Club for Growth Foundation Fellowship Program

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

Application Process

Application Materials Required:

• Resume
• References (number not specified)
• Personal statement

Application Submission:

• Online application available on website
• URL: ClubforGrowthFoundation.org/Fellowship/

Application Deadlines (historical):

• 2020 Class: Applications accepted with seminars scheduled for May 7-9 and September 17-20, 2020
• 2022 Class: December 31, 2021
• 2024 Class: December 31, 2023
• 2025 Class: November 15, 2024

Selection Process:

• Applicants interviewed (Foundation interviews approximately 300+ candidates per year)
• Selection of approximately 40-50 Fellows annually
• Evaluation based on demonstrated commitment to free market principles and leadership potential

No Specific Narrative Questions or LOI Requirements Mentioned: The extracted materials do not provide details about specific essay questions or letter of intent requirements beyond resume, references, and personal statement.

Application Status as of April 3, 2026:

• Most recent published deadline was November 15, 2024 for the 2025 Fellowship Class
• Next anticipated application cycle would likely follow similar timeline (approximately fall 2025 for 2026 class), but specific 2026 deadline not yet announced in available materials