	You’re a values-driven Servant Leader.
	You’ve completed Answering the Call.
	You're clear that you want to run for office in the future.

So...now what?

Foundations is for servant leaders who are clear that they want to serve through politics by running for office.

This virtual, five-session program grounds Servant Leaders in their core values, personal mission, shadow mission, and gives them time to draft and receive feedback on their public narrative. They also explore their relationship with money and their understanding of how their identity will influence their experience as a political candidate. Finally, they begin the work of organizing their network data. Foundations is a small-group facilitated program that includes our skilled advisors who provide feedback and insight on campaigning.

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“The energy of my peers from all branches of the military, Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps reignited my interests in engaging in public service…There are many aspects of your life and your personal goals that need examining and having this trusted group allowed me to share my interests and really commit to following through.”

— Nikki F., U.S. Air Force, Foundations Summer 2017

Schedule & Sessions

Two sessions of Foundations are offered virtually every year: Winter and Summer.

Applications for our Summer 2022 program have closed. The application for the Winter 2023 sessions will open in Fall of 2022. Please fill out this form to be notified when applications open.

Eligibility

New Politics Leadership Academy is dedicated to recruiting Servant Leaders to enter politics. Most Foundations participants are graduates of Answering the Call; however, we do invite people who are committed to running for office to apply directly. Additionally, this is a program for prospective candidates; people currently running for office are not eligible for this program. If you have questions about your eligibility, email Stephanie and we will evaluate your eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

“I had two burning questions when I was thinking about stepping forward to run for public office. First was, “is my heart in the right place?” And second was “how do I do this?” This program mentored me throughout the process … [it] showed me what it means to have a servant’s heart, but also helped me enter into the arena with eyes wide open and equipped me with the tools needed to succeed.”

— Scott C., U.S. Marine Corps, Foundations 2019

Curriculum

Participants meet for five two-hour sessions. There is no pre-work prior to the first session. Participants are expected to complete homework between subsequent sessions, some of which will be turned in for feedback by an advisor. Homework will take 1-3 hours to complete for each session.

Session 1 - Welcome and The Road Ahead
Session 2 - Inner Clarity & Public Narrative
Session 3 - Preparing to Fundraise
Session 4 - Cultivating Presence and Servant Leader Q+A
Session 5 - Presenting the Public Narrative and Next Steps

FAQ: How is Foundations different from Answering the Call?

Answering the Call helped you clarify your path — Foundations will help you lay the groundwork for a future campaign.

In Foundations, you will build on the work you began in Answering the Call by clarifying your core values and crafting your public narrative. You’ll learn how to share your life story in a way that connects with your audience. You will also move into more tactical work by organizing your personal network data and crafting fundraising messages. Finally, you will again have a chance to meet with a servant leader who has entered the political arena as a candidate. Our staff of skilled political advisors will be on hand to answer your questions and provide expert guidance and perspectives every step of the way.

Tuition & Fees

In an effort to make this experience as accessible as possible, there is no fee for participating in this program. We do, however, ask for a donation from applicants who are accepted if they have the means. These contributions help offset the costs of running the program and support our efforts to grow the movement of servant leaders entering politics.

Take the next step in your service journey.

Prepare to run for office with other
servant leaders in a small-group setting