Christian Coalition of America
A U.S. Christian conservative advocacy organization known for voter mobilization, voter guides, and campaigns on social and political issues.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Christian Coalition of America (CCA) is a United States Christian conservative advocacy organization and 501(c)(4) social-welfare nonprofit. It emerged from the political network built around religious broadcaster and former presidential candidate Marion Gordon “Pat” Robertson. The organization was incorporated in Richmond, Virginia, on April 30, 1987, and used the mailing list and political infrastructure left from Robertson’s 1988 presidential campaign to create a nationwide voter-mobilization operation. The coalition was designed to connect conservative Christians with electoral politics without functioning as a conventional political party. Its membership historically included people from several Christian traditions. In the late 1990s, reported membership composition included Baptists, mainline Protestants, Roman Catholics, Pentecostals, and members of other churches. The organization’s principal work included distributing voter guides, organizing church-based political education, lobbying Congress and state legislatures, supporting conservative candidates and causes, and encouraging participation in elections. Ralph Reed became the coalition’s founding executive director in 1989 and managed its day-to-day expansion during its most influential period. Under Reed and Robertson, the organization developed a substantial grassroots network and became closely associated with the rise of the Christian right in Republican politics. In 1990, it began distributing voter guides through conservative Christian churches. Although the guides were presented as nonpartisan, critics and election authorities argued that they favored conservative candidates and amounted to political intervention. The dispute contributed to prolonged conflict with the Internal Revenue Service and helped define the organization’s legal and political profile. Robertson served as president until 1997. Donald P. Hodel, a former Reagan administration cabinet secretary, then became president, while former U.S. Representative Randy Tate became executive director. Their tenure ended after disagreements with Robertson in early 1999, after which Robertson resumed control. In 2001, Robertson transferred the presidency and chairmanship to Roberta Combs, a former South Carolina state chair and longtime coalition official. Combs has remained the organization’s central leader, serving as president and chief executive. The coalition’s influence and finances weakened substantially during the 2000s. It moved from Chesapeake, Virginia, to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in 2000, but later reduced its Washington presence and relocated its offices to the Charleston, South Carolina, area in 2002. Fundraising difficulties, litigation, unpaid bills, staff reductions, affiliate defections, and internal disagreements reduced its national reach. Several state organizations, including affiliates in Iowa and Alabama, separated from the national organization in 2006. The organization also faced workplace litigation, creditor claims, and criticism concerning family members holding senior positions. A 2001 racial-discrimination lawsuit brought by African-American employees resulted in an injunction and settlement payments to the plaintiffs. A canceled direct-mail fundraising campaign led to creditor litigation and contributed to the bankruptcy of the fundraising company involved. These disputes, together with declining contributions, weakened the coalition’s institutional capacity. In 2005, CCA reached a settlement with the IRS concerning its tax-exempt status. The agency recognized it as a 501(c)(4) organization while imposing limitations on terminology used in its church-distributed voter guides. The agreement ended a long-running dispute over whether the coalition’s political activity was compatible with tax exemption. CCA has remained focused on socially conservative priorities, particularly opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage, as well as voter education, religious-liberty issues, and conservative political participation. Its influence is considerably smaller than during the 1990s, but it continues to operate as a Christian conservative advocacy brand and nonprofit network in the United States.
History
Christian Coalition of America originated in the political organization created around Pat Robertson’s 1988 presidential campaign. The coalition itself was incorporated in Richmond, Virginia, on April 30, 1987, with Robertson, his son Gordon Robertson, Texas organizer Dick Weinhold, and Louisiana pastor Billy McCormack among its original directors. After Robertson’s presidential campaign ended unsuccessfully, remaining campaign resources and a mailing list containing several million conservative Christian contacts supplied the organizational base for a national voter-mobilization effort. Ralph Reed assumed day-to-day leadership as founding executive director in 1989. During the early 1990s, CCA built a network of state affiliates and church contacts. Its best-known activity was the production and distribution of voter guides. Beginning in 1990, guides were circulated through conservative Christian churches and presented as nonpartisan comparisons of candidates’ positions. Critics argued that the materials favored conservative and Republican candidates, creating a conflict with federal tax rules governing charitable and social-welfare organizations. The organization’s political influence expanded during the 1990s as the Christian right became an important constituency within the Republican Party. Robertson served as president until 1997, when Donald P. Hodel became president and Randy Tate became executive director. The leadership arrangement was described as combining Reagan-era establishment conservatism with the newer congressional Republican movement. By the end of 1997, Fortune ranked the coalition among the most powerful political organizations in the country. Reed left in August 1997 to establish a political consulting firm, and disagreements later led Hodel and Tate to depart in 1999. Robertson resumed the presidency. CCA’s relationship with the IRS remained contentious. Its application for charitable tax status was rejected after the agency determined that the group’s political activity was inconsistent with the requested classification. In 1999, the coalition also completed a lengthy defense against litigation brought by the Federal Election Commission. In 2005, a settlement resolved the tax-exemption dispute. The IRS recognized CCA as a 501(c)(4) organization, while a consent decree placed limits on language used in voter guides distributed through churches. The organization moved from Chesapeake, Virginia, to a Capitol Hill office in Washington, D.C., in 2000. In 2001, Robertson transferred control to Roberta Combs, the organization’s executive vice president and former South Carolina state chair. Combs became the coalition’s long-term president and chief executive. During her tenure, the organization faced criticism over the appointment of family members to senior positions and became involved in employment, creditor, and fundraising disputes. In March 2001, African-American employees sued CCA for alleged racial discrimination. A federal district court issued an injunction, and the matter was eventually settled with payments to the plaintiffs. A separate fundraising controversy followed the cancellation of a direct-mail campaign concerning child pornography after a Supreme Court ruling. The cancellation reportedly generated multiple creditor lawsuits and contributed to the fundraising company’s bankruptcy. The coalition also faced claims from a moving company, law firms, and fundraising vendors over unpaid bills. In November 2002, CCA downsized its staff, sharply reduced its Washington lobbying presence, and moved its offices to a suburb of Charleston, South Carolina. The organization’s national influence declined after Robertson’s departure from active leadership. Reported revenue fell from $26.5 million in 1996 to $1.3 million in 2004, and its 2004 tax return showed liabilities exceeding assets by more than $2 million. In 2006, the Christian Coalition of Iowa became the Iowa Christian Alliance, while the Alabama affiliate later adopted the name Christian Action Alabama. The coalition also experienced an internal strategic dispute in 2006. Joel Hunter, who had been selected as president-elect, resigned before taking office after concluding that the board would not support his proposal to broaden the organization’s issue agenda and rebuild its grassroots network. Hunter said the board preferred to remain focused principally on abortion and opposition to same-sex marriage. Combs therefore continued as president. CCA remains a U.S. Christian conservative advocacy organization. Its activities have centered on voter education, electoral participation, lobbying, conferences, fundraising, and issue advocacy concerning abortion, same-sex marriage, religious liberty, and related conservative causes. Its institutional scale and political prominence are substantially lower than during the 1990s, but the organization continues to operate under its established name and 501(c)(4) structure.
- 2006
State affiliates separate
[1]The Iowa and Alabama affiliates split from the national coalition and adopted independent names.
- 2005
Tax-status dispute resolved
[1]A settlement with the IRS recognized CCA as a 501(c)(4) organization and imposed limits on voter-guide language.
- 2002
National downsizing and South Carolina relocation
[1]CCA reduced its staff and Washington lobbying operation before relocating to the Charleston, South Carolina, area.
- 2001
Roberta Combs assumes organizational control
[1]Robertson transferred the presidency and chairmanship to Roberta Combs, who became the organization’s enduring chief executive.
- 2000
Move to Washington, D.C.
[1]The coalition moved from Chesapeake, Virginia, to an office on Capitol Hill.
- 1997
Leadership transition and peak political visibility
[1]Donald Hodel became president, Randy Tate became executive director, and Fortune placed the coalition among the most powerful U.S. political organizations.
- 1990
Voter-guide program begins
[1]CCA began distributing candidate-comparison voter guides through conservative Christian churches.
- 1989
Ralph Reed becomes founding executive director
[1]Reed took over daily operations and helped develop the coalition’s national grassroots and church-based political network.
- 1987
Christian Coalition incorporated
[1]The organization was incorporated in Richmond, Virginia, establishing the formal structure that later became the Christian Coalition of America.
Products and positioning
A Christian conservative grassroots advocacy organization that seeks to influence U.S. public policy and elections through voter education, church networks, lobbying, and issue campaigns.
Political education materials · 1990
Voter guides
Candidate-comparison publications distributed particularly through conservative Christian churches. The guides became the coalition’s signature public offering and a source of controversy because critics viewed them as favoring conservative candidates. The organization’s later IRS settlement placed restrictions on terminology used in these materials.
Advocacy program · 1987
Grassroots voter mobilization
A network-based program intended to encourage Christian voters to register, learn about candidates, participate in elections, and communicate with public officials. It grew from the mailing list and campaign infrastructure associated with Pat Robertson’s presidential campaign.
Political advocacy · 1987
Issue advocacy
Advocacy and lobbying focused on socially conservative issues, especially opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage, along with religious-liberty and related public-policy concerns.
Events
Conferences and conventions
Meetings and conferences used for political education, networking, fundraising, and coordination among conservative Christian activists and state affiliates.
Controversies
2005
Tax-exemption dispute with the IRS
The organization’s political activity and church-distributed voter guides led to a prolonged dispute with the IRS, resolved through a settlement recognizing CCA as a 501(c)(4) subject to restrictions.
2001
Racial-discrimination employment lawsuit
African-American employees alleged racial discrimination by the organization. A federal district court issued an injunction, and the case ended in a settlement that included payments to the plaintiffs.
2001
Fundraising cancellation and creditor disputes
The cancellation of a direct-mail fundraising campaign led to multiple creditor lawsuits and contributed to the bankruptcy of the fundraising company involved.
2000
Family hiring and governance criticism
CCA faced criticism after senior positions were given to members of Roberta Combs’s family. The issue became part of broader scrutiny of governance and internal management.
Marketing campaigns
- 1990Church-distributed voter-guide campaign
United States
CCA distributed voter guides through conservative Christian churches to inform and mobilize voters around candidate positions and conservative policy priorities.
Outcome. The program became central to the coalition’s influence but also triggered sustained criticism and IRS scrutiny over political activity.
- Christian conservative grassroots mobilization
United States
The organization used direct mail, state affiliates, church contacts, conferences, and voter education to encourage conservative Christian participation in U.S. elections.
Outcome. The network reached peak influence during the 1990s and later contracted as the organization experienced financial and organizational decline.
Brand decisions
2006
Retain a narrow social-conservative agendaStrategyBackground
President-elect Joel Hunter proposed broadening the issue agenda and rebuilding the grassroots organization.
Action taken
After the board rejected the proposed expansion, Hunter resigned before assuming the presidency.
Aftermath
Roberta Combs remained president, and the coalition continued emphasizing abortion and opposition to same-sex marriage.
2005
Settle the IRS tax-status disputeOtherBackground
The IRS had challenged the compatibility of the coalition’s political activities and voter-guide practices with tax-exempt status.
Action taken
CCA entered a settlement and consent decree under which it was recognized as a 501(c)(4) organization, with limits on voter-guide terminology.
Aftermath
The settlement ended the long-running tax dispute while preserving a regulated voter-guide program.
2002
Downsize and relocate to South CarolinaStrategyBackground
The coalition faced declining influence, financial pressure, and reduced organizational capacity.
Action taken
CCA cut staff, reduced its Washington lobbying operation to one lobbyist, and moved its offices to a suburb of Charleston, South Carolina.
Aftermath
The decision reduced operating costs and national visibility while reinforcing the organization’s smaller post-1990s structure.
2001
Transfer leadership to Roberta CombsOtherBackground
Pat Robertson stepped back from direct control after years as the coalition’s principal leader.
Action taken
Robertson transferred the presidency and chairmanship to executive vice president Roberta Combs.
Aftermath
Combs became the organization’s long-term president and chief executive during its period of declining influence.
2000
Move headquarters to Capitol HillStrategyBackground
CCA sought closer access to Congress and national political institutions during a period of substantial political influence.
Action taken
The organization moved from Chesapeake, Virginia, to a large office on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
Aftermath
The Washington presence was later reduced as the coalition downsized and relocated to South Carolina.
1990
Make voter guides a core organizing toolStrategyBackground
The coalition sought to convert its church and mailing-list network into a durable political education and voter-mobilization system.
Action taken
It began producing and distributing candidate-comparison guides through conservative Christian churches.
Aftermath
The guides expanded the organization’s reach but generated accusations of partisan activity and prolonged IRS scrutiny.
Recent events
- 2018
Reported financial contraction continues[1]
Other
The coalition reported $766,799 in contributions, $274,920 in cash, and $39,367 in liabilities for the year ending December 31, 2018.
- 2006
State affiliates split from the national organization[1]
Other
The Iowa and Alabama affiliates separated from CCA and adopted new names, citing problems within the national organization.
- 2006
Joel Hunter withdraws from planned presidency[1]
Leadership change
President-elect Joel Hunter resigned before taking office after disagreements with the board about broadening the coalition’s agenda beyond abortion and opposition to same-sex marriage.
- 2005
IRS recognizes CCA as a 501(c)(4) organization[1]
Regulation
A settlement and consent decree ended the coalition’s long-running tax-status dispute and recognized it as a 501(c)(4) social-welfare organization, subject to restrictions on wording in voter guides.
- 2002
Coalition relocates to South Carolina and cuts Washington staff[1]
Other
The organization reduced its Washington lobbying operation from roughly a dozen lobbyists to one and moved its offices to a Charleston-area suburb in South Carolina.
- 2000
Organization moves to Capitol Hill[1]
Other
CCA relocated from Chesapeake, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., placing its operations closer to Congress and national political institutions.
- 1999
IRS rejects charitable tax-exemption application[1]
Regulation
The IRS denied the coalition’s application for charitable status after concluding that its political activities, including voter-guide distribution, were inconsistent with the requested exemption.
- 1999
Christian Coalition prevails in Federal Election Commission litigation[1]
Lawsuit
The organization concluded a lengthy defense against a lawsuit brought by the Federal Election Commission.
- 1997
Christian Coalition ranked among the most powerful U.S. political organizations[1]
Other
Fortune listed the organization as the seventh-most powerful political organization in the United States, reflecting its influence during the peak of the Christian right’s grassroots expansion.
- 1990
Coalition begins distributing voter guides[1]
Campaign · Other
CCA began distributing voter guides through conservative Christian churches, making voter education and mobilization central parts of its public identity.
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