the McCain Institute Change the future with
Fighting for a free, safe and just world for all
The McCain Institute is changing futures for the better by addressing today’s most critical issues.
Inspired by Senator John McCain and his family’s dedication to public service, the McCain Institute is a nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C. The McCain Institute’s work is modeled after the man himself, with a unique power to convene leaders across the global political spectrum in order to make a real impact on the world’s most pressing challenges. The goal of the McCain Institute is action, not talk. Alongside strategic partner Arizona State University and a community of supporters, the McCain Institute fights for a world that is free, safe and just for all people.
“John McCain’s primary focus was fighting for the rights of people to live in a democratic society,” says Rick Davis, chairman of the McCain Institute’s Board of Trustees. “Anywhere you look on the globe –Taiwan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Georgia, obviously Ukraine – you see his footprints. It wasn’t that he was promoting a brand of democracy that was uniquely American. He was defending people’s right to self-determination.”
This vision of the world, shared by America and its democratic allies, is built on a foundational belief in intrinsic human dignity that affords every person a fundamental set of rights and freedoms. Today, this principle of human dignity is under attack. Authoritarianism, rising global fragility and weak regulatory frameworks threaten the health of democracies and impede individual liberty, leading to conflict and violence in many countries.
Changing Futures® provides a critical opportunity to invest in the McCain Institute’s work advancing democracy, human rights and character-driven leadership.
Jack McCain speaks at the 10th Sedona Forum in 2023.
Defending democracy around the world
Since the beginning, the McCain Institute has partnered with policymakers to take critical action to defend frontline democracies, in places like Ukraine, Taiwan and Georgia. It has also stepped up to defend a healthy democracy here in the United States.
“We must work to preserve and protect our own democracy so that we can continue serving as a global leader to advance democracy and human rights around the world,” says Evelyn Farkas, executive director of the McCain Institute. By addressing critical domestic issues like freedom of speech and electoral system integrity, the McCain Institute aims to secure democracy and preserve America’s role as a defender of democracy writ large.
The McCain Institute will continue and scale its proven work on democracy while also piloting important new initiatives. For example, future work will focus on alerting Americans of the stakes of losing democracy—a threat that many Americans may not fully appreciate having never lived under authoritarian rule.
The McCain Institute elevates the importance of uplifting democracy, human rights and leadership at home and around the globe.
Protecting human rights and freedom worldwide
The McCain Institute protects and advances human rights by working with a range of stakeholders and policymakers to prevent violations from occurring and to hold perpetrators accountable. It has a proven history of standing up for human rights worldwide and advancing clear policy perspectives on human rights generally as well as specific issues like forced labor and human trafficking.
With democratic norms under attack around the world, human rights defenders, as well as their families and colleagues face grave risks. Through a new Human Rights Defenders Hub at ASU, the McCain Institute will expand funding, logistical assistance, and other support to human rights defenders in distress, helping them settle into a safe environment and find sustainable employment as a means to continue their work. Through this effort, it will also address a critical gap in the human rights landscape.
“At present, there is no unified framework that comprehensively supports the growing community of global human rights defenders” says Berivan Orucoglu, human rights defender and Assistant Director at the Human Rights Defenders program at the McCain Institute. “We lack a cohesive community of practice and a center of excellence dedicated to providing the essential training, financial backing, and networking opportunities for these critical figures such as journalists, lawyers, artists, and activists. The Human Rights Defenders Hub at ASU is designed to bridge this gap, establishing itself as a centralized resource for rapid-response support, comprehensive mentorship, robust networking, trauma-informed counseling, and extensive research opportunities, all while enhancing ASU’s role as a leader in virtual education and attracting a broader student base.”
McCain Institute Human Rights Defender and journalist Marvi Sirmed advocates for women’s rights in Pakistan.
McCain Global Leaders volunteer with World Central Kitchen near the Ukraine border in 2022.
Building characterdriven leaders
Our world needs character-driven leaders who embody Senator John McCain’s legacy of serving a cause greater than oneself.
Without passionate, inspired and character-driven leaders, we simply cannot thrive as a nation or global community. Changing Futures provides an important opportunity for the McCain Institute to grow its leadership programs, including the McCain Global Leaders program and National Security and Counterterrorism (NSCT) Fellowship.
The McCain Global Leaders program boasts an alumni network of over 115 individuals from 73 countries, including hotspots such as Taiwan, Ukraine, Venezuela and Sudan.
“This program is creating a global network of mavericks. Together, they are building a better world,” says Farkas. Structured as a 12-month fellowship and immersive learning experience, each cohort includes a diverse group of leaders from around the world who are working to advance democracy, human rights, and freedom.
The NSCT Fellowship is also creating a vibrant network of global leaders, with a special focus on those who have demonstrated their commitment to national security and public service. The program prepares these individuals for future leadership opportunities and builds a professional network that connects them in a meaningful and enduring way.
The NSCT Fellowship’s substantive focus on extremism and counterterrorism differentiates it from other leadership programs. The fellowship has supported 73 fellows within and outside of government service, fully reflecting the diversity of background and experience that exists across the Five Eyes partner nations — women and men of distinction and exceptional character.
Convening global voices for critical dialogue
The Sedona Forum was special to Senator McCain, more so than any other event. This annual gathering of national and international leaders in Sedona, Arizona provides a unique opportunity for world leaders to have open and constructive discussions about real solutions to the world’s most complex challenges. The Sedona Forum stands for the power and potential of coming together despite differences and striving for a world that is safer, more prosperous and with freedom and rights for all. As we face today’s urgent challenges head-on, we must preserve and strengthen this unique, bipartisan forum.
Lean In Founder Sheryl Sandberg and Panzi
Hospital and Foundation President and Founder Dr. Denis Mukwege speak about combating sexual violence as weapons of war at the 2024 Sedona Forum.
Senator McCain’s life was spent “in the arena” fighting for democracy, human dignity and security for a world that is free, safe and just for all people. He recognized that the deep-seated desire for liberty and justice in people under repressive regimes is a potent force for change and that we must support, encourage and defend that desire wherever we can.
Keep up the fight for democracy, human rights and character-driven leadership. Together, we can create a bright future for America and the world.
Change futures by supporting
Empower community resilience
The McCain Institute will scale its work to advance democracy with a focus on countering authoritarian trends, restoring civil discourse and faith in institutions, reducing polarization and protecting election workers. It will maintain a bipartisan approach while taking principled stands when necessary, working with partners to share stories highlighting the stakes of losing democratic freedoms.
The McCain Institute takes an offensive stance against autocratic pressures, emphasizing actionable outcomes and practical support for democratic values. It leverages partnerships with ASU’s international network to influence U.S. policymakers and support democratic movements globally. Initiatives include a Fighting for Freedom Task Force comprising experts who will develop strategies to combat illiberalism, high-level U.S. delegations to frontline democracies and human rights hotspots and a Freedom for Political Prisoners Initiative that advocates for wrongfully detained individuals worldwide.
Freedom from slavery is an essential human right, but millions continue to be trapped in exploitation globally. We work to prevent exploitation and hold perpetrators accountable by working with policymakers, survivors and other stakeholders to identify better policies and push for more effective enforcement. Program highlights include a Global Consortium on Prosecuting Human Trafficking, with top prosecutors from 18 countries working together, and engagement with the G-7 to advance policy action to combat human trafficking and forced labor around the world.
Each time a human rights defender is forced to abandon his or her work, a voice is silenced, and a repressive regime wins. The McCain Institute supports human rights defenders in distress by helping them settle into a safe environment and receive training on extra security precautions. The program also provides networking, career development and assistance in finding sustainable employment as a means to continue their human rights work. Through Changing Futures, the McCain Institute will establish the Human Rights Defenders Hub in partnership with ASU.
McCain Institute
Inspire tomorrow’s game changers
Each year, the McCain Global Leaders (MGL) program selects a diverse global cohort of exceptional leaders who are working “in the arena” to advance democracy, human rights and freedom. The program advances each participant’s personal and professional leadership journey and impact by providing training, resources and access to regional and global networks. MGLs participate in a yearlong leadership curriculum as well as experiential tours including capstone trips to Washington, D.C., and Vietnam, where the leaders trace Senator McCain’s leadership journey. Working to build a global cadre of informed, networked, effective leaders capable of driving change and reinforcing the foundations of democratic societies and human rights protections, the MGL program has supported more than 115 leaders from 73 countries and maintains an active alumni network and programming to support MGLs throughout their careers.
The National Security and Counterterrorism (NSCT) Fellowship advances the McCain Institute’s agenda to strengthen democracy through international engagement and cooperation. Participants have demonstrated their commitment to national security and counterterrorism in the Five Eyes partner nations. The program prepares these individuals for future leadership opportunities and builds a professional network that connects them in a meaningful and enduring way. The NSCT Fellowship’s substantive focus on extremism and counterterrorism differentiates it from other leadership programs. Executed in partnership with the Australian National University, the fellowship includes three weeklong visits to Five Eyes capitals: Washington, D.C., London, and Canberra. The fellowship has supported 73 fellows within and outside of government service, fully reflecting the diversity of background and experience that exists across the Five Eyes partner nations — women and men of distinction and exceptional character.
About Us
The McCain Institute is a nonpartisan organization inspired by Senator John McCain and his family’s dedication to public service. We are part of Arizona State University and based in Washington, D.C. Our programs defend democracy, advance human rights and freedom, and empower character-driven leaders. Our unique power to convene leaders across the global political spectrum enables us to make a real impact on the world’s most pressing challenges. Our goal is action, not talk, and like Senator McCain, we are fighting to create a free, safe, and just world for all.
ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.
ASU Charter