2025 Michael J. Gerson Memorial Prize Event

Overview

Michael J. Gerson—beloved White House speechwriter and senior policy adviser, and Washington Post columnist—brought wisdom, moral clarity, and uncommon grace to our public life.

The Trinity Forum, with support from the College Board and the Haslam Foundation, is honored to carry forward his legacy through the newly created Michael J. Gerson Memorial Prize for Excellence in Writing on Faith and Public Life.

The Prize honors and celebrates emerging writers whose work reflects Michael’s conscience, courage, and hope. The announcement of the first honoree, chosen by our selection committee who joined us for a panel discussion, was held on the evening of November 19, 2025 at the Washington National Cathedral.

“Conscience, Courage and Craft: The Duty of the Writer in an Age of Confusion,”

with

Peter Wehner, chair

David Brooks

Christine Emba

Russell Moore

Karen Swallow Prior

Learn more about Michael and the Prize here.

With thanks to our sponsors:

$25,000 sponsors:
President and Mrs. George W. and Laura Bush
The Honorable and Mrs. Don and Penny Evans
The Gates Foundation
The Honorable and Mrs. Joel and Laura Kaplan
More Perfect

$10,000 sponsors:
The Honorable and Mrs. Josh and Ann Bolten
Mr. and Mrs. David and Katherine Bradley
The Honorable and Mrs. Stephen J. and Ann Hadley
The Krauthammer Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation
The University of Pennsylvania’s Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society

$5,000 sponsors:
Mr. David Campaigne with BlueTrust
Professor John DiIulio, Jr.
The Honorable Sara Fagen
The Honorable Ari Fleischer
The Honorable Karen and Mr. Jerry Hughes
The Honorable and Mrs. Frank R. and Deborah S. Jimenez
The Honorable Ann Thomas (AT) and Mr. Murray Johnston
The Honorable Harriet Miers
The Honorable and Mrs. Edmund and Karen Moy
The Honorable Dr. Condoleezza Rice
Sagamore Institute
Mr. Greg Shaw
Mr. Fred Smith
The Honorable Margaret Spellings
The Honorable Charity Wallace

Other sponsors:
Aspen Institute — Religion & Society
Council for Christian Colleges & Universities
The Honorable Gregg and Reverend Julie Petersmeyer
Redeeming Babel
The Honorable Karl Rove

Interested in sponsoring a future event? Contact Trinity Forum Partnerships Director Campbell Vogel.