What does CANF do?

CANF conducts and supports numerous and diverse activities, programs and initiatives to advance human rights in Cuba, educate public opinion on the plight of the Cuban people, dispel prejudice and intolerance against Cubans in exile and promote Cuban culture and creative achievements. 

Regular contact with independent groups and journalists and opposition figures as well as extensive information gathering and analysis allow CANF to offer an updated and comprehensive view of the situation in Cuba. Likewise, CANF provides a window to the outside world for Cubans on the island deprived of objective information and ideas from abroad. In addition to having our own radio station, La Voz de la Fundación,  for transmissions to the island,  we led the effort to establish  the U.S. Information Agency's Radio Martí (1985) and TV Martí (1990), the official U.S. broadcasting operations of uncensored and unbiased news and programming for the Cuban people. 

CANF assists non-violent pro-democracy activists on the island and provides a voice for the victims of oppression in Cuba by informing public opinion - particularly governments and human rights organizations -  on the systematic violation of human rights in Cuba.

We have taken the cause for a free Cuba to the halls of power worldwide. As the foremost Cuban exile organization in the United States, CANF delivers an organized and powerful Cuban-American voice in Washington. For two decades CANF has worked tirelessly to forge a broad bipartisan consensus on U.S. policy toward Cuba and has built bridges of close communication with the executive and legislative branches. Our influence extends internationally, where we raise awareness of Cuba's plight with world leaders and in capitals around the globe.

CANF's research, education, and information efforts are designed to enlighten the media, academia, policy makers, and public opinion - domestically and abroad - on Cuban issues. These efforts have led  Hispanic Business magazine to call CANF "the leading clearinghouse for information devoted solely to Cuba." 

Our numerous humanitarian programs provide active assistance to Cuba's oppressed, impoverished people and help break down barriers that separate free Cubans and those on the island. Many thousands of Cuban refugees fleeing tyranny have been welcomed, comforted, and assisted through our efforts. One of CANF's exodus support programs collected and distributed millions of dollars to reunite more than 10,000 Cuban refugees in third countries with family in the U.S. at no cost to U.S. taxpayers.

CANF's historic humanitarian efforts extend to other communities in times of need. Most recently, we collected and sent aid to victims of natural disasters in Central America. When Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992, within 24 hours CANF had mounted a massive relief effort and was shipping supplies to the devastated areas. The broad relief efforts, commended by the federal government, extended into the reconstruction phase.