2024 Impact Report

OUR MISSION:
Activate young leaders to bridge the partisan
divide and transform American politics.
01

OUR VISION:
A diverse democracy where the political
culture is grounded in empathy and leaders
pursue innovative policy solutions.
02

“When we get in a
room together, it’s not
just about our states
anymore—it’s about
trying to do what’s
best for the country.”
–REP. DEVIN CARNEY
“I just spent three
days with the future
of our country, and
we are in good hands.
I am really hopeful
for our future.”
-SEN. LOKI TOBIN
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OUR TEAM
Layla Zaidane
President & CEO
Rochelle Colburn
Chief Operating Officer
Reed Howard
Chief Strategy & Public Affairs Officer
Blaine Volpe
Senior Director of Community
Bowden Saunders
Senior Director of HR & Finance
Paige Ferguson
Senior Director of the Policy
Innovation Lab
Kelli Herrick
Director of Talent Strategy
Elizabeth Rosen
Director of Communications
Maloreigh Todd
Director of Public Affairs
Dr. Nekkita Beans
Associate Director of Leadership
Programs
Natalie Heald
Membership Manager
Garrett Wyatt
Digital Content Manager
Jack Gasdia
Innovation Lab Coordinator
Ethan Hawker
Development Coordinator
Lizzie Brown
Special Assistant to the CEO
ADVISORY BOARD
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Hon. Bill Bradley
Former U.S. Senator, New Jersey
Hon. Aneesh Chopra
Former U.S. Chief Technology Officer
Hon. Carlos Curbelo
Former U.S. Representative, Florida
Hon. Chris Gibson
Former U.S. Representative, New
York
Amb. Donald Gips
CEO, Skoll Foundation
Former U.S. Ambassador to South
Africa
Shawn PM Golhar
Managing Director and Global Head
of Policy Advisory Banking, Barclays
Hon. Barbara Lawton
43rd Lieutenant Governor of
Wisconsin
Dr. Peter Levine
Associate Dean for Academic
Affairs and Lincoln Filene Professor
of Citizenship & Public Affairs,
Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic
Life - Tufts University
Adam Met
Founder and Executive Director,
Planet Reimagined
Thione Niang
Founder and CEO, GIVE1Project
Steven Olikara
President, Bridge Entertainment
Labs
Kari Dunn Saratovsky
Founder and Principal, KDS
Impact Strategies
Hon. Olympia Snowe
Former U.S. Senator, Maine
Dr. Jeremi Suri
Mack Brown Professor of Global
Leadership, University of Texas
at Austin
Nick Maschari
Chair
Senior Vice President, Mission North
David Burd
Partner, Heidrick & Struggles
Jose Felix Diaz
Former State Representative, Florida
Ellen Kim
Operating Partner, Rotunda Capital
Partners
Maryfrances Metrick
Founder, M Metrick Advisory
David Rokeach
Director of Strategy for Gemini, Google
Assistant, and Speech, Google
Nancy Roman
President and CEO, Roman Leadership
Laurie Schultz Heim
Former Director of Congressional
Relations, U.S. Institute of Peace
Erica Williams
Chair, Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board
Layla Zaidane
President & CEO, Future Caucus
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LETTER FROM THE
PRESIDENT
Dear Friends of Future Caucus,
A long-time Future Caucus lawmaker recently
shared a thought that deeply resonated with me.
“I used to be afraid of failing at something that
really mattered to me,” he said, “but now I’m more
afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.”
In the so-called “attention economy,” lawmakers
face increasingly skewed incentives, goading
conflict for clicks rather than focusing on the less
glamorous work of good policy making. It’s why I’m
so inspired by the Future Caucus members who
fuel our movement for better governance. Their
inclusive, transformative leadership is creating a
political culture grounded in empathy where
public servants pursue innovative policy solutions.
And it’s why I’m proud to say 2024 marks Future
Caucus’ largest year of impact yet.
Last year, 131 lawmakers joined our network,
bringing total membership to 412! Nearly a quarter
of them attended Future Caucus’ flagship leadership
conferences, where they engaged with some of
the great social and political thinkers of our era,
compared best practices and generated bold ideas
in policy workshops, and honed the skills to be
effective bridge builders and leaders.
In a time of widespread polarization, trust in our
political system can feel elusive. But at Future
Caucus, we see reasons for hope every day in
the leadership of our members, who this year
passed 452 bipartisan bills that directly improved
voters’ lives. We strove to rebuild public trust
in democracy by amplifying our lawmakers’
extraordinary efforts through high-profile media
engagements and digital storytelling, reaching
new audiences who now have cause to be
more hopeful for our shared future.
One of the greatest joys of this work is witnessing the
ripple effect of connection. In the words of Arkansas
Future Caucus co-chair Rep. Ashley Hudson,
“Being a legislator can be a lonely gig. It’s great to
come to Future Summit and be inspired by the ideas
and successes that our colleagues have had, and try
to figure out how to bring that back to Arkansas.”
Throughout the country, our movement is inspiring
and equipping young legislators to succeed as
policy makers, advocates, and thought leaders.
As we look to 2025 and beyond, I am truly
hopeful for what lies ahead. Our goals remain as
audacious as ever: scale this network to reach
over half of all Gen Z and millennial legislators and
bring our transformative approach to every corner
of the country.
To those who have been part of this journey,
thank you. Your belief in our mission makes progress
possible. And to those just learning about Future
Caucus, I invite you to join us. There has never been
a more critical time to invest in young leaders and
the future they are building.
With confidence in tomorrow,
LAYLA ZAIDANE
PRESIDENT & CEO
FUTURE CAUCUS
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IN 2024, WE…
GREW THE NETWORK
131
new lawmakers
joined the Future
Caucus network.
92
lawmakers attended
Future Summit and
the first-ever Future
Summit South.
1,932
Gen Z and millennial
lawmakers have
engaged with Future
Caucus since 2013.
BUILT POWER
4
state Future Caucus
members were among
the 74 millennials &
1 Gen Zer elected to
Congress.
25
young lawmakers serve
as majority leader and
30
young lawmakers serve
as minority leader.
100 %
of our co-chairs were
re-elected in 2024.
DELIVERED RESULTS
2,059 452
bills were passed
by Future Caucus
members...
of which were
bipartisan.
31
lawmakers enrolled in
the inaugural Innovation
Fellowship for modern
policy making.
“Now, it’s about governing. You heard from
the minority leader and the speaker the desire
for bipartisanship, working together on these
issues where we can find agreement.”
- CONGRESSMAN RYAN MACKENZIE (R-PA.)
FOUNDING MEMBER, PENNSYLVANIA FUTURE CAUCUS
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INSPIRED
TRUST IN OUR
DEMOCRACY
We partnered with
Her Campus, which
reaches over
8.4 mil.
students spanning over
2,200
college campuses, on
an “Election 2024 Tour”
series about young voters.
Future Caucus programs,
events, and research
were mentioned
1,461
times in local, regional,
and national outlets,
including Meet the
Press, NPR,
Cosmopolitan, FOX
News, and The
Washington Post.
Future Caucus strengthened our
position as a thought leader on some
big stages, including TEDx Jacksonville.
WHY DOES
IT MATTER?
We believe that forums like Future Caucus can enable new
cross-partisan relationships and good governance skills,
spark ideas for smart public policy, and give the public visible
examples of how our institutions can—and should—deliver
results. Our activities will lead to three long term outcomes:
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Increased public
trust in democracy
through:
Storybank articles
Press hits
Public speaking
In-district events
Social engagement
01
Long Term
Outcomes
Improved public leadership & governance through:
Sparking cross-partisan relationships
Building sustainable chapters
Hosting bridge-building trainings
Deepening effective leadership skills
02
More representative & effective public
policy through:
Providing policy education and expert support
Facilitating cross-state information sharing
Innovation Lab learning trips
Original research & reports
08

CONNECT
BRIDGE-BUILDING
Future Caucus scales a civic
infrastructure for bipartisan
collaboration in states and Congress
through the Future Caucus Network.
We create space for Republicans,
Democrats, and Independents to
build trust and develop meaningful
working relationships.
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131
new
lawmakers
joined our
network
412
total current
members
7
young state
legislators elected
to Congress in 2024
23%
of all lawmakers 45 and under
are Future Caucus members,
up from 13% in 2023
FUTURE CAUCUS MEMBERS ARE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM
On a chilly afternoon in Montgomery, Alabama, Future Caucus members sat down to a working lunch with
some very special guests—children and teenagers living in foster care and group homes across the state—to
discuss their hopes and plans for 2024.
“What do you think the Alabama Future Caucus should address?” lawmakers asked the young constituents,
who overcame their evident shyness to raise a pressing concern: the need to prevent sibling separation
within the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
Moved by the children’s stories, the Alabama Future Caucus pledged that day to investigate the department’s
processes and organize a listening session between officials and their young wards.
The meeting not only deepened understanding of critical community issues, but also highlighted the
transformative potential of listening to young voices and engaging authentically with those most affected by
state policies. They’ve continued regular follow ups and shelter visits. In the words of one participant,
“I’m so happy adults actually listened to me!”
10

Future Caucus lawmakers gather at
Mount Vernon for leadership training
rooted in lessons from the life of
America’s first president.
TRAIN
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Through workshops, coaching, and tailored
programs, we provide young lawmakers with
the skills and leadership development to
have an impactful legislative career, ensuring
the next generation of leaders has what they
need to meet the moment. It’s working: three
Future Caucus members were elected as
leaders of their party’s caucus this year, and
dozens won key committee chairmanships.
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9
lawmakers joined
The 19th Collective,
a new women’s
leadership cohort
92
lawmakers
attended our
two leadership
conferences
ELECTED WOMEN CREATE A NEW COMMUNITY
We marked the launch of a new women’s affinity group, called The 19th Collective, at a breakfast with
Cosmopolitan deputy editor Madeleine Reeves, who facilitated a discussion among the bipartisan cohort
on the unique challenges faced by—and extraordinary opportunities available to—elected women leaders.
The nine young legislators shared their stories, exchanged insights, and found renewed strength in their
shared journeys. The gathering was more than a meal—it was a community-building experience. By creating
a space where women leaders could reflect, inspire one another, and strategize for success, the gathering
underscored the importance of intentional support networks in shaping impactful legislative careers. The 19th
Collective meets monthly for executive coaching, peer-to-peer support, and strategic skill-building.
12

CATALYZE
POLICY INNOVATION
Through our Innovation Lab programs and leading-edge research on young leaders, Future Caucus activates
bipartisan lawmakers across our network to advance key and emerging policy issues. From 2024 to 2025, our
Innovation Fellowship grew from 31 to 65 lawmakers, reflecting demand for new approaches to coalitionbuilding
and effective,
lasting legislation amid
rising polarization.
26%
of bipartisan laws
were authored by
young lawmakers.
2
original
research
reports released
Our biannual, election-year
On the Rise report, which
analyzes demographic data
on candidates for Congress,
found a 79% increase in
millennial candidates for
Congress since 2020.
Throughout 2024, Future Caucus Innovation Fellows
across the country introduced 77 bipartisan bills. In
November, 38 of them met in Washington, DC for the
second annual Futures Thinking Forum, a dynamic,
two-day gathering for rising-star lawmakers to
learn from experts in strategic foresight and explore
creative solutions to the challenges of tomorrow.
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INNOVATION FELLOWS WATCH ELECTION SECURITY IN ACTION
In September, eight young lawmakers taking part in Future Caucus’ Innovation Fellowship joined Layla
Zaidane and Future Caucus team members in Denver, Colorado for hands-on learning on the subject of
Strengthening Democracy. Nick Troiano, executive director of Unite America, and Amber McReynolds,
governor of the U.S. Postal Service, spoke with our lawmakers about innovative, nonpartisan solutions
to election reform and security. Lawmakers also heard directly from officials at the National Conference
of State Legislatures, Dominion Voting, and Boulder County about their experiences with facilitating fair,
accessible, and secure elections. The next day, members took a field trip to the Jefferson County Ballot
Facility to see Colorado’s fastest ballot counting machine in action.
2024 INNOVATION FELLOWSHIP COHORTS
Strengthening Democracy
Maternal Health
Energy & Environment
Strengthening Democracy
Innovation Fellows visit the
Jefferson County Ballot Facility
outside Denver, Colo.
Maternal Healthcare Innovation
Fellows visit Starfish Family
Services in Detroit, Mich.
Energy & Environment Innovation
Fellows visit the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory
in Golden, Colo.
INNOVATION AGENDA ISSUES
ALSO INCLUDED:
WHITE GLOVE SERVICE
Future Caucus lawmakers reached out for tailored
support in the form of data, policy briefings,
information on other state initiatives, and
bipartisan partnerships on key issue areas.
Criminal
Justice Reform
Housing
Future
of Work
80legislator policy
requests fulfilled
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AMPLIFYWe uplift
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE
positive models of public service by young
leaders to inspire citizens through storytelling,
media, and public engagement.
Future Caucus was featured in:
Future Caucus on stage at the 2024 Obama
Foundation Democracy Forum
674
37
91
49 Future
stories across print, online, TV,
radio, and podcast media in…
states and
cities featuring
Caucus members.
Our press releases
were picked up
and reprinted
787
times by
media outlets.
RISING STARS TAKE FUTURE CAUCUS’
STORY TO NATIONAL TV
When Rep. Dr. Jasmine Clark (D-Ga.) and Rep. Michael Smith (R-Del.)
were honored as recipients of the 2023 Rising Star Award, they probably thought their
time in the spotlight would begin and end with acceptance speeches onstage at the awards
ceremony, but we continued to promote these
leaders throughout the year as spokespeople
for the Future Caucus movement, including to
national audiences.
On a humid DC afternoon, Reps. Smith and Dr. Clark
snuck away from Future Summit to meet at the
historic NBC studio on Capitol Hill, where they
talked with Meet the Press NOW about the
potential of younger leaders and Future Caucus’
value as a forum for bipartisan policy collaboration
and relationship-building.
15

In 2024, top media coverage included…
FUTURE CAUCUS GOES TO HOLLYWOOD
In March, Future Caucus leaders Sen. Alexis Calatayud (R-Fla.) and Rep. Dawson
Holle (R-N.D.) brought their bipartisan vision to A Day of Unreasonable
Conversations, an event connecting Hollywood’s pop culture creators with
changemakers to address pressing societal issues.
Rep. Holle, elected at 19, shared how bipartisan support enabled his first
legislative success in North Dakota. “Good policy transcends party lines,” he
noted. Sen. Calatayud highlighted a Florida bill expanding access to HIV
medication, achieved through bipartisan sponsorship. “Good ideas don’t have
a party,” she said.
In a polarized political climate, Future Caucus leaders are fostering
collaboration and pluralism. Their stories inspired Hollywood’s creators to weave
these values into their narratives, amplifying a vision for unity and progress.
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PARTNERS
Future Caucus does not charge its members dues—instead, we rely
on the support of partner organizations to power our programming—
through policy education, event collaborations, or financial support.
Future Caucus partnered with
scholars at AEI to provide
lawmakers with groundbreaking
research and respected, crosspartisan
policy insights. Yuval
Levin shared invaluable wisdom
on A Leader’s Role in Renewing
the Social Contract, equipping
legislators with ideas to
strengthen democratic institutions.
Future Caucus collaborated
with American University’s Sine
Institute to publish “Reimagining
Political Leadership: The Outlook
of Young Americans,” a poll
investigating young Americans’
perspectives on political
leadership, optimism about
the future, voting and civic
involvement, and more.
We partnered with the Kluge
Center at the Library of
Congress for an evening with
the Congressional Future
Caucus and promising leaders
from our state Future Caucus
network.
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FINANCIALS
REVENUE
Individual Investors
Institutional Investors (Grants)
Corporate Investors
Board Investors
Other
EXPENSES
Programming & Services
Administration
Development
$3.64M
$439,781 (12.1%)
$2,995,750 (82.2%)
$75,000 (2.1%)
$20,250 (0.6%)
$112,378 (3.0%)
$3.26M
$2,638,587 (80.9%)
$454,890 (13.9%)
$168,645 (5.2%)
PRESIDENT'S
CIRCLE
Our highest level of corporate
sponsorship, President’s Circle
members make an annual investment in
Future Caucus which helps power our
convenings, key programs, and services.
President’s Circle members are able to
attend bipartisan legislator convenings,
host Future Caucus leaders at their
organizations and events, and connect
with other corporate leaders invested in
activating the next generation of leaders
to build a healthier democracy.
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GET INVOLVED
As we close the chapter on 2024, we’re filled with
both pride and anticipation. This year, Future Caucus
didn’t just grow—we galvanized a movement. The 2024
general election marked a pivotal moment in American
history, with 75 millennials and Gen Zers now serving
in the 119th U.S. Congress—among them, 23 newly
elected leaders who are bringing fresh energy and
bold perspectives to Capitol Hill. In an era of political
realignment and social and economic upheaval, young
leaders across the country are stepping up to show
America what it means to govern effectively.
At Future Caucus, we’re more than just witnesses
to this shift—we’re partners in it. We’ve stood
alongside these young changemakers, providing them
with the tools, networks, and support to navigate
the challenges of public service and to lead with
authenticity and courage. We all share in their
successes, and in 2025, this mission is more critical
than ever.
By 2028, Future Caucus aims to serve more than half
of all young lawmakers in the U.S.—and we’re already
halfway there. But to scale a healthier, more vibrant
democracy, we need to work together.
This is where you come in. To help us reach this vision,
you can:
Engage with young leaders in your state through
advocacy, mentorship, and partnerships
Amplify the stories of rising leaders to inspire and
engage others
Invest in our programs to equip the next
generation with the skills and networks to lead
effectively
The next chapter of America’s story is just beginning.
With bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and an
unwavering commitment to collaboration, young
leaders aren’t just inheriting the future—they’re
building it, brick by brick.
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@FutureCaucus
www.futurecaucus.org