THE AFF NETWORK

About America's Future Foundation

America's Future Foundation (AFF) recognizes that the future of freedom in America is by no means assured. Over a generation, conservatives and libertarians have won hard-fought gains for limited government, free-markets, and personal responsibility. But the fate of freedom falls upon today's conservative and libertarian professionals in their 20s and 30s to defend these gains and lead the next battle.

AFF's mission is to identify and develop these future conservative and libertarian leaders. When the time is right, when the situation demands, when the challenge calls, young leaders at AFF will be ready. And these future leaders will turn to their fellow members of AFF to recruit their team to execute.

America's Future Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt organization. Your contributions are tax deductible.

Strategic Position

AFF's position in the free-market movement is unique.

Many conservative and libertarian organizations target college students to teach the first principles of a free society and offer professional training for first jobs. AFF targets conservative and libertarian professionals in their second stage of development as leaders, generally in their 20s and 30s. AFF funnels graduates of such programs into leadership positions, enhancing their impact.

Definition of Leadership

By second stage of leadership development, AFF means taking bright, talented individuals to be effective leaders. AFF's programs offer the opportunities for future leaders to develop--to publish, debate, strategize, reflect, govern, learn, and network.

AFF defines leadership as the action of leading followers towards their common goal. AFF's notion of leadership is situational--that is, time and place dependant. Ultimately, AFF cannot make leaders. But AFF can enhance the probability that when a leadership situation arises, when the challenge calls, the best conservatives and libertarians will be ready to lead.

AFF recognizes that not all leadership must be done with authority. Leadership can be exerted from within organizations, outside politics, and through media, not just from atop. Accordingly, AFF succeeds when its members exert leadership as a policy analysts, writers, media strategists, campaigners, Hill negotiators, philanthropists and managers--not just when an AFF member becomes a Congressman or CEO.

Theory of Leadership Development

AFF recognizes at least three theories of leadership development: leadership by experience; leadership by example; and leadership by knowledge.

AFF prioritizes the theory of leadership development by experience. By this theory, leaders learn to lead by doing. If you want to be a leading writer, write. If you want to be a leading policy analyst, debate. If you want to learn governance as leadership, serve on a board. Accordingly, AFF offers its members these critical opportunities through its programs and operations. For this reason, AFF is an organization for professionals in their 20s and 30s, run by professionals in their 20s and 30s.

AFF also emphasizes the theory of leadership by example. By this theory, leaders learn to lead by studying other leaders. Leaders collect up the stories and develop a repertoire of "leadership moments" that they to turn when confronting similar challenges in their own lives and careers. AFF chronicles the lessons from lives of current conservative and libertarian leaders to pass on to young, aspiring leaders.

Through its online Calendar, AFF encourages its members to explore the theory of leadership by knowledge through forums, debates, and events at other conservative and libertarian organizations.