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RODEL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 871239959 · Form 990PF · FY2021 · Small ($100K-$1M) · rodelinstitute.org
revenue
$587K
expenses
$539K
net assets
$47K
employees
profile · synthesized from sources

Leadership development organization that runs nonpartisan fellowship programs for elected officials, federal executives, and judges. The flagship Rodel Fellowship brings together state and local leaders for seminars on democratic principles and ethical leadership using foundational texts. Programs emphasize cross-ideological dialogue, relationship-building, and civic renewal across branches of government. Founded in 2005, the institute has trained over 400 public leaders nationwide.

named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Rodel California
State-based fellowship program convening emerging local and state leaders in California for a year-long leadership development curriculum focused on polarization and democratic identity.
Rodel Federal Executive Fellowship
Leadership program for 20-24 senior federal civil servants and executives from agencies across the U.S. government, focusing on innovation, democracy, and leadership in large bureaucracies.
Rodel Fellowship
Two-year leadership development program for 24 state and local elected officials selected annually, with bipartisan cohorts engaging in seminars on democratic principles, ethical leadership, and foundational texts.
Rodel Judicial Fellowship
Forum for federal judges and state supreme court justices to discuss democracy, constitutional principles, and the rule of law through text-based seminars and leadership workshops.
activities · 3 groups

what they do

  • Bipartisan Elected Leaders Seminar Fellowship 4 activities
    • Rodel Fellowship Program for State and Local Elected Leaders
      Operates the Rodel Fellowship, a leadership development program for 24 state and local elected leaders annually, consisting of three multi-day seminars over two years, focusing on breaking down partisan barriers and promoting bipartisan understanding. Over 400 elected leaders have completed the program.
    • Rodel Fellowship Program for State and Local Elected Leaders
      Operates the Rodel Fellowship, a leadership development program for 24 state and local elected leaders annually, consisting of three multi-day seminars over two years, focusing on breaking down partisan barriers and promoting bipartisan understanding. Over 400 elected leaders have completed the program.
    • State-Based Rodel Fellowship Programs (California, Rhode Island, Washington)
      Operates state-level leadership development programs, including Rodel California, Rodel Rhode Island, and Rodel Washington, which convene emerging local and state leaders for year-long programs involving three seminars focused on democracy, identity, and polarization.
    • State-Based Rodel Fellowship Programs (California, Rhode Island, Washington)
      Operates state-level leadership development programs, such as Rodel California, Rodel Rhode Island, and Rodel Washington, which convene emerging local and state leaders for a year-long program involving three seminars focused on democracy, identity, and polarization.
  • Judicial Leadership & Rule of Law Education 2 activities
    • Rodel Judicial Fellows Program
      Provides a forum for federal judges and state supreme court justices to discuss democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law through seminars that combine reading-based discussions and workshops on leadership and judicial work challenges, using classical legal texts.
    • Rodel Judicial Fellows Program
      Provides a forum for federal judges and state supreme court justices to discuss democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law through seminars that combine reading-based discussions and workshops on leadership and judicial work challenges, using classical legal texts on American democracy.
  • Uncategorized 6 activities
    • Edwards Book Award
      Awards the Edwards Book Award annually to authors whose works contribute to discussions on democracy and related societal issues, such as the 2025 award given to James Davison Hunter for "Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America’s Political Crisis."
    • Edwards Book Award
      Awards the Edwards Book Award annually to authors whose works contribute to understanding democracy and solidarity, such as James Davison Hunter's "Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America’s Political Crisis" in 2025.
    • Rodel Federal Executive Fellowship
      Runs a leadership and intellectual development program for 20 to 24 senior-level career civil servants from U.S. federal government agencies, facilitating discussions on leadership, innovation, democracy, emerging technologies, and the geopolitical landscape.
    • Rodel Federal Executive Fellowship
      Runs a leadership and intellectual development program for 20 to 24 senior-level career civil servants from U.S. federal government agencies, facilitating discussions on leadership, innovation, democracies, emerging technologies, and the geopolitical landscape.
    • Rodel Fellows All-Class Reunion
      Organizes an All-Class Reunion every three years for Rodel Fellows from all classes, featuring briefings, discussions, and networking opportunities.
    • Rodel Fellows All-Class Reunion
      Organizes an All-Class Reunion every three years for Rodel Fellows from all classes, featuring briefings, discussions, and networking opportunities.
financials · form 990PF · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$587K
Contributions & grants$587K100%
Program service revenue
Investment income$00%
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$539K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$198K
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$48K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$47K
1 years on record · 2021–2021
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JEFF KING COO 40 $107K
JOHN KROGER PRESIDENT & CEO 40 $96K
board members · 3
  • DONALD BUDINGER — DIRECTOR
  • SUSAN BUDINGER — VICE CHAIR
  • WILLIAM BUDINGER — CHAIR
relationships · 3

who they work with

  • RODEL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Partner — Hosts judicial leadership program
  • Rodel California Partner — State-based fellowship program launched to convene emerging local and state leaders in California.
  • University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy Partner — Co-hosting the conferral of the 2025 Edwards Book Award.