, the Nashville City Paper, the Knoxville News Sentinel, and the
Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Prior to joining the Beacon Center, Justin served as a law clerk to the U.S. Attorney in Memphis and at the
Pentagon as a legal intern to the General Counsel of the United States Navy. He currently serves on the board
of a newly-formed charter school, STRIVE Collegiate Academy. He has also served as legal counsel and civic
committee chairman of the Nashville Junior Chamber and as a board intern for Junior Achievement of Middle
Tennessee. Justin has also been honored with the Nashville Business Journal‘s “Forty Under 40 award, given to
young professionals under age 40 who excel in their professions and are leaders in the local community.
Justin received his J.D. from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and obtained his undergraduate degree
from MTSU. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee.
Staff
Full Time Staff
8
Part Time Staff
0
Volunteers
0
Contractors
1
Retention Rate
100%
Plans & Policies
Does the organization have a documented Fundraising Plan?
Yes
Does the organization have an approved Strategic Plan?
Yes
Number of years Strategic Plan Considers
5
When was Strategic Plan adopted?
Apr 2013
10
In case of a change in leadership, is a Management Succession plan in place?
Yes
Does the organization have a Policies and Procedures Plan?
Under Development
Does the organization have a Nondiscrimination Policy?
Yes
Does the organization have a Document Destruction Policy?
Yes
Senior Staff
Mr. Mark Cunningham
Title
Director of Communications & Marketing
Experience/Biography
Mark Cunningham serves as the Director of Marketing and
Communications at the Beacon Center. Mark works to spread free market
principles through targeted messaging and outreach strategy. Prior to
working at the Beacon Center, Mark worked on the communications team
at the Charles Koch Institute in Arlington, Virginia, where he created
innovative messaging strategies to appeal to people across the political
spectrum. Mark has also managed political campaigns in Pennsylvania
where he identified strategic ways to target and reach voters with limited
resources. Before managing campaigns, Mark also worked for the
Republican Party of Pennsylvania, successfully helping to elect a
Republican governor and senator in the 2010 midterm elections.
In addition to free markets, Mark is passionate about sports and
previously coached girl’s high school basketball in Pennsylvania. Mark
also loves watching basketball and football, which includes cheering for
the Utah Jazz and Marquette basketball, as well as playing fantasy
football (and losing every year in the championship game).
Mark received his Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Marquette
University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
11
Ms. Lindsay M. Boyd
Title
Director of Policy
Experience/Biography
Lindsay M. Boyd is Director of Policy at the Beacon Center of Tennessee.
She manages the policy arm of the Beacon Center, working directly with
the President & CEO to develop annual policy initiatives and oversees the
publication of all policy briefs, reports, and special studies. Ms. Boyd also
serves as the Center’s liaison to members of the Tennessee General
Assembly and their staff on all policy issues or legislation in which the
organization is involved, including meeting with and advising policymakers
within the governor’s administration and legislature. She coordinates
relationships with the Center’s senior fellows, develops the Center’s
coalition outreach, and represents the Center by speaking at events
throughout the state.
Ms. Boyd has been working in the free market public policy movement for
over eight years, most recently serving as Director of Marketing and
Communications for the Independent Institute in Oakland, CA. Prior to her
move to the West Coast in 2010, she spent the majority of her time in
Washington, D.C. advancing initiatives aimed at derailing the growth of
government and respecting the original intent of our constitutional framers.
She interned with retired Tennessee Congressman William Jenkins (R1st Dist.), Young America’s Foundation, and Freedom Alliance before
joining the Freedom Alliance staff and managing outreach to organizations
for the Sean Hannity Freedom Concerts with Lt.Col. Oliver North. Ms.
Boyd then worked as Coalitions Manager and Associate Editor at
Townhall.com for two years, managing the promotions and partnerships of
150 nonprofit public policy institutions before joining the Mercatus Center
as Manager of New Media in Arlington, VA.
Her popular columns have appeared in Forbes, The Washington Times,
Daily Caller, Townhall.com, among others. A native of East Tennessee,
Ms. Boyd received a Masters Certificate in public policy and B.A. in
political science and classical history from the University of Tennessee.
Ms. Suzanne Michel
Title
Director of Operations
Experience/Biography
Suzanne Michel is the Director of Operations at the Beacon Center of
Tennessee. Suzanne is responsible for the day-to-day administration of
the Center. Prior to joining the Beacon Center, Suzanne worked for
Congressman Bob Goodlatte in the House of Representatives in
Washington, D.C. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Suzanne obtained
her BS in Business Administration from Bryan College in Dayton,
Tennessee.
12
Mr. Braden H. Boucek
Title
General Counsel
Experience/Biography
Braden H. Boucek serves as General Counsel of the Beacon Center of
Tennessee. He manages in-house legal matters and litigation for the
Beacon Center, working to advance Beacon’s larger goal of promoting
freedom and opportunity in Tennessee. Braden looks for potential cases
and areas that are ripe for potential litigation. He then handles the
litigation of any case, from filing the complaint through any appeal. He
also addresses any legal issues that Beacon handles in house, and
manages any that are contracted to outside law firms.
Braden has a nearly 14-year career litigating both trials and appeals in
state and federal court. Previously, Braden was an Assistant U.S. Attorney
in both Nashville and Memphis for over nine years. During that time, he
handled hundreds of cases ranging from Organized Crime, Drug
Trafficking, Fraud, Counterfeiting, Terrorism and Immigration offenses.
Braden has been recognized by his office for performance, winning both
the Special Achievement award and Distinguished Service award. Two of
his investigations were recognized as the district’s “Case of the Year” by
the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task
Force. For nearly five years before joining the Department of Justice,
Braden has also served as a prosecutor for the State of Tennessee, first
as an Assistant Attorney General and and later as an Assistant District
Attorney. He has been lead counsel in many jury trials at both the state
and federal level. He has also argued dozens of cases before state and
federal appellate courts, including the Tennessee Supreme Court and
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Braden also served as an extern for the
Florida Supreme Court. He obtained his J.D. at Florida State University
College of Law, and his B.A. at the University of Richmond.
Email Braden at [email protected].
Mr. Sam E. Cosby
Title
Director of Development
Experience/Biography
Sam Cosby is the Director of Development at the Beacon Center of
Tennessee. In his role, Sam oversees the Center’s entire fundraising
program, including individual and corporate gifts, direct mail, and
foundation grants. After graduating high school in Bowling Green,
Kentucky, he went on to work in sales at Performance Food Group. Just
two years later, he had successfully built a route producing $1.3 million in
total annual sales and established an entire new market for the company,
which remains vibrant today.
After nearly a decade in sales, Sam decided to return to school at
Western Kentucky University and went on to work in corporate fundraising
for the school’s NPR/PBS affiliate. He raised corporate support funding to
a record high in his first year alone, while also obtaining experience in
various other aspects of nonprofit fundraising. Sam left the station in April
of 2012 to join the Beacon Center to advance free market principles and
help change lives through public policy.
Email Sam at [email protected].
13
Ms. Hannah Cox
Title
Outreach Coordinator
Experience/Biography
Hannah Cox is the Outreach Coordinator for the Beacon Center of
Tennessee. She manages the grassroots arm of the Center, and her role
is that of a liaison between the Center and the communities and residents
of Tennessee. In her position, Hannah acts as a chief storyteller,
managing policy projects and giving a voice to the countless Tennesseans
affected by the Center’s work. She finds and crafts the stories of our local
heroes and provides them with a platform to speak on economic issues
that impact their daily lives. Hannah also oversees the Center’s coalition
outreach efforts, working to unite activists throughout the state in common
goals. She coordinates all of the Beacon Center’s events in an effort to
spread the Center’s principles of individual liberty, limited government,
and free markets throughout the state of Tennessee.
Prior to working at the Beacon Center, Hannah held several high-profile
positions in the music industry as an event coordinator. She most recently
worked for one of the world’s largest international media corporations,
Entertainment One. Hannah began her work in Tennessee state politics in
2013 in her role as the Director of Development for the Tennessee
Firearms Association (TFA). She most recently served as a policy
advocate for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and cofounded a coalition and blog, My Just+Us, that seeks to involve more
millennials in the political process, particularly at the state level.
Hannah received her Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree from
Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. In her spare time, she works
as the coordinator for a mental health coalition, and is active in her
church, Bethel World Outreach Center. Hannah continues to write and her
articles can be found both on the Beacon Center’s blog and
www.myjustus.org.
Mr. Joe Kirkpatrick
Title
Development Associate
Experience/Biography
CEO Comments
The Beacon Center of Tennessee is an equal opportunity employer.
The Center will provide an equal opportunity of employment to all and will not discriminate based on race,
national or ethnic origin, color, religion, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic
protected by law. All employment decisions are made solely on the basis of qualification.
14
Financials
Fiscal Year
Fiscal Year Start
Jan 01 2017
Fiscal Year End
Dec 31 2017
Projected Revenue
$1,244,900.00
Projected Expenses
$1,206,976.00
Endowment Value
$0.00
Endowment Spending Percentage (if selected)
0%
Detailed Financials
Revenue and Expenses
Fiscal Year
Total Revenue
Total Expenses
Revenue Sources
Fiscal Year
Foundation and Corporation
Contributions
Government Contributions
Federal
State
Local
Unspecified
Individual Contributions
Indirect Public Support
Earned Revenue
Investment Income, Net of Losses
Membership Dues
Special Events
Revenue In-Kind
Other
2015
$1,448,443
$989,162
2014
$957,689
$775,285
2013
$1,223,641
$1,079,678
2015
$0
2014
$0
2013
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$1,427,017
$0
$0
$1,076
$0
$20,350
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$940,126
$0
$0
$1,402
$0
$16,161
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$1,223,175
$0
($391)
$857
$0
$0
$0
$0
15
Expense Allocation
Fiscal Year
Program Expense
Administration Expense
Fundraising Expense
Payments to Affiliates
Total Revenue/Total Expenses
Program Expense/Total Expenses
Fundraising Expense/Contributed
Revenue
Assets and Liabilities
Fiscal Year
Total Assets
Current Assets
Long-Term Liabilities
Current Liabilities
Total Net Assets
Short Term Solvency
Fiscal Year
Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current
Liabilities
Long Term Solvency
Fiscal Year
Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets
2015
$771,572
$66,240
$151,350
$0
1.46
78%
10%
2014
$578,064
$61,609
$135,612
$0
1.24
75%
14%
2013
$902,869
$58,446
$118,363
$0
1.13
84%
10%
2015
$1,124,327
$1,108,033
$0
$35,789
$1,088,538
2014
$659,826
$643,771
$0
$30,569
$629,257
2013
$458,670
$449,401
$0
$11,817
$446,853
2015
30.96
2014
21.06
2013
38.03
2015
0%
2014
0%
2013
0%
Top Funding Sources
Fiscal Year
Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount
2015
Contributions, Gifts
and Grants
$1,427,017
Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar Fundraising Events
Amount
$20,350
Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar
Investment Income
Amount
$1,076
2014
2013
Contributions, Gifts
Contributions, Gifts,
and Grants $940,126 and Grants
$1,223,175
Fundraising Events Investment Income
$16,161
$857
Investment Income
-$1,402
Capital Campaign
Is the organization currently conducting a Capital
Campaign for an endowment or the purchase of a
major asset?
No
Capital Campaign Goal
$0.00
State Charitable Solicitations Permit
TN Charitable Solicitations Registration
Yes - Expires June 2017
Registration
No 0
GivingMatters.com Financial Comments
Financial figures taken from the 990.
990 completed by Patterson, Hardee & Ballentine, PC.
Comment provided by Kathryn Bennett 3/21/17.
In 2014, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research became the Beacon Center of Tennessee. IRS Letter of
16
Determination reflecting this name change can be viewed on the Financials page of this profile.
Beth Groves 9/3/14
Created 06.15.2017.
Copyright © 2017 The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
17