Stiefel Freethought Foundation

The Stiefel Freethought Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit private foundation based in the United States. According to its official website, it "fosters a world based on love and reason" and envisions "a peaceful world where science and freedom flourish." Its stated mission is "to secure humanity's future by ensuring public policy decisions are based on love and reason rather than bias and dogma." The foundation promotes humanist values of love, integrity, reason and freedom. The foundation is led by its founder and president, Todd Stiefel, who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Todd Stiefel is also president of Heretical Reason Productions and founder and chair of the ScienceSaves campaign. In 2009 he transitioned from Chief Strategy Officer of Stiefel Laboratories to activist and philanthropist. He has gifted over $8.7 million to charitable causes, including $7.7 million to nonprofit organizations in the secular movement. He graduated cum laude from Duke University and worked for 14 years for Stiefel Laboratories, holding positions in marketing, sales operations, and strategy; during his tenure the company's revenues quadrupled. He was Chief Strategy Officer, chair of the Enterprise Leadership Team, and a member of the Board's executive committee, responsible for 250 people including finance, strategy, risk, facilities, administration, and program management. He co-led the teams that sold equity to Blackstone and Stiefel Laboratories to GlaxoSmithKline. The foundation's work is rooted in the secular and freethought movement, supporting organizations and campaigns that advance reason, science, and secular values in public policy. Its website states: "Imagine a world where government favors liberty over dogma and freethinkers are overt, united and influential." The foundation operates as a private foundation, meaning it is funded by an endowment or a small group of donors rather than broad public fundraising, and it makes grants to charitable causes aligned with its mission. As a private foundation, the Stiefel Freethought Foundation does not sell products or services; its "offerings" are philanthropic grants and support for secular, humanist, and science-oriented initiatives. Its public presence is primarily through its website and the activism of its founder. The foundation's activities and Todd Stiefel's philanthropy have been covered by media including CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, ESPN, CBSSports, Fox Sports, The Daily Telegraph, Christian Science Monitor, Christianity Today, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Blaze, The Guardian Express, Salon, AlterNet, and Raleigh News & Observer.

The Stiefel Freethought Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit private foundation. Its origins are closely tied to the personal philanthropy of Todd Stiefel, who in 2009 transitioned from his corporate career as Chief Strategy Officer of Stiefel Laboratories to become an activist and philanthropist. Todd Stiefel lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is the founder and president of the foundation. He is also president of Heretical Reason Productions and founder and chair of the ScienceSaves campaign. Before his philanthropic career, Todd Stiefel worked for 14 years at Stiefel Laboratories, a dermatology-focused pharmaceutical company, holding positions in marketing, sales operations, and strategy. During his tenure, the company's revenues quadrupled. He served as Chief Strategy Officer, chair of the Enterprise Leadership Team, and a member of the Board's executive committee, with responsibility for 250 people across finance, strategy, risk, facilities, administration, and program management. He co-led the teams that sold equity to Blackstone and later sold Stiefel Laboratories to GlaxoSmithKline. He graduated cum laude from Duke University. After leaving the corporate world, Todd Stiefel focused on philanthropy, gifting over $8.7 million to charitable causes, including $7.7 million to nonprofit organizations in the secular movement. The Stiefel Freethought Foundation was established as a vehicle for this philanthropy, with a mission to secure humanity's future by ensuring public policy decisions are based on love and reason rather than bias and dogma. The foundation's vision is a peaceful world where science and freedom flourish, and it promotes humanist values of love, integrity, reason and freedom. The foundation operates as a private foundation, making grants to organizations and initiatives that align with its secular and humanist mission. Its public messaging includes the aspiration: "Imagine a world where government favors liberty over dogma and freethinkers are overt, united and influential." The foundation's website was updated in 2023 and 2025, reflecting ongoing activity. Todd Stiefel's activism and the foundation's work have been covered by major media outlets including CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, ESPN, CBSSports, Fox Sports, The Daily Telegraph, Christian Science Monitor, Christianity Today, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Blaze, The Guardian Express, Salon, AlterNet, and Raleigh News & Observer.

• 2025

  About page updated.

• 2023

  Official website homepage updated.

• 2009

  Todd Stiefel transitions from Chief Strategy Officer of Stiefel Laboratories to activist and philanthropist.

• Stiefel Freethought Foundation established as a 501(c)3 non-profit private foundation.

A private foundation promoting humanist values and secular public policy through philanthropy and activism.

1. 1Stiefel Freethought Foundationstiefelfreethoughtfoundation.org
2. 2About the Stiefel Freethought Foundation – Stiefel Freethought Foundationstiefelfreethoughtfoundation.org
3. 3Stiefel Freethought Foundationwikidata.org