Current Partnerships

Bank of America’s Student Leaders Program offers high school students a leadership development program that provides students with valuable perspectives on civic, social, and business partnerships as positive forces of change within their communities.

Students are selected from select Bank of America markets to participate in the Student Leaders Program, which includes an internship at a non-profit in their home community and the opportunity to participate in Student Leaders Summit, conducted by the Close Up Foundation. Together, these activities help students develop important leadership skills and strengthen their commitment to improving their communities.

For more information click here.

The Close Up Foundation is partnering with Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies to offer the Leaders in Advocacy Academy. The Academy will bring together a diverse group of students from across the United States and the world to participate in an intensive program designed to explore strategies and develop the skills to advocate and  influence policy. Through workshops, lectures, and leadership case studies, students will examine the complexities of major current issues and the practice of crafting persuasive arguments and compelling messages to support various positions. Students will leave the program well equipped to take on leadership roles at school, in the local community, and in the global community.

For more information click here.

R2L NextGen is a leadership program for Latino students to learn more about government, meet with important leaders and Members of Congress, and gain a better understanding of the issues impacting their communities. Students interested apply must be in the 10th or 11th grade, demonstrate an interest in learning more about civic engagement, and reside is select communities.

For more information click here.

The Close Up Foundation partners with the American Civil Liberties Union to run Advocacy Institutes for high school and college students from across the country. The ACLU Advocacy Institutes bring together diverse groups of students to participate in firsthand learning experiences for the next generation of social justice advocates.

Students learn directly from lawyers, lobbyists and community activists working to defend civil rights and liberties critical to a free and open society. Students are immersed in the real world of political and legal decision making in Washington, DC, meeting with elected officials and community organizers as well as participating in workshops with civil rights pioneers and other current youth activists.

To learn more about the ACLU Summer Advocacy program for high school students, click here.

To learn more about the ACLU Advanced Advocacy Program for college students, click here.

To learn more about the California Advocacy Institute for California high school students, please click here.

The Freedom Forum conducts the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference to promote the vital role of the First Amendment as a cornerstone of democracy. Students interested in apply for this program must be rising high school seniors who are interested in pursuing a career in journalism and demonstrate the qualities of a “free spirt”.

For more information click here.

The American Bar Association conducts the National Civics & Law Academy in partnership with the Close Up Foundation. This program gives students a unique opportunity to gain a better understanding of the relationship that law, policies, people, and institutions have in shaping our nation. Selected students will have an opportunity to examine public policy issues from diverse perspectives, develop citizenship and leadership skills, and learn about different pathways for pursuing a legal career.

For more information click here.

The Close Up Foundation partners with the Cox Foundation to help run a four-day Diplomacy Seminar for college students to learn more about careers and opportunities at the U.S. Department of State. Over the course of the program, the students meet with ambassadors; participate in diplomatic simulations; network with State Department officials; and tour government agencies and international facing institutions. The program is application based and the Cox Foundation recruits college sophomores and juniors from Historically Black Colleges and Hispanic Serving Institutions.

For more information click here.

The Close Up Foundation partners with National Geographic to help support the GeoBee and GeoChallenge programs in Washington, DC. The GeoChallenge engages teams of students in action projects around a real-world environmental issue; and the GeoBee is a multi-level competition and geography contest. The annual GeoBee and GeoChallenge national competitions bring together finalists from schools across the country for a six day program.

For more information, click here.

The APAICS Youth Leadership Academy is a week-long leadership development program for Asian American and Pacific Island students.  The purpose of the program is to provide students of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage the unique opportunity to learn more about government and public policy issues impacting the AAPI community and how they can be more involved in the political process.  Students interested in applying should be in high school and show a demonstrated interest in civic engagement and AAPI heritage.

For more information click here.

AllSides for Schools provides educators with resources to promote news and media literacy and civil dialogue. They provide teachers ways of approaching the evolving media landscape and have developed a platform, Mismatch, that allows students to dialogue with other students across distance and ideological divides. Learn more about our work with AllSides for Schools and Mismatch.

The CivXNow Coalition is a network of civic education providers, researchers, and philanthropic organizations that seeks to improve the state of civic education across the nation through cooperative advocacy efforts and the raising of public awareness and support.

Close Up is a founding member of the Teaching for Democracy Alliance, a national network working to strengthen student learning about elections and informed voting. The Alliance is coordinated by the Center for Information and Research in Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). Learn more about the Alliance and to find great resources to teach about elections and voting.