Events

  • Immigration, Sovereignty & Foreign Relations

    A Lunchtime Lecture with Dr. Mark Amstutz, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Wheaton College and author of Just Immigration: American Policy in Christian Perspective.

    Thursday, October 8, 2026

    12:00–1:00 PM

    227 Massachusetts Ave NE

    Washington, D.C.

    Venue: Hillsdale College’s Washington DC Campus

    The Ben Franklin Fellowship and Hillsdale College’s Washington, D.C. Campus will co-host this special event.

    Box Lunches Provided

    REGISTRATION REQUIRED

  • The Cost of Engagement

    How U.S. Corporations Abetted America’s Industrial Decline and the Rise of China’s Forced-Labor Regime

    September 18, 2026

    9:30am - 1:30pm

    Cosponsored with the Victims of Communism Museum and the Institute of World Politics

    The Cost of Engagement will explore how U.S. corporations and supply chains became intertwined with China’s economic system; the human cost of forced labor; the impact of economic engagement on American industry; and the difficult questions now confronting U.S. businesses and policymakers.

    Venue: Victims of Communism Memorial Museum, 900 15th Street NW, Washington, DC

    Box Lunches Provided

    REGISTRATION REQUIRED

  • Stopping Birth Tourism: Protecting the Integrity of U.S. Citizenship

    Wednesday, September 16, 2026

    11:00 AM–1:00 PM

    Bellator Hall

    213 Pennsylvania Avenue SE Washington DC

    Cosponsored with the Center for Immigration Studies

    The Ben Franklin Fellowship invites you to a timely Capitol Hill discussion examining one of the most consequential—and increasingly scrutinized—issues at the intersection of immigration, citizenship, visa policy, national sovereignty, and U.S. national security: birth tourism.

    Keynote Remarks • Expert Panel Discussion • Q&A

    Box Lunches Provided

    REGISTRATION REQUIRED

  • The Declaration: Jefferson's Path to Philadelphia

    A Special Lecture & PowerPoint Presentation

    By BFF Fellow Michael Maibach

    September 3, 2026

    5:30pm - 7:30pm

    Venue and Co-Sponsor: Victims of Communism Museum located at 900 15th St NW, Washington, DC

    Follow Thomas Jefferson's intellectual and political journey to the Declaration of Independence through a richly illustrated presentation by Michael C. Maibach.

    Afterwards, guests are invited to attend a Ben Franklin Fellowship Happy Hour with complimentary refreshments and light appetizers.

    REGISTRATION REQUIRED

  • Nigeria's Crisis of Terror and Impunity

    Islamist Terrorists, Violent Nomadic Herders, “Bandit” Gangs, and the U.S. Foreign Policy Response

    Friday, August 28, 2026

    1:00–3:00 PM | Doors open at 12:30 PM

    Venue and Co-Sponsor:

    Hudson Institute

    1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

    Washington, DC 20004

    WATCH THE VIDEO

  • FREEDOM 250 - Summer Celebration!

    Celebrate the Nation’s 250th Birthday in the Nation’s Capitol with BFF

    Venue: the DACOR Bacon House, 1801 F Street, NW, one of Washington, DC’s most distinguished historic landmarks.

    June 30, 2026

    5:30pm - 8:00pm

    Join The Ben Franklin Fellowship for a fun and festive evening of history and celebration!

    Recap Video

    Event Photos

  • Diplomacy, Defense, and Debt: A Conversation with Senator Joni Ernst

    June 18, 2026

    07:45am - 9:00am

    Breakfast Event with Coffee and Pastries

    Venue: Hudson Institute

    Cosponsored by the Bastion Institute

    Event Announcement and Registration

  • Ethiopia - Peace and Stability

    June 17, 2026

    9:00am - 11:00am

    Round Table Discussion with Special Keynote Remarks by BFF Fellow Robert Destro, former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

    Venue: The Institute of World Politics, 1521 16th Street, NW, Washington DC

    A special event co-sponsored by the Ben Franklin Fellowship and the Institute of World Politics

    Event Announcement

  • "Putting America First in Foreign Policy" -- Major Keynote Address by HFAC Chairman Brian Mast

    May 20, 2026

    11:45am - 1:15pm

    Box Lunch Provided

    CPI’s Bellator Hall 213 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Capitol Hill

    This special event will also include a panel discussion on Foreign Service reform led by BFF Co-Founder and Board Member Matt Boyse.

    View Chairman Mast’s Remarks

  • Sam Brownback, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, on his newly published book, China’s War on Faith

    May 13, 2026

    4pm

    Sponsored by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, in partnership with the Ben Franklin Fellowship

  • Freedom 250: A Rededication to the Founders' Natural Rights Vision and Its Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy

    March 25, 2026

    Full Day Symposium

    Venue and Co-Sponsor: Victims of Communism Museum

    Co-Sponsor: Religious Freedom Institute

    Event Schedule

    Photos

    Video

  • "Thou Shall Not Comply" - A Book Event About DEI

    March 24, 2026

    11:45 AM – 1:00 PM

    A Luncheon Talk & Q&A with Simon Hankinson: Co-Founder, The Ben Franklin Fellowship, Author

    Venue: Conservative Partnership Center

    Event Announcement

    Watch Short Hankinson Interview

  • Re-Balancing Human Rights in American Foreign Policy

    March 17, 2026

    11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

    The JUNTO Fireside Chat with Riley M. Barnes, Assistant Secretary Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Hosted by Matt Boyse, BFF Fellow and Co-Founder. Box lunch provided.

    Event Co-Sponsor and Venue: The Hudson Institute

    Event Announcement

  • Stopping the Next Afghan Terrorist Attack

    January 22, 2026

    Conference at the Capitol Hill Club

    Cosponsored with the Center for Immigration Studies

    Event Announcement

    Watch the Recap Video

  • U.S. Strategy and Corporate Intelligence on Russia

    January 20, 2026

    12:45 pm - 6:00 pm

    Symposium at The George Washington University, Elliott School of International Affairs

    Event Announcement

  • The Second Annual Ben Franklin Fellowship Reception Dinner

    January 16, 2026

    6 pm - 9 pm

    The Mayflower Hotel

    Celebrating Franklin's legacy, The Ben Franklin Fellowship, and the principles of wise diplomacy that safeguard America's security and prosperity.

    Event Photos

  • Capitol Hill Reception

    January 15, 2026

    Networking in the Ben Franklin Room in the Rayburn Building

    Event Announcement

  • Franklin's Christmas JUNTO

    A BFF Member Festive Holiday Reception

    December 12, 2025

    5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

    DACOR Bacon House

    Celebrating the Season

  • A Conversation with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau

    November 24, 2025

    Noon - 2:00 pm

    Hudson Institute

    Event Details

  • Africa and Trump Administration Foreign Policy

    November 6, 2025

    11:45 am - 1:30 pm

    Hudson Institute

  • Luncheon with State Department Counselor Michael Needham

    September 26, 2025

    12 pm - 1:30 pm

    DACOR Bacon House

    A BFF Special Event Only for Fellows and Members

  • Becoming a U.S. Diplomat

    Introducing the State Department, the Foreign Service, and Related Career Paths

    September 9, 2025, Half Day Event

    Helms School of Government, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

    A BFF Recruitment Working Group Special Event

    Event Photos

  • AI and U.S. - China Relations: Tech Rivalry or Arms Race?

    July 23, 2025

    11:45 am - 1:30 pm

    Hudson Institute

    More Information

    Event Photos

    Event Video

  • Networking on Capitol Hill

    July 22, 2025

    5:30 - 7:00 pm

    Dirksen Senate Office Building

    Event Photos

  • Saudi Arabia and the U.S. National Interest

    May 7, 2025

    Noon - 1:00 pm

    The Heritage Foundation

  • The United States and Europe: Quo Vadis? The Future of Transatlantic Relations

    March 20, 2025

    11:30 am - 1:00 pm

    Hudson Institute

  • Greenland: An Arctic Horizon for the New Administration

    February 13, 2025
    5:00 PM

    The Cosmos Club

  • The First Annual Ben Franklin Reception Dinner

    In Celebration of Ben Franklin

    January 14, 2025

    The Army-Navy Club

    Event Photos

  • How the Trump Administration Can Reform the Foreign Service

    December 3, 2024

    Hudson Institute

    Event Video

  • De-Fogging Foggy Bottom: Prospects for State Department Reform

    October 8, 2024
    5:00 pm

    University Club 1135 16th Street NW,
    Washington, DC

    *Special Event*

  • Presentation by Dr. John C. Hulsman

    June 18, 2024

    DACOR Bacon House

    *Special Event*

  • Networking Event

    April 26, 2024

    Hotel Hive, Foggy Bottom

  • Inaugural Luncheon

    February 29, 2024

    DACOR Bacon House

Special Event
De-Fogging Foggy Bottom:
Prospects for State Department Reform

October 8, 2024
A man wearing glasses, a black suit, a striped shirt, and a purple bow tie standing at a podium. Behind him is a white backdrop with black text and a logo of Benjamin Franklin, reading "The Ben Franklin Fellowship."
A man in a navy suit, white shirt, and red tie is speaking at a podium with a microphone, gesturing with his right hand. Behind him, there is an American flag and a beige curtain, with a banner designed with black and white profiles of a person. The podium has the logo and name of The University Club, Washington, DC.
A man in a light gray suit stands at a podium with a microphone, addressing a panel of two seated men, one holding a microphone. The panelists are dressed in suits, one with a red tie and glasses, the other with a yellow tie and papers. The setting appears to be a conference or formal event, with a backdrop displaying the Ben Franklin Fellowship logo and an American flag to the left.
A man with gray hair in a suit and red tie is speaking at a podium with a microphone. In the background, an American flag is visible along with a banner that reads "The Ben Franklin Fellowship." The setting appears to be a formal event or conference at a hotel or conference room.
A man in a gray suit and yellow tie standing at a podium speaking, with a man in a light gray blazer and white shirt sitting nearby, an American flag behind them, and a Ben Franklin Fellowship backdrop on the right.

Special Event
Presentation by Dr. John C. Hulsman

DACOR Bacon House
June 18, 2024
A man giving a speech at a podium in an elegant room with decorative mirror, chandelier, and painting, surrounded by an audience seated in chairs.
A man in a gray suit is speaking at a podium in a formal room filled with seated attendees dressed in business attire. The room has yellow-green walls with ornate molding, large windows with yellow curtains, and a portrait of a woman in historical attire on the wall behind the speaker.
A group of formally dressed people attending a meeting or conference in a decorated room with artwork and curtains.
Interior of an elegant room with cream-colored walls and large windows. Decor includes portraits in ornate gold frames, a grand piano with framed photographs on it, a velvet cushioned bench, a white armchair, and a small table with a blue vase of white flowers. A man stands near a podium, speaking into a microphone, while a chandelier hangs from the ceiling.

Interested in participating?

Connect With Us
The Harry S. Truman Building, a large beige multi-story government or office building, with an American flag flying on a flagpole in front, greenery, and a blue sky with some clouds.