Our Mission

The mission of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life is to secure protections for innocent human life from conception until natural death through effective education, legislation and political action.

Foundation and Scope

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) is a non-profit organization comprised of thousands of citizens of every faith and creed, bound by the common belief that each individual is "endowed by their creator" with the right to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness," as stated so aptly by our nation's founders. We hold that unless the fundamental right to life is first secured, all other rights are meaningless.

In 1973 the United States Supreme Court ruled that the lives of unborn children were not protected by the U.S. Constitution, and legalized abortion in every state across the country, through all nine months of pregnancy, and for any reason.* Since the Court’s decisions in 1973, more than one million unborn children have been killed each year from abortion, and their mothers left to suffer in silence.

It is our mission to restore protections for unborn children and their mothers while supporting alternatives to abortion. We also strive to protect the disabled and aged from discrimination in health care and from euthanasia. We oppose the cloning of humans for experimentation and support ethical research such as the use of adult stem cells that already provide treatments for illnesses. MCCL will also support or oppose legislation that relates directly to the right of pro-life citizens to seek redress from their government.

We believe that our effectiveness is rooted in our educational, legislative and political activity, all three of which are absolutely necessary to restore protections for all innocent human life.

* Although the 1973 Supreme Court decisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton appear to allow states to protect unborn children and their mothers in narrow circumstances, no meaningful protection has ever been upheld when brought before the Court. Therefore we have, in fact and practice, abortion on demand through all nine months of pregnancy.
 

Funding

Almost all of MCCL's financial support comes from individual donors. We receive no government funding, and corporate donations are both small and few, usually from small business owners. Because of this, we guard donor information carefully and do not share it with anyone outside of MCCL, except as may be required by law. Donors are our lifeblood and we are careful to keep their information private.

The MCCL Education Fund supports our purely educational efforts. These funds cannot be used to lobby or to support or oppose political candidates. It is an IRS designated 501(c)(3) fund; donors may deduct donations to this fund on their income taxes. Other 501(c)(3) entities may donate to this fund without tax concerns.

The MCCL General Fund is a 501(c)(4) charitable fund that is also used for education but can be used to lobby and educate the public regarding the positions held by political candidates on issues within our scope. However, these funds may not be used to express support for or opposition to political candidates. Because these funds can be used to lobby for protective legislation, donations to the General Fund are not tax deductible.

The MCCL State Political Action Committee (State PAC) supports or opposes political candidates seeking office in state government. Donations to this fund are not tax deductible, and anyone may contribute to the fund.

The MCCL Federal Political Action Committee (Fed PAC) is used to support or oppose candidates for federal office. Under federal law, MCCL may only accept donations to the Federal PAC from current donors to MCCL. Donations to this fund are not tax deductible.

Donations to the two PACs combined usually total less than 10 percent of MCCL's income and expenditures. Approximately two-thirds of our expenses are for purely educational purposes. The Education Fund was established for those who need or want to make an IRS 501(c)(3) tax-deductible contribution to MCCL.

While it varies slightly from year to year, approximately 85 percent of each donation goes to program services in the area requested. Only 15 percent is used to cover administrative costs, fundraising and maintainance of our office and equipment.

Governance

MCCL is governed by a board of directors consisting of active members of the organization. The members meet twice a year and elect the board of directors and officers at the annual meeting in odd-numbered years. An executive committee, elected by the board from among its members, meets monthly to provide oversight to the operation of the organization. The executive director oversees day-to-day operation of the organization. The executive director is accountable to the executive committee, board and the officers. The officers are accountable to the board and executive committee. The board is accountable to the members.