About Us

Our Mission

The American Committees on Foreign Relations (ACFR) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with headquarters in Washington, D.C. Since 1995. Originally the Committees were organized under the Council on Foreign Relations. In 1995, they became an independent organization based in Washington, DC, known as The American Committees on Foreign Relations. ACFR sponsors rigorous and informed foreign relations discussions, between the heartland and the beltway, and across the USA.

ACFR advances non-partisan public dialog and education on a wide variety of foreign relations topics by promoting energetic, face-to-face discourse between foreign policy experts and members of Committees around the country.

We are a national confederation of Member Committees with over 1,200 members across America from Tampa Bay to Santa Barbaray.

What We Do

We are a grass-roots organization convinced that respectful, face-to-face dialogue among and between the public and the international affairs community is critical to achieve an understanding of, and appreciation for, the importance of international affairs in our nation’s welfare.

ACFR serves our Member Committees across the US by providing:

Speakers Program

Each year, our Member Committees organize and conduct over 120 meetings featuring speakers with exceptional expertise and insights addressing current and profound foreign policy issues and topics. The Washington D.C. team facilitates and supports these activities in a unique manner: It connects government agencies, officials, distinguished foreign service members, leading think tanks, consultancies, businesses, and associations with our nationwide network of Member Committees across the country.

Annual Conference

So far for 26 times, we held a prestigious annual conference in Washington DC addressing a compelling foreign policy theme for our diverse membership, drawing together high-level foreign relations professionals to present, debate, and answer our individual member’s questions.

ACFR Young Leaders Initiative

We organize an annual conference for young scholars in the areas of foreign relations, foreign policy, and international interests. Sponsored by our Member Committees, the Young Leaders engage with leading experts, dignitaries, and foreign service professionals, visit the State Department, with anple opportunity for networking and ongoing membership.
Leadership, Counsel, and Coordination

We facilitate and coordinate networking activities and offer assistance and guidance to our Member Committees.