The Ripon Society

What The Ripon Society does

The Ripon Society is a non-profit, non-partisan-in-operation Republican policy organization founded in 1962 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, now headquartered at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to advance moderate Republican philosophy, foster bipartisan dialogue, and convene policymakers; it is named after Ripon, Wisconsin—the 1854 birthplace of the GOP—and inspired by Theodore Roosevelt's leadership. The Society operates with a lean permanent staff of approximately 12, supplemented by 2–6 paid interns/fellows per cohort through the Oxley Internship and Frenzel Fellowship programs.

The Society's core products are content-and-convening rather than technology-based: (1) The Ripon Forum, the longest-running Republican journal of political thought in the U.S., published six times per year since 1965; (2) The Ripon Advance, a daily online publication covering members of Congress; (3) a recurring events program of policymaker breakfasts, lunches, and dinners; (4) the annual Roosevelt Leadership Awards, co-hosted with the Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange and rotated across presidential libraries; (5) the Unsung Heroes of Capitol Hill recognition program; (6) the Ripon 39ers young-professionals forum; and (7) an Honorary Congressional Advisory Board that includes 14 Republican Senators and 70+ Republican House Members, chaired at the Senate level by Shelley Moore Capito and at the House level by Frank Lucas.

The business model is non-commercial and member-supported: revenue is generated through individual membership dues (annual, subscription-style) and event participation fees for policy forums and ceremonies. Membership pricing is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion is event-driven—building relationships with sitting Republican policymakers and White House officials via exclusive convenings, supplemented by thought-leadership publications and a light digital footprint on X, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and YouTube. The organization is privately held by its Board of Directors (currently chaired by Bobby Thomson) and led by President & CEO Jim Conzelman; no equity, venture, or parent-company ownership is indicated.

Name

The Ripon Society

Legal name

The Ripon Society

Website

https://riponsociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ripon Society is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit policy organization founded in 1962 that convenes Republican policymakers, publishes The Ripon Forum and The Ripon Advance, and runs internship, awards, and young-professional programs for Republican political professionals and Members of Congress.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Political Policy Advocacy and Convenings

NAICS

Political Organizations (813940)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAFADAK

Nonprofit & Cause Communications

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Public Relations & Communications

SECONDARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYTHAHAJAO

Nonprofit, Social Services & Community Development Congresses

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Association, Government & Academic Congresses

Keywords

• Republican policy organization
• Political thought leadership
• Policy convenings
• Political publications
• Congressional engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The organization offers membership to individuals interested in Republican policy and political engagement. Revenue is generated through annual membership fees.
2. Event Participation Fees: Revenue generated from events including breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and annual awards ceremonies such as the Roosevelt Leadership Awards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Ripon Society is a non-profit Republican policy organization that publishes political thought-leadership journals (The Ripon Forum and The Ripon Advance) and convenes policymakers through breakfasts, lunches, dinners, awards ceremonies, and professional development programs. Its core deliverables are policy publications, in-person convenings with Members of Congress, internships and fellowships, and recognition awards targeted at Republican and bipartisan political leaders in the United States.

Product overview

The Ripon Society operates as a policy organization offering a portfolio of programs and publications focused on Republican political thought and engagement. The core offerings include The Ripon Forum (a quarterly journal of Republican political thought), The Ripon Advance (a daily online news publication), and a regular events program featuring breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with policymakers. Supporting programs include the Ripon 39ers young professionals group, the annual Roosevelt Leadership Awards, the Unsung Heroes of Capitol Hill recognition program, and the Oxley Internship and Frenzel Fellowship for aspiring policy professionals. An honorary congressional advisory board of U.S. Senators and Representatives provides leadership engagement and policy guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Ripon Forum: The longest running Republican journal of political thought and opinion in the United States, published six times a year.
• The Ripon Advance
• Ripon 39ers
• Oxley Internship and Frenzel Fellowship
• Roosevelt Leadership Awards
• Unsung Heroes of Capitol Hill
• Teddy Tweets

Products and services

• The Ripon Forum The Ripon Forum is the longest running Republican journal of political thought and opinion in the United States, published six times a year. It features essays, policy discussions, and commentary from Republican leaders and thought leaders.
• The Ripon Advance The Ripon Advance is a daily online publication that provides news and information about elected leaders and their ideas to make government work.
• Events Program A regular series of breakfasts, lunches, and other events geared around the issues of the day and the challenges facing the nation, featuring policymakers presenting their views.
• Ripon 39ers A young professionals group that meets monthly in Washington D.C. to build relationships and foster ideas among young solutions-minded Republican policy and political professionals, inspired by the age Theodore Roosevelt was when he led the Rough Riders.
• Roosevelt Leadership Awards Annual awards presented by The Ripon Society and the Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange to leaders on Capitol Hill who embody the 'Man in the Arena' speech from President Theodore Roosevelt.
• Unsung Heroes of Capitol Hill An annual event honoring the top schedulers and executive assistants of U.S. Congress members for their behind-the-scenes work supporting Capitol Hill operations.
• Oxley Internship and Frenzel Fellowship Paid internship (Oxley Internship for undergraduates) and fellowship (Frenzel Fellowship for college graduates) honoring Michael G. Oxley and Bill Frenzel, providing opportunities to assist with policy research, event logistics, and communications at The Ripon Society.
• Honorary Congressional Advisory Board An honorary congressional advisory board consisting of U.S. Senators and Representatives who support The Ripon Society's mission and participate in its programs.
• Individual Membership Program Annual individual membership providing access to events, publications, and networking with Republican policymakers. Membership pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled through direct inquiry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Regular engagement with 14 Senate and 70+ House Republican Members through Advisory Board
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Franklin Center for Global Policy ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ripon Society co-hosts events and programs with the Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange, including the annual Roosevelt Leadership Awards ceremony. The partnership enables joint programming that brings together Republican and Democratic lawmakers for bipartisan policy discussions.
• Presidential Libraries (Reagan, Kennedy, Nixon, Bush, Johnson, FDR, Mount Rushmore)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Roosevelt Leadership Awards ceremony is held at various presidential libraries and historic sites, including the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library, George H.W. Bush Presidential Center, Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, and Mount Rushmore.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hoover Institution: Stanford-based public policy think tank with strong Republican ties through publications and fellowships. Comparable as a long-running conservative/center-right think tank publishing policy commentary and engaging Republican policymakers, though anchored at a university rather than on Capitol Hill.
• Heritage Foundation: Large conservative policy think tank that influences Republican policymaking through research, events, and an extensive network of policymakers. Comparable as a Washington-based nonprofit policy organization publishing thought leadership and engaging GOP Members of Congress, but at materially greater scale and with broader ideological scope.
• American Enterprise Institute: Established center-right policy research organization that convenes scholars, policymakers, and elected officials. Comparable as a DC-based nonprofit producing policy publications and convening Republican and bipartisan audiences, though significantly larger and more research-oriented than The Ripon Society.

Direct peers

• National Republican Senatorial Committee: Official Republican Party committee dedicated to electing GOP Senators. Comparable as a Republican party organization interfacing directly with Republican Members of the Senate, though again a formal party committee rather than an independent policy organization.
• Republican Main Street Partnership: Centrist/center-right caucus for House Republican Members that convenes the annual Sundance policy conference and bridges the bipartisan dialogue space. Most directly comparable to Ripon's centrist Republican positioning and Congressional advisory structure.
• Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange: Partner organization that co-hosts Ripon Society events including the annual Roosevelt Leadership Awards. Directly comparable as a DC-based, bipartisan policy organization convening Members of Congress for programming, and a documented strategic co-development partner of The Ripon Society.
• Truman Center for National Policy: Nonpartisan nonprofit led by former Members of Congress that convenes legislators and supports bipartisan policy dialogue. Comparable as a small nonprofit providing convening infrastructure for Members of Congress across the aisle, similar in model to Ripon's bipartisan breakfast/lunch programs.
• Republican Governors Association: Republican Party-aligned organization supporting GOP candidates for governor. Comparable as a Republican Party-facing nonprofit that provides policy and political infrastructure to elected officials, though focused on gubernatorial rather than Congressional politics.
• Young America's Foundation: Conservative youth organization that runs internship programs, campus events, and student conferences to develop the next generation of conservative leaders. Comparable to Ripon 39ers, Oxley Internship, and Frenzel Fellowship for conservative talent pipeline building.
• National Republican Congressional Committee: Official Republican Party committee that supports GOP House candidates. Comparable as a Republican party-adjacent organization working with House Republican Members, though a formal party committee rather than an independent policy nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RiponSociety
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/riponsociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/RiponSociety
• Instagraminstagram.com/theriponsociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-ripon-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Ripon Society