The bold leadership of young activists in this country is essential for the future of gun safety laws. Become a GIFFORDS Courage Fellow to make a difference in your state and save lives. 

Across the country, young people are standing up and demanding a safer future for their communities—demanding a future free from gun violence. Since 2018, GIFFORDS has supported these brave activists through our Courage Fellowship program, which provides a select group of young people the opportunity to refine their advocacy skills and work together to reduce gun violence. 

Over the course of the program, Courage Fellows between the ages of 18 and 24 will be placed at the heart of the gun violence prevention discussion. They will engage in an array of activities that focus on advocacy and effective organizing,from learning about the issue firsthand from gun policy experts to lobbying legislators at their state capitol.The program will consist of three in-person trainings and four virtual trainings with GIFFORDS staff. Between these trainings, participants will work on a community engagement project of their choosing, with the support of GIFFORDS staff and resources.

Each year, GIFFORDS holds classes in select strategic states, building power and presence within each state. Check below to learn more about the 2026–27 state classes of Courage Fellows.

The purpose of the take-home, community engagement project is for Courage Fellows to put the skills they learn in the first training to use in their own communities. The ideal project will be substantive, engaging, and locally focused. Fellows will brainstorm project ideas, subject to approval by GIFFORDS staff, throughout thier first training. Past projects have included:

Applicants do not need to be extensively involved in the gun violence prevention movement already—we are looking to build a diverse class of Courage Fellows with varying backgrounds and experiences.are looking to build a diverse class of Courage Fellows with varying backgrounds and experiences.

Colorado is a state with a history of both high-profile gun violence tragedies and meaningful legislative victories. After the state passed gun safety laws in 2013, a local gun rights group led a successful recall effort that flipped the state senate to Republican control and fostered a deep fear among lawmakers that kept many from supporting new gun violence prevention bills. When GIFFORDS began investing resources in Colorado in 2018 with the goal of creating a strong gun safety coalition, many viewed the issue as too politically risky. 

Since then, we’ve worked to counter that narrative and ensure that gun safety remains a top priority for our elected officials. We helped beat candidates endorsed by gun-rights groups in 2018 and 2020—backing champions like State Senator Tom Sullivan, an Aurora theater shooting survivor—and showed that gun violence prevention is not just good policy, but a winning political issue. Today, with a robust network of local leaders and engaged communities in spite of persistent opposition from extremist groups, Colorado continues to be a prime example of how we can drive meaningful change in the statehouse and at the ballot box.

GIFFORDS is dedicated to doing the tough work that needs to be done to save lives from gun violence in Colorado. You can be a part of that. 

The deadline to apply for the 2026–27 class of Colorado Courage Fellows is Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 12 am MT.

Our application is now live. If you have technical difficulties or questions, please email couragefellows@ giffords.org. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.