Atlas Network

Nicos Rompapas didn’t begin his career planning to run a think tank. He built a successful career in the private sector and believed good ideas would naturally win out over time. Then Greece’s financial crisis changed everything. As the country spiraled into economic collapse, free markets were blamed, populism surged, and the future of liberal democracy in Greece suddenly felt uncertain. That was the moment Nicos realized ideas don’t defend themselves. So he left the corporate world and devoted himself full-time to KEFiM, the Center for Liberal Studies in Greece. But many people doubted him. Some told him building an organization focused on economic freedom in Greece was impossible. Others said nobody wanted to hear classical liberal ideas anymore. He did it anyway. In those early years, Atlas Network helped KEFiM grow from a volunteer-driven effort into one of Greece’s most influential think tanks through training, mentorship, grant support, and connections to the global freedom movement. Today, KEFiM continues advancing economic freedom, tax reform, and data-driven policy solutions in Greece while helping shape the national conversation around liberty and reform. As Nicos explains: “Before deciding if you can succeed or not, you have to try.” Atlas Network supports courageous leaders who step forward when freedom needs defenders. Learn more and listen to the full episode at AtlasNetwork.org/podcasts

The Europe Liberty Award is more than recognition. It is part of Atlas Network’s long-term strategy to strengthen the worldwide freedom movement by identifying high-performing organizations, investing in their growth, and elevating their achievements as models for others. This year’s finalists are advancing freedom through institutional reform, economic freedom, and liberty-centered education: 🇹🇷 Freedom Research Association is defending democratic institutions and advancing structural reforms that strengthen accountability and the rule of law in Turkey. 🇪🇸 Institut Ostrom Catalunya is reducing government-imposed barriers to enterprise and helping create a freer environment for entrepreneurship and innovation. 🇱🇹 Lithuanian Free Market Institute is preparing the next generation to understand freedom not as an abstraction, but as lived responsibility and human agency. Through our Coach, Compete, Celebrate® approach, Atlas Network helps freedom champions: ✔ grow as leaders ✔ pursue bigger opportunities ✔ learn from peers across countries ✔ turn local victories into lasting momentum Freedom survives because people and institutions are willing to defend it, strengthen it, and pass it on to the next generation. Learn more at hubs.la/Q04g9NzX0

Ukraine’s future won’t just be rebuilt with roads and buildings. It will be rebuilt by young people who understand responsibility, opportunity, and economic freedom. That’s why Atlas Network partner Bendukidze Free Market Center is training educators, reaching thousands of students, and bringing engaging economic education into classrooms across Ukraine — even during war. Their programs have already: • Reached more than 100,000 students • Distributed over 50,000 economics textbooks • Trained hundreds of teachers • Expanded economic education opportunities across Ukraine As Nataliya Melnyk says: “Children are only 20% of the population, but they are 100% of our future.” Atlas Network supports courageous leaders building freer, more prosperous societies — one student at a time. Learn more about Nataliya, Bendukidze Free Market Center’s work and listen to the full episode — at f.mtr.cool/ijdrvidkxq

What does it take to win for liberty in Europe? At Europe #LibertyForum in Berlin, leaders are tackling three critical challenges: • Competing in the marketplace of ideas (Martin Ågerup) • Reaching beyond the echo chamber (Diana Năsulea) • Building credibility in complex political environments (Juan Pina) This isn’t just discussion—it’s where strategies are tested, refined, and shared across Atlas Network’s community of freedom champions. 📍 May 21–22 Full agenda: hubs.la/Q04fmzX20

Now Open: Leader Lab Applications 📣 🗓 November 7–9, 2026 📝 Applications: May 1 → June 6 If you’ve recently stepped into a leadership role—or are preparing to—apply today. hubs.la/Q04f9_DZ0

Atlas Network Academy is growing! 🚀 If you’re excited about the prospect of working with freedom champions from across the globe and have a passion for promoting free-market solutions through high quality virtual education experiences, this is the job for you. We’re hiring an Online Learning Associate who will play a vital role in delivering world-class trainings to our partners. Visit hubs.la/Q04dSdKX0 for more info on how to apply! 👈

Behind every major win for freedom is a team that knows how to sustain the fight. That’s why Atlas Network invests in leaders, not just ideas. 👉Kristy Koehler (Alberta Institute) called Fundraising 360 “the best of the 360 programs,” pointing to the mentorship and relationships that are already shaping how her team grows support for their work advancing freedom in Canada. 👉Houston Reese (California Policy Center) came at a pivotal moment in his career, and left with stronger relationships, sharper strategy, and the confidence to bring more supporters into the mission of limiting government overreach. 👉Ron Nate (Idaho Freedom Foundation) put it simply: Fundraising 360 is “a must” for organizations serious about strengthening their development capacity and scaling their impact. This is how Atlas Network strengthens the freedom movement: We connect principled leaders, raise their standards, and equip them to build the support they need to take on bigger fights. Fundraising 360 is the capstone of that process, where strategy, community, and ambition come together. 📅 Applications close May 11. If you’re building an organization that advances freedom and you’re ready to grow your impact, this is where you take the next step. Apply today: hubs.la/Q04dsrQQ0

From a college classroom to a nationwide movement—Jorge Velarde-Rosso is building the next generation of freedom champions in Bolivia. Through Libera Bolivia’s Leadership Incubator and new Accelerator, young leaders aren’t just learning ideas—they’re preparing to challenge government overreach, expand opportunity, and shape their country’s future. This is how Atlas Network strengthens the freedom movement: by investing in people who will carry the fight for liberty forward. Watch the full conversation at atlasnetwork.org/podcasts

We are honored to welcome Dr. Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer, as a keynote speaker at this year’s Europe Liberty Forum in Berlin, co-hosted with Prometheus, which will be held May 21-22, 2026. Under his leadership, Axel Springer has grown into one of the most influential digital publishing companies in the world, with major media brands including Politico, Business Insider, Bild, and Die Welt, reaching audiences across Europe and the United States. Operating across more than 40 countries, the company plays a central role in shaping public discourse on democracy, free expression, and the transatlantic relationship. Dr. Döpfner is not only a leading media executive, but a practitioner of the principles that underpin a free society, building and leading institutions that reflect a commitment to open markets, independent journalism, and democratic values. His perspective is informed by decades at the forefront of media, technology, and cultural change. In Berlin, he will share insights on the future of free expression, the role of media in democratic resilience, and Europe’s place in an increasingly complex global landscape. For a full list of speakers and the forum agenda visit: hubs.la/Q04d8QFH0

Discover new connections and powerful ideas at our Regional Liberty Forums and our Liberty Forum and Freedom Dinner in New York City. Your community for advancing freedom is here. Register or get updates: hubs.la/Q04d8y8Z0 #LibertyForum #AtlasNetwork

Attention Leader Lab Alumni 📣 Applications close this week for the Mid-Level Mentorship Program—the next step in your leadership journey. You’ve already built the foundation. Now you're navigating real challenges: managing teams, balancing priorities, leading up, and delivering results. This program is designed for *that* stage. → Monthly cohort sessions with seasoned leaders → Real-time problem solving with peers → Practical tools you can apply immediately This isn’t more theory. It's intentional support while you lead. Spots are limited. Apply by April 19. Details are in your email. Reach out to Alex Sloane if you have additional questions. 👀Not a Leader Lab alum? 👉Explore our leadership courses and learn how we equip young professionals to grow as effective leaders. hubs.la/Q04c59XD0

Students for Liberty is developing a global network of young leaders advancing the ideas of a free society that now spans more than 100 countries. For many of those leaders, that journey doesn’t stop at ideas. As their work grows, they take on the challenge of building organizations: think tanks, policy groups, and grassroots efforts that can carry those ideas forward in lasting ways. That’s where Atlas Network comes alongside them. As part of a broader ecosystem working to advance freedom, we partner with leaders in their own countries and help strengthen their organizations through training, funding, and long-term collaboration. Over time, that work compounds. Organizations grow stronger. New efforts take shape. And as these leaders expand their impact, they inspire others and strengthen the foundations of freedom together across the world. This is how a worldwide movement for freedom grows. 🌱 Learn more at hubs.la/Q04bT6b20

On this week's episode of our Atlas Network podcast with Michael Carnuccio, we are joined by Izabela Patriota, Director of Development for Ladies of Liberty Alliance (LOLA), who shares how LOLA advocates for private solutions that let individuals make their own choices without government interference.

Learn more about Alexander's journey from his appearance on our Atlas Network Podcast with Michael Carnuccio: atlasnetwork.org/articles/georg…

We’re proud to announce the Toast to Freedom speaker in Berlin: Alexander Zibzibadze of Georgia’s Future Academy 🥂 At a pivotal moment for freedom in Georgia, Alexander represents one of the most formidable rising leaders in the movement today. Under his leadership, Georgia’s Future Academy has become a frontline force against authoritarianism—mobilizing more than 2,000 election observers to counter fraud, building the country’s largest pro-liberty youth network of 5,000+ alumni, and reaching millions with messages that challenge state-driven narratives. This work has earned global recognition. Georgia’s Future Academy was awarded both the 2025 Europe Liberty Award and Atlas Network’s highest honor—the Templeton Freedom Award—underscoring the scale, courage, and effectiveness of their efforts. As pressure mounts on civil society in Georgia, Alexander and his team are not retreating—they are raising the standard for what principled leadership looks like in the fight for a free future. Join us in Berlin to hear directly from one of the leaders shaping that future. Learn more about our forum here: hubs.la/Q049v_5_0 🇩🇪

Most reforms passed despite Milei holding a tiny minority in Congress. Early results built public trust—and set the stage for stronger electoral support.

And then—we celebrate. 💃 Because when freedom advances, it deserves to be recognized. 🏆 In Lima, that meant honoring leaders who are turning ideas into real results. Instituto Sivis took the stage as this year’s Smart Bets winner, earning support to take their work advancing freedom of speech in Brazil. And Instituto Liberal de São Paulo (ILISP) was recognized with the Latin America Liberty Award for helping millions work and live in the formal economy. 🇧🇷 These moments aren’t symbolic. They set the standard. They show what’s possible, and challenge others across the network to aim higher. And yes, there’s energy. There’s joy. There’s a toast to freedom. 🥂 Because this is what it looks like when people fighting for freedom find each other, and realize they’re not alone. 🤝 Learn more about our upcoming regional liberty forums and our Liberty Forum and Freedom Dinner in New York by visiting: hubs.la/Q049wWD00 We can't wait to celebrate the freedom movement's changemakers alongside you.

What does it look like when nearly 200 freedom champions from across Latin America, and beyond, come together to get sharper, bolder, and more effective? 🇵🇪 Last month in Lima, leaders from across the region gathered to wrestle with real challenges: the future of free trade, political shifts reshaping Latin America, and how to advance reform in countries facing deep uncertainty. From conversations on Venezuela’s trajectory to debates about sustaining long-term policy change, this wasn’t a typical conference. It was a room full of people actively working to strengthen the rule of law, expand economic freedom, and push back against failed policies in their own countries. In rooms like this, ideas are tested against reality. Assumptions are challenged. And leaders leave better prepared for the fights ahead. This is what it looks like when a community pushes each other toward excellence. This is where leaders sharpen their strategies and prepare to win real gains for freedom.🤝 Visit hubs.la/Q049nXXZ0 to catch more highlights from Lima!

Jamil Assis' motivation to fight for free speech in Brazil is deeply personal—ensuring his children grow up where ideas can be freely discussed. Seeing his deaf wife face barriers to communication highlights why true access to free speech must include everyone.

Atlas Network Academy is growing! 🚀 We’re hiring an Online Learning Associate who will play a vital role in delivering world-class trainings to our partners. Visit hubs.la/Q048z2vQ0 for more info on how to apply.