Our History, Mission,
and Values
How a small gathering in Jackson Hole became a global community of Christian leaders advancing God-inspired economic solutions.
From Jackson Hole to the World
In 2011, the Christian Economic Forum began with a simple idea: gather like-minded global leaders and openly discuss some of the world's greatest challenges.
We convened in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and met in the same building where the Federal Reserve Bank would meet just weeks later. Our goal for the very first forum was to create a mutual platform for open dialogue.
All the delegates voted to do it again the following year, and each asked to bring a guest. Thus, the Christian Economic Forum was born.
The early days of CEF in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
We met four consecutive years in Wyoming, and since then, we've met in countries all over the world: Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, the Netherlands, and cities across the United States.
Along the way, CEF has grown from an annual gathering into a close-knit community of some of the world's top Christian leaders in business, as well as government, nonprofits, and academic sectors.
CEF has grown from a small group of friends into a tight-knit global network of more than 500 leaders from 40+ nations.
We like to say that we're a group of high achievers with a higher calling.
We believe that leaders are natural problem solvers, and by accelerating the good work that they're already doing, the world can be radically impacted.
We've learned over the years that we truly are better together.
Our Members from more than 40 nations are impacting some of the most critical areas that are currently affecting our society, from food security, human trafficking, and refugee crises to groundbreaking technologies, job creation, and impact investing.
In a world that is desperate for hope and looking for leadership, the CEF Community is taking on some of the world's greatest challenges head-on through practicing the economics of righteousness.
Advancing God-Inspired Solutions
Advancing God-inspired economic solutions to global challenges.
Our Members are entrepreneurs building companies, investors deploying capital, innovators developing solutions, and leaders shaping outcomes across industries and nations. They are motivated by a desire to advance solutions that bring honor to God.
Many have felt like they live between two worlds. In their church or ministry community, they're seen primarily as donors rather than leaders with a calling to the marketplace. Among their business peers, their conviction that what they're building serves a purpose larger than themselves may not be understood.
CEF is where those worlds come together.
Our Theory of Change
We don't directly solve problems. We convene and connect the leaders who do.
The process is simple and intentional: we bring together curated Members in a high-trust culture. That culture creates space for genuine friendships. Those friendships become the foundation for accelerated collaboration. And from that collaboration comes God-inspired solutions.
Where CEF Fits
The space of Christian business leaders has grown over the past decade, with many excellent organizations serving distinct roles. Some focus on inspiration and activation, others on deploying capital, and others on helping leaders run their businesses more effectively.
CEF holds a unique place: a neutral, global platform where friendship leads to collaboration. We don't manage a fund, promote an agenda, or seek to aggregate power. We create the conditions where people of extraordinary capability, conviction, and shared values connect to build God's Kingdom together.
The Culture That Makes It Work
From the beginning, CEF has been defined by a set of cultural distinctives that keep the community strong. Our Members reflect these values in how they engage, and we curate and qualify our membership around them.