Membership

Corporate Program

CFR’s Corporate Program links private-sector leaders with decision-makers from government, media, nongovernmental organizations, and academia to engage on the critical issues at the intersection of business and foreign policy.

Overview

Founded in 1953 with twenty-five corporate members, the Corporate Program now includes more than one hundred companies from various industries and regions of the world. Through CFR’s unmatched convening power, the program links private-sector leaders with decision-makers from government, media, nongovernmental organizations, and academia to discuss issues at the intersection of business and foreign policy.

Photo of two seated people on a stage.
CFR President Michael Froman in conversation with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga.

Through exclusive events and engagement with globally respected experts, executives at member companies expand their knowledge and understanding of international affairs and foreign policy as they relate to their business interests. These business leaders have access to the Council’s intellectual capital through briefings with CFR fellows, rapid-response discussions led by CFR fellows and other experts, Foreign Affairs magazine, and hundreds of meetings hosted each year virtually and in New York, Washington, and other major cities throughout the United States and around the world. 

Benefits of Corporate Membership

Corporate membership is available at three levels: Gold ($100,000), Silver ($75,000), and Bronze ($50,000). 

Executives from member companies are offered briefings with CFR fellows, invitations to events covering a wide range of foreign policy issues, and professional development opportunities for young professionals and rising executives. The highlight of the program year is the annual Corporate Conference, which addresses such topics as geopolitical risk, the global economic outlook, and technological innovation. Companies at the top levels of membership also have access to a series of exclusive events and communications designed expressly for CEOs, including an annual CEO Summit.

photo of a CFR Event
CFR’s Corporate Program prepares business leaders to face today’s global challenges.

Corporate Events

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Tara Hariharan of NWI Management LP, Nehad Chowdhury of Citigroup, Gregory Daco of EY, and CFR's Adjunct Senior Fellow Heidi Crebo-Rediker in conversation about the global economic outlook for 2024.

Corporate members are invited to hundreds of Council on Foreign Relations events featuring distinguished speakers throughout the year.

Members can join most meetings virtually or in person in CFR’s New York or Washington, DC, offices. Corporate members also have access to the program’s frequent high-level discussions on global issues relevant to the private sector, as well as in-person-only policy discussions in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle.

The Annual Corporate Conference

Open exclusively to CFR’s corporate members, the Corporate Conference provides candid, high-level dialogue on pressing issues affecting the private sector. Experts, including executives from member companies, share their knowledge and insight in conference panels and breakout sessions.

The twentieth annual Corporate Conference will be held on Thursday, April 3, and Friday, April 4, 2025. 

Series on Emerging Technology, U.S. Foreign Policy, and World Order: Patrick P. Gelsinger of Intel

Series on Emerging Technology, U.S. Foreign Policy, and World Order: Patrick P. Gelsinger of Intel

Fellow Briefings

An exclusive benefit of corporate membership, fellow briefings are discussions led by CFR fellows that are intended to provide a greater understanding of a particular topic or region. Each briefing is tailored to a company’s interests and can be held in person or virtually.

The many possible formats of a fellow briefing include a one-on-one meeting with the firm’s chief economist, a briefing designed for C-suite executives on cybersecurity, or a company-wide virtual brown-bag event on global trade policy.

Professional Development Opportunities

Through the Corporate Leadership Development Network (formerly the Corporate Leaders Program), Gold- and Silver-level companies have the opportunity to recognize highly-accomplished individuals on a senior management track. Once designated as “Corporate Leaders,” rising executives participate in the activities of the Stephen M. Kellen Term Member Program for a two-year term, in addition to having access to CFR’s general meetings, the Corporate Conference, and more. 

The Corporate Program also provides opportunities for early-career professionals to participate in CFR’s foreign policy conversations through select event invitations and special briefing that focus on critical global issues and professional development.

Contact

To learn more about corporate membership, contact the Corporate Program at [email protected] or 212.434.9684.