About

To Donate Please Send Your Check To:
American Opportunity Foundation
P.O. Box 320037
Alexandria, Virginia  22320
For more information email to contact@freecongress.org.

The Free Congress Foundation is now the American Opportunity Foundation (a 501 c3 non-profit) and its members believe that the American economy has been the engine driving both freedom and prosperity in the world since 1945. We firmly believe that American prosperity must exist so that our national security can protect our country.  

We are focused on two goals: First, the recreation of a robust American economy. This will result in the rapid creation of jobs, far faster than job losses, propelled by the reform of business-stifling regulations and tax laws. We believe that economic opportunity can be encouraged, even “hot housed,” so that growth will offer more career and job opportunities for more Americans, higher wages and the creation of more wealth.     Second, the American Opportunity Foundation is focused on developing and advocating a new approach to American foreign policy that rejects unwise military intervention that is not designed to protect or achieve vital national security interests.  We also reject the new “isolationism” that during the Obama years has displayed a passivity that has encouraged the rise of powers hostile to our way of life, to our civilization, to our freedom and our economic prosperity.  

The American Opportunity Foundation, and its predecessor, the Free Congress Foundation, Freecongress.org, has worked for decades to shape the discussions around American society, and to offer conservative solutions that promise real prosperity, national security, and American values.  Since the “Great Recession” of 2007-2010, economic growth has slowed.  The result has been job insecurity, low wages, and fewer opportunities, especially for graduating students seeking new careers.   For many years the American left has exercised policies that have prevented economic growth.  The objective of American policy for too long has been on overcoming “income inequality” ignoring the need for wealth creation.  The use of governmental force, primarily through tax law and regulations to influence and dictate American economic behavior, is making society poorer. Socialism, or any of its variants, does not work,  has never worked and never will work.   We assert that American foreign policy over the past twenty-five years has not made us safer. It has not led to the triumph of American values and has squandered billions and perhaps trillions of taxpayer money, as well as American lives.  

Whether our policy is liberal internationalism, neo-conservative interventionism, or new isolationism, none of these policies have worked. It is time for the new thinking in American foreign policy which we offer.     To carry out this mission, American Opportunity Foundation will engage in policy formation by the creation of original works of public policy, and by highlighting reporting and analysis in the public forums that illuminate our two principle issues.  Our foundation has a public policy “Fellows”, presented on our webpage, who are offering new ideas.  One example is the “Growth Code”, which was formulated in 2010, and is now displayed on our current webpage.  The Growth Code has made an invaluable contribution to the public discussion and reflects a current consensus that rapid growth through a similar program is the best solution to our national problems.     This is the mission of the American Opportunity Foundation (a 501 c3 organization), its supporters and members.  

Many Americans want to participate in the public discussion, and help find solutions to the challenges facing our country. Many simply cannot find a way to do so. Our foundation offers that means of learning about the challenges facing our country and participating in finding the best solutions.    -See more at The Mission of American Opportunity/Free Congress Foundation

Key American Opportunity Staff
Dan Kreske
Chief Operating Officer
Dan Kreske has served with Governor Jim Gilmore for nearly two decades, overseeing operations and procedures for major non-profit homeland security organizations. In addition, Kreske has contributed to organizational growth through analyzing and interpreting data and metrics at various organizations and working alongside the CEO on fundraising campaigns, securing significant grant funding. Kreske has also led operations and tasks including FEC compliance positions, press events, and scheduling for presidential/Senate candidate Jim Gilmore in the Gilmore for President campaign and Jim Gilmore for Senate campaign.

Shari Simmans
Chief of Staff
Shari Simmans has over two decades’ experience in building collaborations at the C-suite level, focusing on developing successful partnerships between various stakeholders. She has assisted elected leaders and associations with media campaigns, winning a national award for communication and marketing. With a background in international and national security studies, Simmans has worked for international aerospace manufacturers and continues her work in the United States within the private sector and leading nonprofits as Executive Director of a Chamber of Commerce.