About the Leadership Institute

Founded in 1979 by its president, Morton C. Blackwell, LI provides training in campaigns, fundraising, grassroots organizing, youth politics, and communications. The Institute teaches conservatives of all ages how to succeed in politics, government, and the media.

The Institute offers more than 50 types of training schools, workshops, and seminars; a free employment placement service; and a national field program that trains conservative students to organize campus groups.

Since 1979, LI has trained more than 250,000 conservative activists, leaders, and students. The Institute’s unique college campus network has grown to more than 2,300 conservative campus groups and newspapers.

While many liberal organizations exist to increase the involvement of liberal activists, few similar organizations exist to serve conservatives. Because conservatism tends to focus on the power of ideas, most conservative organizations are think tanks that focus on policy or legislation.

The left excels at organizing and mobilizing large numbers of people – activating them in the public policy process. While philosophy is very important, the lack of widespread, active conservative participation is one of America’s greatest practical weaknesses.

LI increases the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. The Institute doesn’t analyze policy; it teaches conservative Americans how to influence policy through direct participation, activism, and leadership.

About Christian Leaders Program

The Leadership Institute’s Christian Leadership Program activates a new generation of conservative Christians to engage meaningfully with the political process and contend for their principles, the very principles upon which America was founded.

The Leadership Institute identifies conservative Christian leaders on college campuses by building relationships through LI’s existing national network of more than 2,300 local-campus, conservative student groups. In addition, the Leadership Institute works with Christian professors to identify promising students.

The Leadership Institute then recruits those students into its training program and works to match their career goals and aspirations with the broad array of Leadership Institute resources.

Through training, one-on-one mentorship, and ongoing support, the Leadership Institute helps young Christian leaders learn how to work in politics on behalf of their faith.  The Christian Leaders Program also connects students to networking, internship, and job opportunities throughout the conservative and Christian movements.

About the Grant

On March 20, 2023, Dao Feng and Angela Foundation (formerly known as Daofeng and Angela Foundation), Bedrock Foundation and the Leadership Institute held a signing ceremony at LI’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia (See images below).

From 2023 to 2024, Dao Feng and Angela Foundation agreed to provide a grant in the total amount of US$ 200,000 to LI as a leading sponsor to support the staff’s salaries of the Christian Leaders Program. As Dao Feng and Angela Foundation’s strategic Co-granting Partner,  Bedrock Foundation agreed to provide US$ 82,348 to cover the rest of the budget of staff’s salaries for this project.

Program Impact in 2023

In 2023, 141 students were active in LI’s Christian Leaders Program who represented 32 states and 101 schools. LI’s Christian Leaders Program sponsored 13 events in 2023 to identify and recruit new students to the program. 

The training and mentorship helped kick-start these students’ promising, lifelong careers of standing up for conservative principles. Many have already made a positive and decisive impact at their schools and in their local communities thanks to their participation in the program.

The Leadership Institute’s Christian Leaders Program also connected students to networking, internships, and job opportunities throughout the conservative movement. Each Christian Leader was encouraged to join a career consultation with Christian Leaders Program Manager Amanda Spiers.  Amanda connected many students with job banks to guide them to their next job or internship opportunity.

In 2023, the Leadership Institute organized two Christian Statesman Conferences — the inaugural conference in June and then a second conference in November held because of enthusiastic demand from students.

• On June 18-25, 2023, the program hosted the first-annual Statesmen Conference.  Forty students attended. They heard speakers from the Heritage Foundation, Family Research Council, Hillsdale College, Generation Joshua, and Leland Seminary discuss the intersection of faith and politics. Students also toured the Museum of the Bible and attended Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Conference in Washington, D.C.
• On November 18-19, 2023, the program hosted 49 students at its 2023 Fall Conference at the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY.  Students were trained to host a public program, fundraise, and represent their values on campus. Students also explored the Ark Encounter, a life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark.

Students at the conferences met and forged strong relationships with others from around the country. And students learned firsthand from Christian professionals about what it means to stand up for their faith in their personal and professional lives.

In 2023, the program built relationships with 7 Christian professors.  These professors not only serve as teaching and recruitment resources, but they also serve as role models for the students. Through their mentorship and coaching, they show students what it looks like to live out their Christian faith in their careers.

Thanks to Amanda and Program Coordinator Isaac Faulkner’s strong leadership and hard work, the Christian Leaders Program met, and bested, the 2023 goals that were set for the program.

Program Impact in 2024

In 2024, the program had 136 active Christian Leaders, and 6 active Christian Professors. 504 Students trained in 28 programs.

At the beginning of 2024, Leadership Institute sponsored 105 Christian students to attend the National March for Life in Washington, D.C.

In 2024, LI developed a new training program: Christian Leaders Workshops. These 3-hr training sessions teach students how to advocate for conservative principles on and off campus. 204 Christian leaders were trained in 18 Christian Leaders Workshops.

From May 30 to June 2, 2024, the Christian Statesman Conference was held at LI’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. 44 students from 30 different colleges and universities were trained in three key areas:

• Practical skills for political activism and personal leadership.
• Connections with like-minded peers and professionals in the conservative movement.
• Understanding of the tradition of Christian statesmanship in America and their place within that tradition.

Students prized this special opportunity. Ony Otiocha, a student at North Carolina State University, said, “I was able to learn how I can integrate Christianity into the political world without compromising my integrity. This conference has been an amazing experience.”

The program also sponsored students to attend other top Christian and conservative conferences, including Students for Life’s National Pro-life Summit, Faith and Freedom Coalition’s annual Road to Majority Conference, and Counteract USA’s Resolve to Stand Conference.

LI’s Christian Leaders Program also works to activate a new generation of conservative Christians to succeed in politics, public policy, and the media. In 2024, thanks to the mentorship they received from the Christian Leaders Program, 16 students secured jobs and internships within the conservative movement.