NFIB Celebrates 80th Anniversary

1943

C. Wilson Harder founds the National Federation of Small Business (NFSB), Inc. in the basement of his home in San Mateo, Calif., and signs up its first members at $8.50.

“Mr. Harder, I told you to be careful, this thing can get awfully big.” – Harry Millard of Service Press, NFIB’s first member.

1943

The first Mandate is created, as NFIB’s membership and grassroots continues to grow.

The format remains… “One member, one vote.”

1944

NFSB office moves out of Harder’s basement and eventually is re-located in 1961 to San Mateo, Calif.

1947

A Washington, D.C., office is established.

1949

NFSB becomes the “National Federation of Independent Business.”

Harder turns over all assets (facilities, addressograph, etc.) to NFIB for $10.

1950

Maximum dues are set at $100 per year.

1960

George Burger, Sr., NFIB’s first full-time lobbyist in Washington, D.C., shows Sen. John F. Kennedy the federal Mandate.

1960

Burger, Sr., NFIB’s first full-time lobbyist in Washington, D.C., shows Vice President Richard Nixon the federal Mandate.

1961

Burger shows Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson the federal Mandate.

1968

Wilson Harder dies while still serving as NFIB president

1969

New President Wilson S. Johnson, formerly an NFIB division manager, is selected president of NFIB. He establishes an employee retirement pension plan, an NFIB mission statement, and overall policy.

Membership will double under his leadership.

1971

Wilson Johnson meets with President Nixon and then, quarterly with White House staff to discuss small-business problems—the genesis of NFIB’s quarterly economic surveys.

William C. Dunkelberg is hired as NFIB Chief Economist.

1971

Membership database and field assignments are transferred from Addressograph plates to magnetic tapes as part of the “computerization” of NFIB.

1972

Johnson starts the state government relations department with three regional directors and a national director.

1972

The first issue of How Congress Voted is published, providing a clear record of each representative’s and senator’s votes on small-business issues.

1972

To help students understand private enterprise, NFIB starts the education department, the predecessor to the NFIB Education Foundation, and later, the Young Entrepreneur Foundation. 

1973

William Dunkelberg produces the first NFIB Quarterly Economic Report, which becomes the Small Business Economic Trends (SBET), the most sought-after information on small business by lawmakers, the Federal Reserve, Department of Labor, financial institutions, and others.

1975

NFIB creates its first press department. NFIB hires Rich Farana, a public relations professional, to create NFIB’s outreach to the media.

1976

NFIB hires James D. “Mike” McKevitt, a former member of Congress and assistant U.S. attorney general, to lead NFIB’s Washington, D.C., office.

1976

NFIB issues the Guardian of Small Business Award to members of Congress, who vote in support of NFIB Key Votes determined by the Member Ballot, “One member, one vote.”

1976

NFIB hires William J. “Denny” Dennis Jr., to lead and expand a research department that grows out of the success of the Quarterly Small Business Economic Trends Report. 

1977

NFIB PAC starts, raising $12,454 to support 54 candidates in the ‘78 congressional races.

1980

In a victory that showcases the rising influence of NFIB in Washington, D.C., the Regulatory Flexibility Act is signed into law by President Carter.

1981

NFIB creates the Telephone Sales Region in Florida to renew memberships.

1981

Johnson pens the “Small Business Angle,” a column on small-business issues for small publications across America.

Later, it becomes the “Small Business Focus.”

1982

The “NFIB Guardian Program” is established, consisting of members NFIB could rely on to write, call, and visit their legislators.

1982

A daily radio talk show on small-business issues, aired on 231 stations across the country, is launched.

1982

NFIB further activates grassroots with the “Guardian Advisory Councils,” which lead to the creation of the state Leadership Councils.

1982

NFIB research department establishes the Small Business Problems and Priorities, a survey to evaluate the relative importance of business problems as small business owners see them. 

1983

New President John Sloan is selected as the 3rd NFIB president.

1983

NFIB launches the Member Services Corporation.

1985

NFIB reaches a long-held goal, a lobbyist in every state capital, with Wayne Campbell leading the state government relations department.

1985

The Business Edge, an NFIB membership newsletter, serves as the primary communication to NFIB members.

Later, it becomes the Independent Business, and then MyBusiness, and then Small Business Playbook.

1986

NFIB plays a major role in the White House Conference on Small Business, placing emphasis on state member activism. 

1987

NFIB Wisconsin holds a state capital Small Business Day.

The annual state capital lobby day continues today across the nation.

1992

New President Jack Faris is selected as the 4th NFIB president.

NFIB headquarters moves from San Mateo, Calif., to Nashville, Tenn. 

1993

In Washington, D.C., NFIB holds its 50th Anniversary.

President Bill Clinton addresses NFIB members. 

1994

The Clinton healthcare plan is defeated.

A lion’s-share of credit is given to NFIB’s grassroots strength, NFIB members.

1994

“…the NFIB’s role in the demise of Clinton’s sweeping overhaul plan marks a major shift in Washington’s – and the nation’s – political culture. No longer do a handful of lobbyists for corporate titans … call the shots for conservatives on big economic issues. The era of grass-roots-oriented, small-business lobbying has emerged from the rubble of health care reform.” U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, “THE LITTLE LOBBY THAT COULD.” SEPTEMBER 12, 1994

1994

NFIB establishes a political department, urging members to become active in voting for pro-small business candidates.

1995

NFIB holds Campaign ’96, a three-day event for members, providing members with information about running a campaign.

All eight GOP presidential candidates speak to participants

1995

NFIB holds its first national sales conference in Washington, D.C., and ends with staff being snowed in by the blizzard of ’95. 

1996

NFIB launches a digital presence with NFIBonline.com.

1996

The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) is signed into law.  

1997

NFIB unveils the Small Business Works for America campaign. 

1997

NFIB launches a campaign to Abolish the IRS Code in Independence, Mo. In 1998, NFIB the campaign continues with, “It’s Our Money, Not The IRS” day.  

1998

NFIB creates the Leadership Trust, NFIB’s major donor program. 

1998

The first NFIB Congressional Small Business Summit is held in Washington, D.C. 

1999

NFIB’s rank in the annual Fortune magazine “Power 25” moves up to No. 2, as the top business lobby on the list.

2000

The NFIB Legal Foundation is established to represent the interests of small business as the voice of small business in the courts and a legal resource for small business owners nationwide.

2001

NFIB Legal Foundation files the legal challenge to the ergonomics rule in the D.C. District Court. The rule is overturned under the Congressional Review Act.

2001

“NFIB Road Team” is established. NFIB staff is deployed to congressional special elections in Pennsylvania and Virginia, encouraging NFIB members to vote. 

2003

NFIB supports Small Business Health Plans or Association Health Plans for small business owners and their employees to access more affordable health insurance.

2003

Bipartisan legislation to repeal the Death Tax makes it to the U.S. Senate floor. 

2004

NFIB hosts the 4th National Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C., where President George W. Bush addresses NFIB members.

2006

New President Todd Stottlemyer is selected as the 5th NFIB president.

2006

NFIB’s mission statement is revised, “To promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate, and grow their businesses.”

2007

NFIB’s political department launches the Presidential Candidate Teleforums.

2007

NFIB Small Business Legal Center files an influential amicus brief in Davenport v. Washington Education Association. 

In a unanimous ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds a Washington State law requiring unions to obtain the consent of non-member dues payers before using their dues for political purposes.

2007

NFIB successfully stops unions from being allowed to organize with a card-check system, instead of a secret ballot union election.

2009

New President Dan Danner is selected as the 6th NFIB president.

2010

NFIB Small Business Legal Center files a U.S. Constitutional challenge, NFIB v. Sebelius, to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare.

2010

In an historic election year for small business, a record high of 25 NFIB members are elected to the U.S. Congress.

2011

NFIB leads the first successful repeal of part of the ACA, the mandated IRS Form 1099 reporting, and President Obama signs it into law.

2011

NFIB Small Business Legal Center challenges the NLRB’s “Notice Posting Rule” and successfully overturns the NLRB rule.

2012

In NFIB v. Sebelius, the U.S. Supreme Court rules the ACA is constitutional. Although disappointing, NFIB will be successful at repealing the individual mandate and healthcare-related taxes.

2012

NFIB launches, “I Built My Business,” bus tour after President Obama states, “You didn’t build that.”

2014

Seven new NFIB members are elected to the U.S. Congress, for a total of 31 NFIB members in the U.S. Congress.

2015

NFIB further ramps up grassroots and establishes the Advocacy Academy and Fly-In.

2015

NFIB Small Business Legal Center successfully stops the EPA’s so-called “Clean Power Plan” rule that would have given the federal agency unprecedented and unconstitutional control over the energy sector.

2015

NFIB successfully lobbies to permanently increase Small Business Expensing (Section 179) and extend the vast majority of the ‘01 and ‘03 tax cuts.

2016

New President Juanita Duggan is selected as the 7th NFIB president.

2016

NFIB Small Business Legal Center successfully stops a Department of Labor rule from taking effect that would have doubled the salary threshold for overtime eligibility.

2017

NFIB fights for small business tax relief in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and successfully creates the Small Business Deduction (Section 199A), a 20 percent deduction for small businesses.

2017

As part of the TCJA, a longstanding priority is finally achieved with the repeal of the individual mandate, which was established in the ACA.

2018

NFIB holds its 75th Anniversary. President Donald Trump addresses NFIB members.    

2018

NFIB Small Business Legal Center successfully stops a mandatory paid sick leave law from taking effect in Austin, Texas.

2018

NFIB Small Business Legal Center successfully stops a mandatory paid sick leave law from taking effect in Austin, Texas. 

2020

New President Brad Close is selected as the 8th NFIB president.

2020

The COVID-19 pandemic and government-mandated shutdowns leave small businesses fighting to keep their doors open, and NFIB becomes even more crucial.

NFIB’s research and COVID-19 survey series guides NFIB’s response in shaping the CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program, a much-needed lifeline for Main Street.

2020

NFIB is the guiding voice for policymakers in Washington, D.C., and all 50 state capitals, as small businesses across the country struggle to survive. NFIB holds its first virtual Fly-In, earns thousands of national and local media appearances, and creates a critical bi-weekly webinar for small business owners.

NFIB state and federal teams lead the fight to allow small businesses to reopen and get relief from harmful mandates.

2022

NFIB Small Business Legal Center challenges OSHA’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate in NFIB v. OSHA, and the U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of NFIB.

OSHA withdraws the vaccine mandate.