Civics PlaybookTeenPact Leadership Schools
- Mission: TeenPact seeks to inspire youth in their relationship with Christ and train them to understand the political process, value their liberty, defend the Christian faith and engage culture.
- Geographic Focus: National
- Audience: K-12 students and volunteers
- Budget: $3.5 million
- Focus Areas and Core Competencies:
- Christ-centered civic and leadership formation
- Hands-on servant leadership development
Equipping Students to Steward their Citizenship for Christ
Impact Statement
TeenPact has reached more than 112,000 students and families nationwide through its civic education, leadership and discipleship training programs. The mission is to awaken the next generation to seek Christ and His purposes for their lives, equipping them to steward their citizenship for His glory.
A Conversation with Peggy Adams, Director of Development for TeenPact Leadership Schools
Q: What is the mission/work of your organization? What problem(s) in civics education is your nonprofit working to solve?
TeenPact Leadership Schools seeks to awaken young people to pursue Christ and His calling, to steward their citizenship faithfully and to lead as Christ-centered servants who impact every sphere of life—their homes, churches, schools, careers and the public square—with truth and grace for God’s glory.
Today’s youth face multiple challenges, including declining civic knowledge, cultural drift away from biblical Christianity and a lack of confidence in their leadership potential. TeenPact addresses all three through immersive, discipleship-focused programs that cultivate civic understanding and servant leadership.
The State Class immerses students in state government through mock legislatures, elections and projects, while biblical teaching and mentorship foster character, courage and confidence. Evening Sessions and Alumni Events provide relational guidance and reinforcement, helping students steward their citizenship and influence for Christ in all spheres of life.
Q: Does your organization have any upcoming programs or events planned in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States (A250th)?
Ready to launch when funded, TeenPact’s Civic Life Challenge extends civic education beyond the classroom, helping students actively engage in their communities. Building on skills gained in TeenPact’s Four Day State Classes, it provides students structured pathways to apply biblical servant leadership in real-world civic contexts.
The Civics Life Passport will guide students through activities in four key categories—civic knowledge, historical literacy, civic engagement and community service—helping them put their civics education into action while serving their communities and growing as servant leaders.
Funding is needed to support personnel who will further develop, launch and manage the program, build partnerships for meaningful engagement, create a user-friendly tracking system and provide recognition and scholarships for top participants.
Q: How do you describe the big goals your organization is working to achieve? How do you measure impact?
TeenPact strives to develop a generation of young leaders who are biblically grounded and civically engaged. While formal alumni data collection is still in development, personal testimonies and anecdotal evidence indicate that TeenPact profoundly shapes students’ leadership trajectories and civic involvement. The organization is actively building a comprehensive alumni network to better measure long-term impact. Funding to develop robust data systems would accelerate the ability to capture reliable evidence of sustained success.
TeenPact alumni have gone on to serve in prominent leadership roles at the state and national levels, demonstrating the long-term impact of the program. Beyond elected office, TeenPact graduates pursue impactful careers as lawyers, public policy professionals, media leaders, nonprofit directors, ministry workers and educators.
Success is measured by the extent to which alumni step into positions of influence, demonstrate integrity in leadership and serve their spheres of impact for Christ. As TeenPact strengthens alumni tracking, the organization will be able to quantify long-term results, refine programming and share compelling evidence of how Christ-centered civic education can shape a generation of servant leaders.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges your organization has experienced working to accomplish its mission? How did your organization overcome those challenges?
TeenPact has navigated several challenges that have shaped the organization into a more resilient, accountable and innovative ministry. One major challenge arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated a rapid transition to online programming. TeenPact responded by developing virtual versions of its Four Day State Class, maintaining engagement, learning outcomes and spiritual formation during periods when in-person gatherings were not feasible. This experience demonstrated the organization’s ability to innovate quickly while remaining true to its Christ-centered mission.
Managing a large volunteer base of approximately 1,000 individuals annually is another ongoing challenge. TeenPact invests significant resources in training, mentoring and supporting these volunteers to ensure they are well-prepared to deliver high-quality programming. Using skilled volunteers allows TeenPact to operate efficiently at a lower cost than a fully paid staff model, while fostering leadership development among teens and adults alike.
Q: What are your organization’s biggest needs? How can philanthropists help your organization achieve its goals?
TeenPact seeks philanthropic support in several key areas to strengthen its mission and expand its impact.
The key priority of enhancing staff compensation to align with industry standards is critical to improving employee retention and attracting top talent. Short- and long-term strategies to fund this need are planned for development in 2026. Competitive compensation ensures TeenPact can sustain and grow a high-performing team to deliver exceptional programs and experiences for students.
Strengthening marketing, fundraising and program development efforts is also essential to expand reach and engagement. Planned initiatives include updating the TeenPact website to improve SEO and user experience, as well as expanding the marketing budget to better reach target audiences and increase student participation.
Lastly, developing systems for collecting and analyzing alumni data is another primary strategic priority. TeenPact aims to create a comprehensive alumni database to connect graduates, assess long-term outcomes and identify alumni interested in mentoring the next generation. Establishing a dedicated alumni director position will provide oversight and management of this growing network, creating a dynamic resource to strengthen engagement, share successes and foster leadership development beyond the Four Day State Class experience.
Q: Beyond your organization, where should philanthropists who care about advancing civic knowledge and education invest their charitable dollars?
In addition to supporting TeenPact, philanthropists may consider organizations such as Summit Ministries and Worldview Academy. These programs dive deeply into worldview education, helping young people understand diverse ideologies, think critically about competing perspectives and develop a framework for evaluating ideas.
Philanthropists who care about advancing civic knowledge and education should support initiatives that provide hands-on learning, character development and real-world application. Programs that engage students in mock legislatures, internships, service projects and other active learning experiences are vital for equipping the next generation to participate responsibly in civic life. Investments in research to evaluate the effectiveness of civic education programs and in policy advocacy to promote civics education in schools are also critical.
Contact Our Team
Contact the Roundtable’s Programs team to learn more about this investment opportunity.