- About the Scholarship
- Apply for the Scholarship
- Scholarship Benefits
- SPN’s Annual Meeting
- Eligibility
- FAQs
Accelerate Your Success, Make a Difference
Are you a rising leader with a vision for making a difference in your state? Whether your passion is for increasing education opportunities for all students, or expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare or finding ways to break down barriers to employment and economic growth, the Generation Liberty Scholarship program can help you advance your goals and grow as a leader.
The Generation Liberty Scholarship (GLS) is open to all young professionals working to solve problems in their states, whether working at a state think tank, the broader freedom movement, or in the private sector and attending SPN Annual Meeting for the first time.
The Scholarship is open to individuals seeking to address the challenges in the states from a wide variety of perspectives – from grassroots activists and public interest litigators to those working in single-issue advocacy organizations or seeking to address issues through community-based organizations.
If you are a rising leader with a vision for making a difference in your state, attending SPN Annual Meeting through the GLS program can help advance you goals and growth as a leader through:
Access to successful state-based solutions – SPN’s Annual Meeting is the place where leaders learn which reforms are working in the states and how to take those ideas back to their own communities.
Insights into emerging opportunities and trends – Expert-led sessions will break down issue-specific trends and how they affect opportunities and strategies for state organizations and aspiring leaders.
Professional Development and Leadership Training – Scholarship recipients will be matched with a mentor in their field and invited to a special leadership session and networking reception at SPN Annual Meeting.
Best practices across professional disciplines – Get up to speed on professional approaches and perspectives that will take your efforts to the next level, all presented with the busy professional in mind.
Connections from all 50 states – It’s not just networking. At SPN Annual Meeting you can establish meaningful relationships with peers and mentors from across the country—connections who share your passion and whose experience can help you reach your goals and overcome obstacles.
The deadline to apply is May 9, 2025.
Learn more about SPN's Annual Meeting | Donate to GLS
The opportunity to develop relationships with the future presidents and directors of nonprofits and think tanks is an invaluable resource!
~Jeremiah Martin
Scholarship Benefits
Ten Generation Liberty Scholarships will be awarded in 2025.
The Scholarship includes complimentary registration to SPN’s 33rd Annual Meeting (a value of up to $1,500) and $1,000 in reimbursements to offset the costs of attending.
SPN Annual Meeting draws state-based leaders, practitioners, and innovators from all 50 states to discuss best practices, develop new skills, share expertise, and sharpen new ideas and strategies. In addition to the full Annual Meeting program, Fellows have access to exclusive benefits just for rising leaders, including:
- Invitation to be matched with a mentor in your field and have your first meetup at Annual Meeting
- Invitation to SPN-hosted online professional development training
- Access to exclusive leadership session at Annual Meeting
- Invitation to the Generation Liberty Alumni Reception
After the conference, as a Generation Liberty Scholarship alum, you will be part of a nationwide alumni network of nearly 700 leaders across the country. Alumni of the Generation Liberty programs have started new nonprofits and are working in a wide range of roles in state and national organizations. There are alumni working in all levels of governments, at the local, state, and national level, and they are represented in a wide range of private sector industries.
As a GLS alumni, you will have ongoing access to SPN’s leadership and professional development training resources and a community of state-based leaders and experts throughout the year.
As a young professional who was relatively new to the Network, I greatly appreciated the opportunity to connect with folks in a similar position and to learn from other attendees and the tremendous wealth of experience which they brought. Coming from a small think tank, the program and Network have not only truly benefited my personal development, but our entire team, as I bring back countless ideas and strengths for success.
~Hunter Estes
More About SPN's Annual Meeting
States are leading the way when it comes to developing and enacting reforms that improve Americans’ quality of life and meet the healthcare, education, and employment needs in our communities. The best ideas for how states can achieve lasting, positive change will be showcased at SPN's Annual Meeting.
SPN’s Annual Meeting brings together hundreds of organizations and people dedicated to promoting state policy solutions that strengthen communities and improve the lives of Americans.
At Annual Meeting you can:
- Access the wisdom of over 1,500 people: policy and professional specialists from 325+ organizations, top-notch speakers, and many industry experts.
- Build relationships with leaders and future collaborators from across the states.
- Connect with like-minded peers to refine your professional strategies and encourage each other's growth.
- Build essential career skills by choosing from sessions on leadership, community outreach, effective communications, and many other topics.
- Discover the policy solutions that are empowering workers, families, and communities and the emerging ideas that are shaping the future of healthcare, education, the economy, and more.
Generation Liberty provided me with an opportunity to experience all of the groundbreaking work happening in states all across the county. The chance to meet the people behind some of our movement's best accomplishments and the opportunity to connect with other young, liberty-minded professionals was invaluable.
~Mallory Koch
Fellowship Eligibility and Criteria
Generation Liberty Alumni Scholarships
Scholarships to attend SPN Annual Meeting are open to all alumni of the Generation Liberty Fellowship Program. Scholarships of up to $400 each are available to help defray the cost for GLF Alumni to attend the Annual Meeting who otherwise would not be able to participate.
During SPN Annual Meeting on Monday, August 25, SPN will host the annual GLF Alumni Reception and bring together GLF alumni and Generation Liberty Scholarship recipients together before the conference kicks off.
The deadline to apply is May 9, 2025.
FAQs
Should I apply if I can only attend part of Annual Meeting?
The Scholarship requires all participants attend the entire conference. If you are unable to attend the entire program, reach out to Elinor Werner at ewerner@spn.org with your specific situation to see if you are able to fulfill the Scholarship requirements. If you’re only able to attend one or two days, one-day passes are available at a discounted rate.
What if my organization only works on one issue area?
SPN’s Annual Meeting offers dozens of sessions on a variety of policy topics and professional development sessions valuable for all disciplines. Even if your area of expertise or interest is limited to a specific area, you will find plenty of content and contacts to make it worth your time.
Should I apply if I have never worked in the freedom movement?
Yes, we welcome applicants from all professional backgrounds and disciplines. Past recipients have come from a variety of career paths, in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
Is there a way for GLF Alumni to attend Annual Meeting?
Of course! How else would we host our annual GLF Alumni reception? While individuals cannot apply for the Generation Liberty Scholarship, there is a scholarship specifically for Generation Liberty Fellow Alumni.
More questions?
Please contact Elinor Werner at ewerner@spn.org if you have any questions or would like more information about the Generation Liberty Scholarship and GLF Alumni programs.