The Friends of the Truman Foundation is the nonprofit partner of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation.

Truman Scholars: A Community of Impact across Government, Business, and Society

There is no “one size fits all” path for a Truman Scholar

By being named a Truman Scholar, one does not earn merely a scholarship, but is welcomed into a lifelong community (3,600+ strong!) dedicated to leadership and civic engagement. From entrepreneurs to civil servants, and activists to artists, the supporters of the Friends of the Truman Foundation are united by the highest ideals of public service.

As the 501(c)3 independent non-profit supporting this Presidential Monument to Public Service, we mobilize resources and talent to ensure the next 50 years of Truman Scholars is as dynamic as the last!

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A Lifelong Community

Who We Are

Friends of Truman raises private donations and in-kind supports for the operations and activities of the Truman Foundation, including programs for those committed to service and civic engagement.

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What We Do

As a 501 c(3) organization, donations allow us to strengthen the next generation of public service leaders. We welcome the opportunity to host you at one of our dynamic programming or networking events.

Support Our Work

How You Can Help

We offer events, programming, mentoring, and other opportunities to those who are working to build the next generation of public service leaders in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.

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  • 1975

    President Gerald Ford signs the Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Act into law.

  • 2019

    Four Truman Scholars are sworn in to the 116th Congress: Representatives Greg Stanton (AZ 90), Dusty Johnson (SD 98), Andy Kim (NJ 03), and Tom Malinowski (NJ 85). Kim would later become the first Korean-American elected to the United States Senate.

  • 2025

    Jalen Travis (MN, 23) is the first Truman Scholar drafted to the National Football League. The Indianapolis Colts selected him with the 147th overall pick.

  • 1987

    Future Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch (CO, 87) is selected as a Truman Scholar. He was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2017 by President Donald Trump.

  • 1991

    The first Summer Institute is hosted, bringing Truman Scholars to Washington, D.C. the summer after their college graduation.

  • 1977

    The Truman Foundation awards its first Scholarships during the 1977-1978 academic year. Among the first cohort, Janet Napolitano (MN, 77) would later become the first female Governor of Arizona and the 3rd United States Secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama.

  • 2024

    Madison Marsh (AR, 22) is crowned Miss America, becoming the first member of the United States Armed Forces (and Truman Scholar!) to win the title.

  • 1980

    George Stephanopoulos (OH, ’80), future Chief Anchor of ABC News, is selected as a Truman Scholar. Over his distinguished career, he has been nominated for 17 Emmys, winning three—including his first for coverage of the 2009 Presidential Inauguration.

  • 2021

    Marcia Chatelain (IL, 00) is the first Truman Scholar to win the Pulitzer Prize.

  • 1983

    Future Senator Chris Coons (DE, 1983) is selected as a Truman Scholar. He would later become the first Truman elected to the Senate, where he has represented the state of Delaware since 2010.

  • 2024

    Emily Candarelli (WV, 08) becomes the first Truman Scholar to travel to space.

  • 1994

    Stacey Abrams (MS, 94) is selected as a Truman Scholar. She would later be nominated in 2021 for a Nobel Peace Prize and included in the Time 100 for increasing voter turnout in her home state of Georgia.

  • 2010

    Representative Ted Deutch (PA, 86) is elected to the House of Representatives, becoming the first Truman Scholar to be elected to Congress.

  • 2004

    The Truman-Albright Program is established.

  • 2018

    Amy Finkelstein (NY, 94) is the first Truman Scholar to win a MacArthur Genius Grant for economic research. 

  • 1989

    Truman Scholars Leadership Week begins, hosted at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri.

  • 2023

    Representative Gabe Amo (RI, 09) is sworn into the House of Representatives, becoming the first African-American Truman Scholar to be elected to Congress.

  • 2025

    The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation celebrates 50 years of Truman Scholars! 🎉