2027 Greek Student Leader Fellowship Program

The Coalition for Fraternal Rights (CFR) is proud to announce its 2027 Greek Student Leader Fellowship Program. From a population of 600,000 undergraduate fraternity and sorority members today, this exclusive program will enroll no more than 200 students for 2027.

Target Audience

This program is open to both established and emerging leaders who care about advancing the quality of the Greek experience on their campus for future generations of students. Established student leaders would include: student government presidents or student government officers, IFC/Panhellenic/NPHC council presidents or officers, chapter presidents or senior officers, and students intending to work for their national fraternal organization after graduation. Emerging leaders would include freshmen and sophomores who aspire to hold one of the above listed chapter or campus leadership positions. All student leaders applying should have the desire to improve their ability to speak in small groups and large audiences about the value of their fraternal experience.

Two Separate Leadership Experiences

Program participants will participate in two major programs in the spring of 2027.

The first event is the First Amendment Institute (FAI) January 29-31 in Chicago, Illinois. The FAI is an intensive 1.5 leadership experience where students learn from a range of experts about current threats to their First Amendment freedom of association and freedom of speech rights on campus. Student leaders leave with the personal skills needed to be prominent advocates for educating other students about these threats and protecting the Greek experience. Students also build a bond with top student leaders from campuses across the country representing a wide array of Greek organizations.

The second event is the North American Interfraternity Conference’s (NIC) annual Congressional Advocacy Day, which will be held sometime in Q1 or April of 2027 (exact dates not yet finalized). Student leaders will spend 1.5 days training to be lobbyists and powerful advocates for the Greek experience. Student leaders will also have the chance to learn directly from prior program participants who are now alumni working in prominent careers in Washington D.C. - some of these presentations will focus on how to land a job in public policy in Washington and how Congressional offices work. Recent lobbying campaigns by the NIC have focused on multiple pro-Greek legislative topics such as freedom of association, Greek housing, and strong anti-hazing policies.

After 1.5 days of training, students spend a full day on Capitol Hill, working in a team of student and national alumni leaders (typically national fraternity and sorority officers and/or HQ leaders). Each team will meet with 8-10 Congressional offices, and the day will conclude with a reception or dinner that includes a large number of Greek Senators, Representatives, and Congressional staff in what is the biggest interfraternal event of the year in Washington.

Student Participant Benefits

Program participants emerge from these two events with tangible skills that will serve them well in almost any future career:

• A named fellowship they can put on their resumes going forward (FAI and Hill Visits)
• Understanding of constitutional rights for college students and citizens (FAI)
• Tools to be a peer trainer on issues that matter to fellow students (FAI and Hill Visits)
• Public speaking and presentation skills (FAI and Hill Visits)
• Relationship-building with top students from across the country (FAI and Hill Visits)
• Networking with leaders of national fraternities and sororities (FAI and Hill Visits)
• Meeting Greek Senators, Representatives, and Congressional staff (Hill Visits)
• Learning how to land a federal/state/local job in public policy/advocacy (Hill Visits)

Who Can Sponsor a Student

Parents, chapters, house corporations, student governments, universities, or any corporation can sponsor a student. Participants must pay for their own flights or driving expenses.

A $2,500 donation to the CFR sponsors a student for either the 2027 FAI or the 2027 Hill visits.

A $5,000 donation to the CFR sponsors a student to both the 2027 FAI and the 2027 Hill visits.

Sponsor One Greek Student Leader to Attend the 2027 First Amendment Institute

• Event held just a hotel adjacent to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport
• January 29-31
• Hotel
• Food and Conference Costs

Sponsor One Greek Student Leader to Attend the 2027 Greek Congressional Hill Day, led by the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC)

• Event held in a hotel close to Capitol Hill in Washington DC
• Hotel
• Food and Conference Costs
• Attendance at an interfraternal social event including Greek Senators, Representatives, and Congressional staff.