New Group Forms to Make American Naturism Great Again

A new group called Federation of United Naturists & Nudists recently announced its formation and intention to represent naturists in the U.S.  to the International Naturist Federation as their official representatives.

FUNN was founded to give the United States a formal voice in the International Naturist Federation (INF-FNI). In 2026, INF-FNI officially recognized FUNN as the U.S. representative organization. Today, FUNN represents U.S. naturists on the world stage, connecting our community to a global movement of naturists worldwide. – FUNN web site

Normally when a new group with an international intention claiming to be a federated group (which normally represents several groups not individuals)  is formed there is some  kind prior conversations and public discourse. However, in this case there was no public forum or conversations. Also several other standard non profit practices don’t seem to have been followed. Two of the three men on the board of the group list significant non profit experience on their bios. According to James Nunn one of the three white men who form the board of this organization along with Evan Nix and Scott Cline there were some private phone conversations that determined the need for a group. Particularly to make a U.S. presence on the international federation again.

The development of FUNN has been a work in progress for the last six months or so and is not without attempts to find an alternative solution to create an organization that would allow INF to recognize a U.S.-based organization. Regular communication with INF-FNI has occurred during this time.

In response to questions about the mandate and assessment of the need for the group Nunn responded;

This is a great question, and observation. Yes, we are three white men: one LGBTQ+ and two straight men. Historically, most nonprofits have been started because (1) a need was identified; and (2) people got together and did something to meet that need.

.. conversations were had by reaching out to people and organizations, than posting on social media. I think this thread is a good example of how those posts may have evolved. Sometimes it is easier to pick up the phone and talk with people. Which is what we did.  James Nunn on BlueSky

In reality non profit organizations cannot be started willy nilly as such in the United States, it’s just not legal. Furthermore it isn’t best practice in any local  non profit sector let alone a national one. Nunn reported the group is incorporated in the U.S. state of Nevada and is still in the process of filing for legal status as a 501c(7) under the U.S. tax code (meaning they have not yet submitted documents).

I sought answers to several other questions, regarding organizational documents, bylaws, financial accountability structure and more. Additional questions included who chose this organization as the U.S. representatives? Who is their constituency? Where is their representative mandate originate?But none of these questions were answered. Instead I was accused of being like the people who called AIDS a gay cancer. By the way the Victorian council I believe he is referring to is in Australia Nunn’s country of national origin.

This interaction reminded me of when I served on the board of the Victorian AIDS Council in the mid-80’s, and I am still thankful that a very small group of people decided that the “gay cancer” that was killing gay men was something worth organizing around.

This lead one observer to comment.

The old white men who think they know better, and that they represent naturism best, I guess…

Another said

From this side of the Atlantic it seems to reflect the wider zeitgeist of today’s America

Another observer commented

I like the direction it’s heading in. We need an org that embraces diversity and builds community. I’m excited to see where this goes. I might have to take a picture of myself naked while signing up for membership

At a time when  the current nudist organization the American Association for Nude Recreation has two women leading it, and increasing diversity and a great need for inclusion it’s seems to this observer that a scant six months of private conversations is sufficient for 3 white men to form a new group to represent all naturists the United States in the international community. The group has already been designated as the U.S. delegation to the upcoming INF conference, despite the many unanswered question. Another observer commented to the suggestion this is a brazen power grab.

Certainly got that gist from the “join us so we can become powerful at the INF-FNI table” thing. More power-hungry white American men wanting to take over things. I dunno, time will tell how it pans out. A lot of these organisations seem a little hazy in their purpose.

I would have ended this piece with a wait and see attitude like the observer above but then Nunn attempted to equate our Naturist Social Project the FUNN effort by suggesting there was no clear mission and we accepted donations. He cited this page as proof despite the mission of the project clearly displayed in second paragraph of the page. When I challenged the veracity of his comment and misinformation his response was as follows.

Calm down. I wasn’t coming for you. Your right to start and run a group is not being challenged. I encourage it, and have done that many times in my past. I don’t know any more that I know, and you don’t know any more than you know. It’s not a competition; at least it isn’t for me.

The equivocation and projection is symptomatic of the kind of privileged mindset that seems to be driving this effort. Instead of answering the questions this was his response.

It is clear that you don’t like the fact that some people founded a group that addressed a need that those people saw needing to be resolved. And that is more than okay. I just don’t see the point of continuing to defend our actions.

This was said before announcing the group has garnered $600 from new members since the announcement this morning. Yet there is nothing about the organizations accounting process and how the distribution of those funds will be handled. Maybe it will go towards plane fares for seats like this as U. S. delegates to the INF conference in Hungary. At a time when many people in the United States are struggling to buy groceries I guess anyone willing and able to part with $6 to join the group so that can be included will get what they pay for. I for one will pass.