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John,
For nearly five decades, conservatives have invested heavily in a training operation called the Leadership Institute. In 2004, their revenue was about $9 million. Today, it’s over $52 million a year. |
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If you’ve never heard of them, that’s by design. They recruit early, especially on college campuses. They mentor students into conservative media, activism, and politics. They run a secret conveyor belt into power.
Their alumni include people like Mitch McConnell, Mike Pence, and James O’Keefe—figures who’ve shaped the right’s agenda from the Senate floor to some of the most damaging political operations of the last decade. |
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The Leadership Institute’s most recent IRS tax filing shows more than $52 million in revenue. |
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This is what long-term investment looks like. And unfortunately, that’s who we’re up against.
If you want to help us build a leadership pipeline that can actually compete with the right, please start a monthly donation today. Steady monthly support is how we scale, plan long-term, and stop losing ground to organizations that have been at this for decades. |
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The Leadership Institute’s website promises to turn thousands of young conservatives into “leaders for America.” |
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At Run for Something, we recruit and train young, diverse, community-rooted leaders to run for local and state office. We focus on school boards, city councils, and state legislatures—the places where power actually gets built.
We do it all with an $8.2 million annual budget. And despite that gap, we’ve already helped elect 1,600+ millennial and Gen Z leaders in 49 states.
Which brings us to Battle Up, our five-year plan to raise $50 million to expand the battleground, compete everywhere, and build durable power ahead of 2026, redistricting, and beyond.
We didn’t launch Battle Up to copy the right. We did it to beat them at the long game.
John, monthly donors are the backbone of that plan. They’re how we recruit year-round, say yes early to candidates, and scale training and support where and when it’s needed most.
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They’ve had a 50-year head start. We have momentum—and a plan. Thanks for helping us close the gap. |
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Johanna Silva Waki Run for Something
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We change the system by changing who’s in it. We start local, build the bench, and shape the future from the bottom up. Together, we’ve already helped win over 1,000 elections.
This work is made possible thanks to thousands of grassroots donors who give a little each month to fuel big change. Become a monthly donor today and help our candidates keep running—and winning. |
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Interested in volunteering or mentoring young, first-time candidates running for local office? We’ll connect you with our amazing candidates! Click here to find out more about volunteering and mentoring opportunities.
Throw everything you know about politics out the window. You’re qualified to run for local office — we’re here to help! Click here to find out more. |
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