The Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress established the National Consortium for Character-Based Leadership in 2005. The Consortium seeks to develop and disseminate creative approaches to character and leadership education by facilitating dialogue among educators and representatives from vocations such as government, business, health, and sports. The foundational basis for the Consortium is that good character—defined as a knowledge and love of the good—and good leadership—through which individuals create positive change in their communities—must be taught together. To teach leadership without character is dangerous, while teaching character without leadership leaves the next generation unprepared to face its responsibilities and opportunities to make the world a better place.

The National Consortium held its second conference on February 1-2, 2008, at Georgetown University, convening teachers, administrators, academics, and professional leaders for two days of discussions on the nature of, and best methods for, teaching character-based leadership. The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Kennedy Institute for Ethics, Woodstock Theological Center and the Center for Leadership and Applied Ethics hosted the conference.

The National Consortium is currently building a web forum to facilitate dialogue on this topic and offer a web-based menu of resources for high school and college educators nationwide. The web forum will include teaching guides, case studies, a regularly updated blog, in-depth profiles of standout character and leadership programs, and lively discussion rooms.