The National Italian American Foundation, Washington DC

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Americans of Italian descent, the nation’s fifth largest ethnic group. Founded in 1975, it is entirely non-partisan and headquartered in the nation’s capital.

As a unified and effective Washington voice for this community, NIAF provides educational and scholarship opportunities, as well as programs and activities, to help our young people. One such program, the Ambassador Peter F. Secchia Voyage of Discovery, has helped hundreds of Italian American college students visit Italy for the first time. Our Students to Leaders and Graduates to Leaders programs help high school and college students pursue careers in communications, law and other fields by providing informational forums and networking with Italian American professionals.

The Foundation also serves as a liaison between the Italian American community and the U.S. Congress, the White House and government agencies, while also promoting the appointment of qualified Italian Americans in the government. The NIAF Frank J. Guarini Public Policy Forum and NIAF Public Policy Lecture Series are two programs that feature distinguished speakers discussing important topics of the day. Past keynote speakers have included Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, Jr., Chairman of the U.S. Securities Exchange Christopher Cox, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.

Additionally, NIAF works to ensure a realistic portrayal of Italian Americans in the media and the arts; serves as a liaison between Italy and the United States by promoting cultural, educational, economic, and political cooperation; and serves as a clearing house of information on Italy and on Americans of Italian descent.

Each year, NIAF’s Anniversary Convention and Gala attracts thousands of guests to Washington, D.C., for an evening of Italian food, wine, and culture that honors the contributions of outstanding Italian Americans to this organization and the world at large.