Lead For America

About

Lead For America is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2017 to empower a new generation of leaders across the United States. With a mission to tackle community challenges, it recruits, trains, and places young leaders back into their hometowns, ensuring they have the tools and support necessary to effect real change. Having started as a dorm-room initiative by Kansas native Joe Nail, who saw the need for young leaders to return home rather than migrate to major cities, the organization has rapidly expanded. By 2022, Lead For America created over 300 paid full-time fellowships across more than 40 states. Its flagship programs, including the American Connection Corps and National Veterans Fellowship, provide individuals with the opportunity to engage in public service while receiving valuable career mentorship. The American Connection Corps focuses on promoting economic development in underserved areas, while the Veterans Fellowship supports military veterans in transitioning to leadership roles in their communities.