IRFA, founded in 2008 by Dr. Stanley Carlson-Thies, grew out of the work of the Coalition to Preserve Religious Freedom, a volunteer-based multi-faith network of social-service, education, and religious freedom organizations that since 2003 has advocated for institutional religious freedom to Congress, the administration, and the press.

In September 2014 IRFA became part of the Center for Public Justice with Dr. Carlson-Thies serving as IRFA’s director.