Club for Growth Foundation Fellowship Program

Club for Growth Foundation Fellowship Program

Overview: The Club for Growth Foundation Fellowship Program educates America's rising leaders with the principles and skills needed to advance and defend free-market, limited government principles. The program equips civic, business, public policy, and industry leaders with a firm understanding of first principles and empowers participants with communications skills to become effective messengers for economic freedom and limited government.

Mission: To ensure the next generation of conservative champions are well equipped to explain the relationship between a free society, economic liberty, and limited government, and to expand the number of pro-growth Americans who are able and willing to engage in public service across a broad cross-section of society.

Geographic Scope: National; Fellows span across 41 states and Washington, D.C.

Target Participants:

Civic leaders

Business leaders

Public policy executives

Industry leaders

State legislators

Think tank leaders

Businessmen and women interested in government and politics

Individuals in their twenties through fifties (primarily those in their thirties and early forties)

Not limited to candidates for office

Program Components:

Two in-person annual conferences

Monthly virtual (Zoom) meetings throughout the year

Media training and on-camera training in public communications

Public speaking and media interview training

"Murder board" sessions (intensive preparation for hostile questioning)

Networking with conservative leaders across the country

Core Curriculum Focuses:

Free market principles (Bastiat, Milton Friedman)

Limited government principles

How to resist government expansion and corruption

Methods and strategies for promoting individual liberty

Media and communications skills

Building a network of like-minded leaders

Conference Locations (varies by year):

2020: Trump Hotel, Washington, DC (May 7-9 and September 17-20)

2022: Nashville, TN (May 19-22) and Washington, DC (September 22-25)

2024: Two on-site conferences plus monthly Zoom meetings

2025: Two in-person conferences and monthly virtual meetings

Notable Speakers: Former Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow, former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Senators Mike Lee and Tim Scott, Professors Mike Munger (Duke), James Otteson (Notre Dame), Randy Barnett (Georgetown Law), Art Carden (Samford University), Members of Congress, Dr. Samuel Gregg, former NBA player Enes Freedom, CNN's Mary Katherine Ham, Vivek Ramaswamy, Babylon Bee co-founders Seth Dillon and Kyle Mann, musician John Rich, Fox News personalities

Alumni Network: Over 200 members from 41 states and Washington, D.C. (as of 2025); approximately 216 members. New cohorts typically accept 40-50 Fellows annually.

Notable Alumni:

Rep. Josh Brecheen (OK-02)

Rep. Eric Burlison (MO-07)

Rep. Andy Ogles (TN-05)

Kevin Roberts (Heritage Foundation President)

Oklahoma State Auditor Cindy Byrd

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares

Utah State Treasurer Marlo Oaks

Ellen Weaver (South Carolina School Superintendent)

Various state legislators and private sector leaders

Program Structure:

Fellowship class selected annually

Year-long commitment

Participants engage in monthly Zoom meetings with professors

Two in-person conference experiences

Ongoing network engagement and collaboration

Impact and Philosophy:

Creates a network of conservative leaders nationwide who collaborate on issues

Equips fellows to resist DEI initiatives, analyze upcoming legislation, and develop pro-liberty arguments

Modeled after the Federalist Society

Emphasis on positive messaging about freedom and free markets

Training fellows to handle hostile media environments with confidence and resilience

Separation from Political Operations:

The Foundation (501c3) is educationally focused and separate from Club for Growth's political operations (501c4 and PAC)

Fellows are not filtered based on political ambitions

Foundation does not endorse Fellows for office, though some Fellows may receive support from Club for Growth's political arm if they run for office

Contact Information: ClubforGrowthFoundation.org/Fellowship/

Awards and Recognition:

Fellow of the Year Award: Recognizes exceptional dedication and engagement

Courage Under Fire Award: Honors leadership and achievement despite challenging circumstances

Voice of the American Dream Award: Recognizes exceptional communications and media skills

Pillar of Freedom Award: Honors generous supporters and donors (not a fellow award)

Organizations Supported:

American Federation for Children (mentioned as source of speakers)

The Dinner Table (Maine)

Opportunity Arkansas

Various state and local advocacy organizations led by Fellows