Forge Leadership Network
The Forge Leadership Network is a right-of-center nonprofit organization in Ohio that recruits, trains, and mentors young conservatives. The Forge Leadership Network’s main programs are the Forge Leadership Summit and the Forge Mentorship Academy, which prepare participants to approach public policy issues from the perspective of free markets, limited government, religious freedom, and Judeo-Christian ethics. 1
Contents
The Forge Leadership Network partners with right-of-center and conservative organizations, including the Alliance Defending Freedom, the Ohio chapter of Americans for Prosperity, and the Heritage Foundation. 1 While there is no clear record of financial support from its partners, these organizations have provided services for Forge programs. 3
The Forge Leadership Network is an associate member of the State Policy Network, a coalition of free market policy organizations that work on state-level policy issues. 4
Activity
The Forge Leadership Network is an Ohio-based nonprofit organization that recruits, trains, and mentors young conservatives between the ages of 18 to 25. The Forge Leadership Network’s main programs are the Forge Leadership Summit and Forge Mentorship Academy, which prepare participants to approach public policy from the perspective of free markets, limited government, religious freedom, and Judeo-Christian ethics. 1
The Forge Leadership Summit is a five-day intensive program that promotes the understanding and defense of America’s first principles in public policy. The Summit includes trainings, professional development programs, and talks from leading conservative speakers in line with Forge’s core policy beliefs. Participants are given professional media training, participate in mock legislation and political campaigns, and receive coaching in intentional networking. The Forge Leadership Summit also serves as a de facto interview for the Forge Mentorship Academy. 3
The Forge Mentorship Academy is a year-long program intended to supplement full-time studies or employment for participants. The Academy offers experiential learning in politics, training in argumentation, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities for jobs and internships. The Academy features two in-person gatherings in Washington, D.C. and Israel. In Washington, program participants interact with the political process and meet with leaders of Forge partner organizations, including the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the Heritage Foundation, and the Alliance Defending Freedom. In Israel, students are given a ten-day tour by Forge’s partner organization Passages to study the geopolitics of the Middle East and to strengthen program participants’ Christian faith. 5
Funding
The Forge Leadership Network is funded by donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. While Forge does not disclose its donors, tax filings show donations from the National Christian Charitable Foundation, which contributed between 2015 and 2018, 6 and the George Edward Durell Foundation, which contributed between 2017 and 2018. 7
People
Staff
Adam Josefczyk is the president and co-founder of the Forge Leadership Network and the former vice president of Citizens for Community Values. Josefczyk is a co-founder of the Ohio Conservative Review. 8
Jennie Simunek is the logistics and events director at Forge Leadership Network. Simunek formerly worked as an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during the Reagan administration. 8
Jeremiah Martin is the COO of Forge Leadership Network. Martin formerly worked as the executive director of First Freedom Ohio and as state director for the Ohio chapter of Concerned Veterans for America. 8
Board of Advisors
Board chair Jonathan Jakubowski serves as the executive committee chair of the Wood County Republican Party and on the Wood County Board of Elections. 9
Vice chair Michael Hamilton is a research fellow at the Heartland Institute and the managing editor of Health Care News. Hamilton formerly worked for the right-of-center Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions and is a co-founder of the Ohio Conservative Review. 9
Board member John Hart sits on the board of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA). 9
Heather Pfitzenmaier is a senior talent program advisor at the State Policy Network and the director of strategic engagement at the Network of enlightened Women. Pfitzenmaier formerly worked as the executive vice president at America’s Future Foundation and as the director of the Young Leaders Program at the Heritage Foundation. Pfitzenmaier is a member of the American Enterprise Institute’s Leadership Network. 9 Board member Paul Isaacs also formerly worked at the Heritage Foundation. 9
Justin Powell is a co-founder of Forge Leadership Network and the Ohio Conservative Review. Powell is the former director of social media at the Family Research Council. 9
Chip Weiant is a senior fellow at the Sagamore Institute for Public Policy and the Better Business Bureau National Center for Character Ethics. Weiant sits on the board of the Ohio Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. 9
Dan Ziegler is the executive director of the Republican Study Committee and former managing director of government relations for Heritage Action for America. Ziegler formerly worked for the American Energy Alliance, as a legislative director for U.S. Representative Doug Lamborn (R-CO), and as a political appointee to the Department of the Interior during the George W. Bush administration. 9
Financial Statistics
Total Assets
Total Revenue
Total Expenses
| Year | Total Assets | Total Revenue | Total Expenses | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $500,971 | $1,118,064 | $1,132,653 | View |
| 2023 | $446,752 | $1,244,938 | $1,158,471 | View |
| 2022 | $346,404 | $868,114 | $672,504 | View |
| 2021 | $160,330 | $662,968 | $575,585 | View |
| 2020 | $77,255 | $372,805 | $382,573 | View |
Prior year filings: 2015
Revenue Detail
Expenses Detail
Employee Compensation
- Number of Employees: 7
Highest Earning Employees
| Employee | Title | Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Adam H Josefczyk | PRESIDENT | $157,542 |
| Brad Gruber | COO | $137,349 |
Grant Activity
All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $2,446,144
- Number of Grants: 62
- Number of Funders: 25
Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:
All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $30,000
- Number of Grants: 1
- Number of Recipients: 1
Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:
| Amount | Year | Funder | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | 2024 | Stand for Georgia Values Foundation Inc | GENERAL OPERATING |