The Minuteman Fund
Established in 1996, the Minuteman Fund has proven to be a powerful asset for the ACEC federation, serving as a transformative tool for Member Organizations (MOs) seeking to enhance their impact in support of the engineering industry. As ACEC’s dedicated legal and legislative resource for advocacy on critical issues, the Fund has enabled MOs to safeguard and advance the business interests of the engineering sector.
Expanding the Impact
“The Minuteman Fund had a crucial impact on our fight against indemnification and duty to defend in Wisconsin. The timely grant propelled us through intense negotiations on our bill and its passage through the legislature. Because of the Fund’s aid, we were able to pass our bill in just one legislative session, delivering a win for our members.”
Chris Klein, Executive Director
ACEC Wisconsin and 2023-2024 NAECE Chair
ACEC Minuteman Fund Grants
| DATE | STATE | CAMPAIGN PURPOSE |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 2023 | South Carolina | Support for indemnification, Duty to Defend, and joint-and-several liability legislation |
| Sep. 2023 | Illinois | Support for campaign to prevent expansion of state prevailing wage law to surveyors |
| Sep. 2023 | Michigan | Support for a workforce study |
| Sep. 2023 | NAECE | Support for a national R&D Tax Credit Amortization Ad Campaign |
| Dec. 2023 | California | Support for helping LHIT-insured member firms by repurposing approximately $54,000 of a February 2023 grant |
| Dec. 2023 | Minnesota | Support for passing a strengthened QBS law |
| Dec. 2023 | Arizona | Support for a 2024 ballot initiative to continue transportation infrastructure funding for Maricopa County |
| Mar. 2024 | New Jersey | Support for legislation to reauthorize the state Transportation Trust Fund Authority (TTFA) |
| Apr. 2024 | South Carolina | Support for an infrastructure funding impact study to assist in state advocacy efforts |
| Jul. 2024 | Louisiana | Support for study that will assist in advocating for increased revenue for state transportation infrastructure |
| Aug. 2024 | Washington | Support for "No on Initiative 2117" campaign to fight attempted rollback of infrastructure funding |
| Aug. 2024 | Indiana | Support for QBS Ambassador Program |
| Aug. 2024 | Georgia | Support for passage of expanded QBS law |
| Aug. 2024 | Virginia & MW | Support for advocacy efforts directed to new Virginia legislators & leaders |
| Sep. 2024 | Arizona | Support for referendum to continue Pinal County excise tax to fund infrastructure |
| Sep. 2024 | North Dakota | Support for "Keep It Local" Coalition fighting ballot initiative to do away with state's property tax. |
| Oct. 2024 | Illinois | Support for litigation to protect Illinois' "lockbox" for transportation funding. |
| Nov. 2024 | Rhode Island | Support for defense in State of Rhode Island suit against Member Firms for Washington Bridge Matter |
| Jan. 2025 | New Jersey | Support for advocacy efforts in connection with contract utilization legislation (Minority participation in public contracts) |
| Mar. 2025 | Kentucky | Support for amicus brief to Kentucky Supreme Court on issues of immunity for design professionals working on government projects |
| Mar. 2025 | Ohio | Support for ballot initiative for infrastructure funding |
| Apr. 2025 | Colorado | Support for opposing SB25-185, a state bill that would permit design professionals to be directly sued by new homeowners |
| May 2025 | Michigan | Support for passing a $3 billion transportation funding legislative package |
| Jul. 2025 | California | Support for amicus brief in the Chiles v. Salazar case involving occupational licensure |
| Jul. 2025 | Pennsylvania | Support for amicus brief efforts in the case of Aloia v. Diament involving Pennsylvania's Statute of Repose |
| Sep. 2025 | Arizona | Support for transportation excise tax extension on March 2026 ballot |
| Sep. 2025 | Indiana | Support for effort to toll Indiana's I-70 highway |
| Oct. 2025 | Pennsylvania | Support for amicus brief efforts in the case of Clearfield County v. Fiore involving Pennsylvania's Statute of Repose |
| Jan. 2026 | Illinois | Support for study on "ReBuild Illinois" infrastructure program for advocacy purposes |
| Feb. 2026 | Wisconsin | Support for amicus brief to defend contractual additional-insured protections for design professional firms |
| Mar. 2026 | Missouri | Support for legislation to extend sovereign immunity to engineering firms providing services to state DOT |
| Apr. 2026 | New Jersey | Support for advocacy campaign for school construction bond referenda |
| Apr. 2026 | New Jersey | Support for amicus brief to enforce contractual Limitation of Liability provisions |
| May 2026 | Mississippi | Support for amicus brief on six-year Statute of Repose |
| Jun. 2026 | New York | Support for litigation to contest NYS 2025 law on expansion of prevailing wage requirements |
| Sep. 2026 | South Carolina | Support for amicus brief to SC Supreme Court on the question of duty to contractors on public projects |
Get Involved
Both firms and individuals may contribute to the Fund. Help us to help you! Show your support for the Fund by checking off the Minuteman Fund box on your dues invoice, or send a contribution by check payable to ACEC to Minuteman Fund/Accounting Department, ACEC, 1400 L Street, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005-2605.
