September 17, 2025
For Immediate Release
Boise, ID — The Idaho Freedom Foundation is excited to announce that our team is expanding, welcoming new talent and promoting key members to support the organization’s mission.
We are excited to announce the addition of two dedicated professionals to our team. Rebecca Gordon joins us as our new Director of Development, bringing her expertise and more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising strategy, and grassroots engagement to strengthen our foundation and expand our reach. We also welcome Brett Farruggia as our newest Budget Policy Analyst. A graduate of Hillsdale College, he holds a master’s degree in political science and is currently a Ph.D. candidate, bringing a fresh perspective to our efforts to ensure fiscal conservatism in Idaho.
We are also proud to announce several key promotions that will elevate the talented individuals currently on our team. Sarah Clendenon has been promoted to Director of Operations, where she will oversee the strategic direction, daily management, and internal coordination of our team. Rachel Hazelip has been promoted to our new Policy Director and will oversee our Freedom and Spending Index, which rates legislative bills based on their adherence to principles of constitutionality, liberty, and Western values, to ensure Idaho’s legislators are held accountable. We look forward to her leadership in shaping IFF’s policy initiatives and bill ratings. Additionally, Samuel Lair will now serve as Director of Legislative Affairs, where he will oversee our upcoming 2026 Freedom and Family Agenda and help IFF continue to deliver on wins for the people of Idaho. He will also manage and direct the organization’s interactions with legislators and other state officials, while continuing in his role as Director of the Center for American Education.
Furthermore, we are pleased to confirm that Fred Birnbaum will serve on our team as our Senior Policy Advisor, where he will continue to provide invaluable guidance regarding issues such as budgets and spending as we head into a new era for the IFF.
We are excited for what the future holds for the IFF and look forward to delivering on even more great conservative victories. We look forward to releasing our full 2026 Freedom and Family Agenda in preparation for the upcoming legislative session.
For more information about the team at the Idaho Freedom Foundation, please visit idahofreedom.org/about
About Idaho Freedom Foundation
IFF's mission is to defeat Marxism and socialism by building a culture of liberty around America's founding principles so Idahoans can prosper. https://idahofreedom.org/
