Freedom is not something that Americans can take for granted. Its preservation and advancement requires citizens who understand their rights, accept their responsibilities, and are willing to serve.

Convention of States Foundation (COSF) is a movement of citizens who not only reject business as usual in Washington, D.C. We are committed to restoring self-governance in America by building constitutional knowledge, enhancing moral virtue, and teaching civic leadership.

Our Founding Fathers risked their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to establish a government that would protect our natural rights and use only the powers granted by the people. Their example guides our mission today.

Six core values shape how we at COSF carry out that mission. They guide what we teach, how we develop leaders, how we serve our communities, and how we measure our work. They also help those who support COSF understand what their patronage and assistance makes possible.

Preserve Constitutional Originalism

The Constitution is the foundation of our work. We constantly look to the wisdom of the Founding Fathers and take seriously the original meaning and intent of the words that were established in the Constitution and agreed to by the people.

That commitment guides our efforts to restore limited government, protect individual rights, and uphold federalism, the division of power between the federal and state governments.
Constitutional education helps people understand both the powers that government has and the limits that it must respect. Our goal is to equip citizens to defend and reinforce those limits and to help preserve the United States as a beacon of freedom.

Foster Responsible Self-Governance

Liberty requires responsibility. A free people must be willing to make decisions, answer for their actions, and learn from their mistakes.

We work to build that culture in our country and within COSF. We empower people to take action, learn from experience, and adjust their approach when needed.

Self-governance is not simply a goal for our representatives in Washington, D.C., and our state capitals. It is a habit we practice in our homes, workplaces, and communities. By taking responsibility for what we can do, each of us helps build a stronger foundation for freedom.

Cultivate Servant Leaders

Leadership begins with a willingness to serve. We seek to develop leaders who put others first and use their abilities to make a positive difference.

Through opportunities such as the Emerging Leaders Program, the Servant Leadership course, and the SHAWL mentoring program, we develop statesmen who will lead constitutional governance in the future, promote service, and deepen the spiritual life through training, mentorship, and personalized support.

This value shapes how we work with employees and volunteers. We want people to grow in knowledge and character, not simply gain a title. Strong leaders help others grow, accept responsibility, and keep the needs of their communities at the heart of their work.

Be Kind

We believe in the simple elegance of the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated.

That standard is the foundation of every conversation, including those where we disagree. We seek to be professional and respectful while speaking the truth boldly and with love.

Kindness does not mean setting aside our convictions. It means expressing them with care and understanding for the person in front of us. Whether we are teaching, mentoring, or serving alongside a volunteer, how we treat one another should reflect the values that we ask others to embrace.

Produce Meaningful Results

Our work must do more than express good intentions. We seek results that help restore America to its divinely inspired ideals and encourage people around the world to stand for their own freedom.

One example is Constitution Day Across America. Through this project, our volunteer activists last month placed more than 265,000 pocket Constitutions into the hands of eighth-grade students in all 50 states.

Such an effort connects our values to action. It literally and figuratively gives our founding document to the next generation. For those who support COSF, it is a clear example of constitutional education reaching communities across the country.

Revere Judeo-Christian Values

We affirm the Judeo-Christian principles that guide our understanding of human dignity, freedom, and government.

At the heart of this value is the belief that every person is endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights. These rights are not gifts from government. The duty of government is to secure them.

This conviction gives purpose to our work. It calls us to respect the dignity of our fellow human beings, serve our neighbors, and defend a government that remains accountable to the people whose rights it exists to protect.

These six values of Convention of States Foundation belong together. They connect constitutional knowledge with personal responsibility, leadership with service, and firm convictions with kindness. They also give us a standard for judging our work: Are we helping people understand, practice, and preserve freedom?

Explore the COSF website to learn more about our mission and work. Then sign the Liberty Pledge to affirm your commitment to freedom and self-governance.