Kick-start your leadership journey.

Leadership Fort Wayne is an nine-month program that consists of:

• A two-day orientation (typically in January).
• Eight immersive program days (one full day per month, typically February-September) where area leaders and experts provide in-depth insights about the community and its history, institutions, socioeconomic composition, and current issues.
• Teaming up with a local nonprofit to develop a Community Action Project (CAP).
• Increasing your awareness, understanding, and appreciation for community organizations and services.
• Learning cutting-edge leadership concepts with practical, real-world application and practice.
• An optional internship on a nonprofit board of directors.

The purpose of Leadership Fort Wayne is to train, prepare, and inspire individuals to positively impact greater Fort Wayne-Allen County through meaningful engagement.

We do this by:

• Instilling an understanding of community trusteeship and a lifelong commitment to community service.
• Providing information about the community: its history, people, strengths, challenges, and opportunities.
• Delivering opportunities to practice leadership skills and utilize knowledge gained through intentional and best-practice leadership training.
• Creating opportunities for networking and connections that benefit participants personally and professionally.

Leadership Fort Wayne welcomes emerging to seasoned leaders positioned at any level in their career.

All participants must:

• Currently be working and/or living in the greater Fort Wayne area.
• Have full support from their employer or sponsoring organization.
• Possess the ability to achieve professional, personal, and program goals.
• Have the necessary time and resources to commit to each program day, Community Action Project (CAP) work, and, if applicable, an internship on a local nonprofit board.

Participants are expected to make a commitment to the program, including:

• Attending the mandatory two-day orientation in January.
• Attending at least 75% of the remaining eight monthly, full-day sessions (February-September).
• In addition to completing pre-work class assignments, class members will work on a team to complete a Community Action Project and, if applicable, serve as an intern on a local nonprofit board.

Each month, participants meet for a “program day,” getting behind-the-scenes looks at the building blocks of our community, featuring insights from key leaders. These topics are:

• Community history.
• Arts and recreation.
• Education.
• Inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.
• Public safety.
• Health services.
• Government and economic development.
• Community agencies.

Key dates for the Class of 2024 (subject to change) include:

Application deadline: Oct. 16, 2023

Selection day – cohort members notified: Nov. 17, 2023

Virtual Meet & Greet event: Jan. 4, 2024

Orientation: Jan. 18-19, 2024

Program days in 2024: 

• Feb. 15
• March 21
• April 18
• May 16
• June 20
• July 11
• Aug. 15
• Sept. 19

Graduation: Oct. 9, 2024 at the Leadership Fort Wayne Alumni Breakfast

Tuition fees are:

• $2,500 for employees of GFW Inc. investor companies.
• $3,000 for employees of non-investor companies and individuals.

Tuition may be paid by an employer, a sponsoring organization, or the participant. A limited number of sponsorships to underwrite program days or Designated Seat sponsorships are available to GFW Inc. investors only. Sponsorships are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Email Meghan Short at mshort@gfwinc.com to learn more.