Wherever you are on your leadership journey–emerging, seasoned, or somewhere in between–our Leadership Fort Wayne program can help you reach your full potential. For more than 40 years, we have inspired leaders to embrace the community, get involved, and drive positive change.
Applications for the 2025 cohort are now open. To complete your application, please review the information below.
Join our next cohort to get:
INSIDE ACCESS
Go behind the scenes to meet some of the city’s iconic institutions and leaders.
VALUABLE SKILLS
Grow your abilities in a fast-paced, engaging, and inspirational learning environment.
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
Put your skills to work in a community action project with local nonprofit partners.
A POWERFUL NETWORK
Connect with the LFW alumni network–more than 1,500 members strong.
Leadership Fort Wayne is a nine-month program that consists of:
- A two-day orientation 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:
- Be currently working and/or living in Allen County.
- 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
- Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility
- Government and Economic Development
- Health Services
- Education
- Community Agencies
- Public Safety
- Arts and Recreation
Key dates for the Class of 2025 (subject to change) include:
Application opens: Sept. 9, 2024
Application deadline: Oct. 21, 2024
Selection day – cohort members notified: Mid/Late November 2024
Virtual Meet & Greet event: Jan. 8, 2025
Orientation: Jan. 16 & 17, 2025
Program days in 2025: Eight immersive program days (one full day per month from February-September)
- Feb. 20
- March 20
- April 17
- May 15
- June 12*
- July 17
- August 21
- Sept. 18
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*Note: Program days typically occur on the Third Thursday of every month. Any dates off this pattern will accommodate for holidays and/or GFW Inc. conferences.
Graduation: Oct. 8 during the Annual 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 a participant, employer/organization, or sponsoring individual(s). A limited number of Designated Seat Sponsorships are available to GFW Inc. investors only on a first-come, first-served basis. Community and alumni support also makes it possible to offer limited financial assistance to those in need, removing barriers to participation and encouraging greater diversity and inclusion for individuals of all abilities.
Payment is due in full before the program Orientation on January 16, 2025. Email Meghan Short at mshort@gfwinc.com to learn more.
Here’s a sneak peek at the insights you’ll get from Leadership Fort Wayne:
The Leadership Fort Wayne Class of 2025 Applications have closed. Please contact Meghan Short at mshort@gfwinc.com for questions.
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