America’s Future

Founding and History

America’s Future was founded in 1995 as a hub focused in Washington, D.C., for free-market friendly leaders. In 2011 the organization began expanding with chapters around the country. In 2020 it absorbed the free-market talent placement agency Talent Market and at the end of 2020 announced that it was changing its name from America’s Future Foundation to America’s Future. ¹

As of the beginning of 2021, AF has 11 city-based chapters, and three regional hubs encompassing the Capital Area, the Northeast, and the Southwest. ^{2 3}

Financial Information

At the end of fiscal year 2019 America’s Future had $2,365,621 in revenue, of which $2,289,664 was derived from contributions and grants. AF had $1,113,343 in expenses, of which $458,076 was allocated towards salaries and benefits and $1,113,343 was allocated towards other expenses, the largest being $226,238 for travel and $108,833 for conferences, conventions, and meetings. The organization ended the fiscal year with $2,019,005 in assets. ^{4 5}

Talent Market

Talent Market was founded in 2000 as part of Donors Trust, a right-of-center donor-advised fund, in order to aid right-of-center organizations with their talent and hiring searches. In 2009 it began operating as an independent non-profit, and at the end of 2020 it began to operate under the tax-exempt umbrella of America’s Future. ^{6 7} Talent Market does not charge for its consulting and recruiting services for institutions that work to advance limited government, free markets, and the rule of law. It does not work with organizations that are political in nature, promote special interests, work on social issues, or are focused on working outside the US. ⁸

Writing Fellows Program

America’s Future runs tri-yearly writing fellows program that assists young right-of-center writers hone their skills and get their work placed in prominent publications. The fellowship is both D.C.-based for in-person sessions and remote for fellows outside the D.C. area. ⁹

Leadership

Cindy Cerquitella is the executive director of America’s future. She formerly worked at the Atlas Network and developed training and educational courses and videos that have been used around the world. ¹⁰

Richard Lorenc is chairman of America’s Future board and the executive vice-president of the Foundation for Economic Education. ¹⁰ He has previously contributed to the 2008 Ron Paul presidential campaign, and to the 2016 congressional primary campaign of Florida Republican Rebekah Bydlak. ¹¹

Jeff Berkowitz is a board member of America’s Future and is the founder and CEO of the competitive intelligence firm Delve. He previously worked as the research director of the Republican National Committee. He has worked on research and communications efforts at the White House, the State Department, and Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign. He is on the board of the Hamilton Foundation. Berkowitz has regularly contributed to Maverick PAC USA, a right-of-center business-focused political action committee where he is also a national coalition leader. ^{10 12}