Join the National Leaders Collective

Are you ready to lead the Pro-Life Generation?

Apply for a Leadership Fellowship and take your place among the movement’s next generation of change-makers.

Are you a high school or college pro-life student leader? Considering a future working in the pro-life movement? Students for Life of America’s National Leaders Collective is designed for leaders like you.

The National Leaders Collective is the Pro-Life Generation’s community of top student leaders enrolled in SFLA’s yearlong fellowships. Each fellowship helps you find your niche in the movement, equipping you to impact your campus based on your school’s unique needs. Fellows receive ongoing mentorship, professional development, and hands-on experience to grow as confident, effective leaders for Life. After this training, 94% of NLC leaders say they are more equipped to defend Life!

Students for Life of America is where the Pro-Life Movement begins.
Whether you plan to launch into a full-time pro-life career or continue with volunteer work after graduation, NLC prepares the Pro-Life Generation’s top students to transform the movement.

Applicants must be at least 16 years old to apply.

Our Leadership Fellowships

Find a Fellowship that fits you!

SFLA offers EIGHT formative yearlong fellowships to help you grow as a confident pro-life leader throughout the 2026–2027 academic year.

While each fellowship follows a similar structure, every program has unique requirements and focuses on a different area of leadership development from communications and community engagement to men’s leadership and more.

The Charlie Kirk Courage Fellowship

If you are a pro-life group officer in undergraduate or grad school and you are interested in becoming an expert in political advocacy, the Charlie Kirk Courage Fellowship is for you! In honor of pro-life hero Charlie Kirk, this fellowship empowers high school and college students to boldly speak the truth on campus and become an effective voice for life in politics. Students will learn how to pass pro-life legislation, defeat pro-abortion candidates, run for student government, lobby, or even run for political office. This program helps students apply pro-life values to every career path and even pursue a career as a pro-life leader in a political office for the pro-life movement! Click here to apply.

The William Wilberforce Fellowship

If you are a pro-life group officer in college or grad school who is new to group leadership, the William Wilberforce Fellowship is for you!  The William Wilberforce Fellowship prepares college pro-life students to build an effective leadership team and grow their group, teaching them the fundamentals of pro-life leadership. William Wilberforce fellows become experts in group development and project management as they complete projects that make a lasting impact on their campus and in their community. This program helps students apply pro-life values to every career path, and even pursue a career within the pro-life movement! Click here to apply.

The Thaddeus Stevens Fellowship

If you are a pro-life group officer in high school who is new to group leadership, the Thaddeus Stevens Fellowship is for you!  The Thaddeus Stevens Fellowship prepares high school pro-life students grow their group, teaching them the fundamentals of pro-life leadership. Thaddeus Stevens fellows become experts in the Five Pillars of Pro-Life Activism as they complete projects that make a lasting impact on their campus and in their community. This program helps students build lifelong relationships with leaders nationwide and grow as confident activists as they prepare to enter college!  Click here to apply.

The Christian Leadership Fellowship

If you are a pro-life group officer at a Christian/Catholic college or grad school, the Christian Leadership Fellowship is for you! The Christian Leadership Fellowship prepares pro-life students at Christian universities to be strong Christian leaders that empower other Christians to participate in the pro-life movement. Christian Leadership fellows become experts challenging Christian and Catholic schools to fulfill their mission to protect the innocent and vulnerable as they complete projects that make a lasting impact on their campus and in their community. This program helps students apply pro-life values to every career path, and even pursue a career within the pro-life movement!
Click here to apply.

Founders Fellowship

If you are a pro-life college student who has launched a new pro-life group on your campus, the Founders Fellowship is for you! New leaders often face unique challenges when starting a pro-life effort on campus. This fellowship helps leaders build a community with other group leaders from across the country facing similar obstacles. In this fellowship, leaders receive monthly trainings, networking and collaboration opportunities, and problem-solving development as they work to grow a pro-life presence on their campus. Click here to apply.

The Standing With You Fellowship

If you are a pro-life group officer in undergraduate or grad school and you are interested in becoming an expert in supporting pregnant and parenting students on your campus, the Standing With You Fellowship is for you! The Standing With You Fellowship prepares college students to leave a legacy on their campuses through projects that will support pregnant and parenting students in their policies and on-campus resources. Students will learn how to become the bridge between the abortion-minded student and their local Pregnancy Help Organization. Students will be equipped to champion Title IX rights for pregnant and parenting students on their campuses. This program helps students apply pro-life values to every career path, and even pursue a career within the supportive services aspect of the pro-life movement! Click here to apply.

The Hildegard Art Fellowship

If you are a pro-life group officer in undergraduate or grad school and you are interested in spreading the pro-life message through creativity, the Hildegard Art Fellowship is for you! The Hildegard Art Fellowship prepares college students to bring the performing and visual arts together with the Pro-Life Movement – the ultimate collaboration. Students will learn how to utilize their talents as pro-life artists to create projects that spread the pro-life message in a unique way to speak to and impact our culture. This program helps students apply pro-life values to every career path, and even pursue a career within the performance, production, and design areas of the pro-life movement! Click here to apply.

Student Spokesperson Fellowship

If you have already completed fellowship within the National Leaders Collective, and you are still in undergraduate or grad school and you are interested in becoming a voice for the Pro-Life Generation, the Student Spokesperson Fellowship is for you! Students interested in communications and media roles within the pro-life movement become Student Spokespeople, learning how to relate, unite, and inspire their peers nationally. These leaders participate in monthly communication activities to rally students around the national themes that drive the pro-life movement. This program helps students apply pro-life values to every career path, and even pursue a career in communications, media, and leadership within the pro-life movement! Click here to apply.

Meet Our Fellows

Not sure which fellowship to apply for?

Take our NLC Quiz!

Frequently Asked Questions

about the National Leaders Collective

63% of NLC Leaders pursue a pro-life career upon graduation. Through these yearlong programs, students prepare to lead in the pro-life movement by learning these four key skills:

How to develop their group’s leadership team.
How to change their campus with a measurable project.
How to cultivate professional connections with mentors and peers.
How to identify and pursue a pro-life career.

If you are new to leadership and you will be a group officer in the coming year, it is important to lay a strong foundation with best leadership practices through one of these fellowships:

Thaddeus Stevens Fellowship - for high school group officers.
Founders Fellowship - for college leaders of new pro-life groups.
William Wilberforce Fellowship – for college group officers.
Christian Leadership Fellowship - for Students for Life group officers at Christian colleges.

If you are ready to pursue a pro-life career and you have experience with group leadership, it is important to become an expert in leadership with one of these fellowships:

Hildegard Art Fellowship - for undergraduate & graduate artists interested in becoming an expert in artistically presenting the pro-life message (performing, visual, and word).
Standing With You Fellowship – for college group officers interested in becoming an expert advocate for pregnant and parenting students.
Student Spokesperson Fellowship – for undergraduate & graduate students interested in becoming an expert in communications and media.
Students for Life Action Captain Fellowship – for undergraduate & graduate students interested in becoming an expert in political outreach.
Click HERE to read more and apply for one of these fellowships.

Student leaders who hold an officer position in a pro-life group on a college campus for the upcoming academic year qualify for all leadership fellowships. Only THREE fellowships have additional requirements:

All students applying to the Thaddeus Stevens Fellowship must be a high school group officer who is at least 16 years old.
All students applying to the Student Spokesperson Fellowship must have at least one year of experience with another fellowship to qualify.
All students applying to the Christian Leadership Fellowship must attend a Chrisitan college or university.

If you are not a group officer in a pro-life group on campus, you still qualify for TWO fellowships:

Hildegard Art Fellowship - - for undergraduate & graduate artists interested in becoming an expert in artistically presenting the pro-life message (performing, visual, and word).
Students for Life Action Captains – – for undergraduate & graduate students interested in becoming an expert in political outreach.

All selected leaders must complete their registration for their fellowship prior to receiving confirmation of any travel or housing arrangements for the initial kickoff weekend. If you are selected for a fellowship, you will receive special instructions on how to register for your fellowship. All selected leaders must be able to attend the kickoff weekend in its entirety in order to be accepted to a fellowship for the upcoming year.

All NLC Leaders will be flown to Washington, D.C for the National Leaders Collective, a kickoff weekend of training from Thursday, June 26th – Monday, June 30th, 2025. Round-trip flights, housing, and meals will be covered by SFLA within the specified dates to accepted leaders. Any additional meals or expenses in the airport or beyond what is provided are the leader’s responsibility. *food stipends, housing, and flight arrangements are determined based on current prices and regulations, with student needs in mind, so what is provided per student is typically sufficient to cover the weekend’s activities.

This is a leadership conference. NLC Leaders will not be allowed to attend other events or activities outside of SFLA’s event. Flights, housing, and meals will be covered by SFLA for NLC Leaders only. No guests or family members of NLC Leaders will be accommodated or allowed to attend this event.

NLC Leaders commit to 5 hours per month of leadership development provided by this program. This is accomplished through reviewing various books and publications, participating in bi-monthly or monthly webcasts for discussion, and hearing from guest speaker lectures during these webcasts.

All NLC Leaders are invited to large group calls a few times each year to discuss strategy and network with other leaders in the National Leaders Collective. These calls are worked into each fellowship’s schedule for the year.

Yes, students complete projects during the year to help apply the skills they learn to their group and to help them build their pro-life resume. These projects are based on what their campus and community needs to further the pro-life mission. Projects should make a lasting impact to the school or the community. Students receive one-on-one mentorship from their fellowship leader to complete their project.

Testimonials

from Leaders Serving the Pro-Life Movement

At Students for Life of America and Students for Life Action, we equip leaders to serve the pro-life movement in professional careers. Since 2006, 174 leaders have transitioned from a fellowship in the National Leaders Collective into a pro-life career.

“What I have learned about leadership and the pro-life movement has helped me grow tremendously as a leader. From what I have learned and the connections I have made from other leaders, applying for this Fellowship is one of the best choices I ever made.”
Penelope Rose, 2023–2023 William Wilberforce Fellow
Serving the Pro-Life Movement as SFLA's Northeast Regional Coordinator

“This year, my leadership was taken to the next level through the student spokesperson Fellowship by teaching me how to use my voice to influence others for life and learn how to succeed in a pro-life career.”
Chloe Kramer, 2023–2024 Student Spokesperson
Serving the Pro-Life Movement as the Community Engagement Manager at Women's Care Center

“I never thought of myself as much of a leader prior to this year, but my fellowship taught me that there is not one 'type' of leader! Each one of us can play a part in creating a culture of Life.”
Kathryn Pluta, 2021–2022 Christian Leadership Fellowship
Serving the Pro-Life Movement as a Copywriter at the Thomas Moore Society

“My involvement in the NLC allowed me to learn from experienced pro-life leaders who have worked/currently work in the pro-life movement and get advice on how to grow professionally and personally in my activism. This fellowship led to me getting an internship and ultimately a full-time job with Students for Life.”
Morgan Reece, 2023–2023 William Wilberforce Fellow
Serving the Pro-Life Movement as SFLA's Michigan Regional Coordinator

“Going into the Christian Leadership Fellowship, I had no idea what I was doing or where I fit in. When I arrived at Campbell University as a freshman this year, I expected my pro-life work would be accepted because it was a ‘Christian college.’ However, I instead spent the year facing death threats, hatred, protests, and other crazy backlash. My fellowship was the one place I could stay motivated and feel supported. By the end of the year, I changed 50 pro-choice minds, passed a pro-life resolution, and have been elected president of my college SFLA. My fellowship is truly the reason I kept going. I’m so grateful for my community with them and the impact they had on me.”
Lydia Taylor, 2021–2022 Christian Leadership Fellowship
Serving the Pro-Life Movement as an SFLA Spokesperson

“This program has truly given me the confidence to speak boldly for life to the media, write boldly for life to the news outlets, and live boldly for life in my community.”
Anna Thompson, 2022–2023 Student Spokesperson
Serving the Pro-Life Movement as the Recruiting Director at Forge Leadership Network

“This program gave me confidence in working in this movement, and helped to start networking with people across the country.”
Olivia Ulrich, 2022–2023 Standing With You Fellow
Serving the Pro-Life Movement as a Counselor at Women’s Care Center

“When I joined the National Leaders Collective after my freshman year at the University of Notre Dame, I was especially struck by the passion of those working full time to fight against abortion and for the lives of the unborn. The NLC was an incredible opportunity to travel to D.C. and collaborate with other pro-life students on the best way to serve our campuses and convert hearts and minds. The connections that I made helped me to make the jump to move to D.C. after graduation and work in the pro-life movement full time.”
Merlot Fogarty, 2022–2023 SFLAction State Captain Fellow
Serving the Pro-Life Movement as a Blackstone Fellow at Alliance Defending Freedom

“Being a part of the National Leaders Collective equipped me with the essential confidence and community to put my passion for life into practice. Now, working full-time in the movement, I experience daily the direct outcome of my training and the connections I developed, boldly fighting for the protection of women and children alongside fellow graduates of the program.”
Gavin Oxley, 2021–2022 Invictus Men’s Fellow
Serving the Pro-Life Movement as the Project Specialist at Americans United for Life

“National Leaders Collective equipped me to start a pro-life job after graduation by offering me networking opportunities, professional skill development, and resume building. Before joining NLC as a William Wilberforce Fellow, I wasn’t sure how or if I wanted to turn my passion for the pro-life movement into a career. Through one-on-one career trainings, I realized that all sorts of skills can be utilized by pro-life nonprofits. Opportunities presented themselves through NLC helped me develop my career path while also helping the movement: proving I didn't have to put my professional development on hold to pursue something I am passionate about!”
Danise Rees, 2024–2025 William Wilberforce Fellow
Serving the Pro-Life Movement as an SFLA Staff Writer

Interested in Mentoring or Speaking for a Program?

Fellowships within the National Leaders Collective (NLC) include mentorship from a leader in the pro-life movement who is working full-time to abolish abortion. The NLC has opportunities for pro-life professionals to share experiences with students interested in pursuing a pro-life career. Is this you? Apply today to become a speaker or a mentor for a fellowship in the NLC below.

Become an SFLA Mentor