Young America's Foundation

Young America's Foundation
Name	Young America's Foundation
Founded	0 1969
Founders	William F. Buckley Jr., M. Stanton Evans
Headquarters	Reston, Virginia, U.S.
Key people	Ron Robinson (President), Scott Walker (Chairman)
Focus	Conservative education and activism
Website	yaf.org

Young America's Foundation is a prominent American nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing young people to conservative ideas. Founded in the late 1960s, it works primarily on high school and college campuses to promote principles of individual freedom, a strong national defense, free enterprise, and traditional values. The organization is known for its campus lecture series, student conferences, and ownership of historic properties associated with key conservative figures.

History

The organization was established in 1969 by a group including influential intellectuals like William F. Buckley Jr. and journalist M. Stanton Evans. It emerged during a period of significant campus unrest, aiming to provide a counterweight to the New Left and foster a new generation of conservative leadership. In 1983, under the leadership of President Ron Robinson, it merged with the Institute for Conservative Education, which owned the Ronald Reagan Ranch in California. This acquisition of the Rancho del Cielo marked a major expansion, solidifying its role as a custodian of conservative heritage. Throughout the subsequent decades, it significantly grew its endowment, program offerings, and national footprint, becoming one of the most well-funded and active organizations in the conservative movement.

Mission and activities

Its core mission is to ensure that increasing numbers of young Americans understand and are inspired by the ideas of individual liberty, limited government, and free market capitalism. Key activities include organizing a national campus lecture program featuring prominent conservative speakers, hosting student conferences at venues like the Reagan Ranch, and providing resources and training for campus activism. The foundation also maintains a robust media presence, producing publications and digital content, and awards scholarships to students who demonstrate a commitment to its principles. It actively works to challenge what it perceives as liberal bias in academia by promoting alternative viewpoints on campuses across the United States.

Leadership and notable figures

Longtime President Ron Robinson has led the organization since the early 1980s, overseeing its substantial growth. The chairman of its board is former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. Other notable board members and advisors have included figures such as Ben Shapiro, Dinesh D'Souza, and the late Andrew Breitbart. The foundation frequently collaborates with and hosts speeches by a wide array of conservative personalities, including senators like Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton, commentators like Matt Walsh, and journalists from outlets like The Daily Wire and Fox News. Its speakers bureau is a central pillar of its outreach efforts, connecting these figures with student audiences nationwide.

Campus programs and events

Its campus programs form the backbone of its outreach, sponsoring hundreds of events each year at schools ranging from Berkeley to Hillsdale College. Major annual events include the National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D.C. and the High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch. It also organizes regional conferences and campus activism trainings, teaching students skills in public speaking, networking, and event planning. The foundation’s “9/11: Never Forget Project” is one of its most visible annual campus initiatives, alongside efforts to host debates and film screenings on contentious political topics.

Properties and facilities

The foundation owns and operates several iconic properties that serve as educational centers and shrines to conservative thought. Its flagship property is the Rancho del Cielo, the former retreat of President Ronald Reagan in the Santa Ynez Mountains. In Washington, D.C., it operates the Ronald Reagan House, a townhome used for student seminars. Another major facility is the National Journalism Center, which trains aspiring journalists in conservative media. It also maintains its national headquarters in Reston, Virginia, which houses its administrative and program staff.

Political positions and influence

The organization is a stalwart advocate for conservatism, regularly taking positions aligned with the Republican Party platform. It strongly supports a robust military, Second Amendment rights, restrictions on abortion, and school choice initiatives. It is highly critical of socialism, environmentalist regulations like the Green New Deal, and political correctness on campus. Through its extensive programming and cultivation of future leaders, it has exerted considerable influence on the conservative movement, with many alumni going on to work in Congress, the White House, think tanks like The Heritage Foundation, and conservative media.

Category:Conservative organizations in the United States Category:Political and economic think tanks based in Washington, D.C. Category:Organizations established in 1969