Leadership Institute
Leadership Institute is a nonprofit organization based in Arlington, Virginia. Founded in 1979 by conservative activist Morton C. Blackwell, it teaches “political technology” and works to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists. The institute identifies, recruits, trains, and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media.
LI offers 44 training seminars at its Arlington headquarters, across the United States, and occasionally in other countries. In 2014 the institute trained 18,182 people, and since its founding it has trained more than 161,000 students.
Many graduates have gone on to hold or seek public office, including Mitch McConnell, Mike Pence, Grover Norquist, Ralph Reed, Jeff Gannon, James O’Keefe, and elected officials in all 50 states.
LI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Morton Blackwell serves as its president and chairman. The institute runs Campus Reform, a news site focused on higher education, and it sits on the advisory board of Project 2025, a group proposing conservative policy ideas. Headquarters: 1101 N Highland St, Arlington, VA 22201.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:41 (CET).