Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Fort Wayne’s most iconic institutions and connect with influential community leaders.
Leadership Fort Wayne
Discover Your Leadership Potential with Leadership Fort Wayne
No matter where you are on your leadership journey—whether you’re an emerging leader, a seasoned professional, or navigating the space in between—Leadership Fort Wayne empowers you to elevate your impact. For over 40 years, we’ve inspired individuals to embrace our community, drive meaningful change, and grow as leaders through a unique and transformative experience.
What sets Leadership Fort Wayne apart?
Inside Access
Valuable Skills
Develop your leadership abilities in a dynamic, fast-paced, and engaging learning environment designed to inspire growth.
Practical Experience
Apply your skills through hands-on community action projects in partnership with local nonprofits.
A Powerful Network
Join a thriving network of more than 1,600 Leadership Fort Wayne alumni who continue to shape the future of our community.
Step into a program that’s not just about leadership—it’s about community, connection, and making a lasting impact. Are you ready to lead with purpose?
Program Overview
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.
Program Day Topics
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:
Purpose
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.
Program fees are:
- $2,500 for employees of GFW Inc. investor companies.
- $3,000 for employees of non-investor companies and individuals.
Program fees 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 in January of each program year. Email Meghan Short at mshort@gfwinc.com to learn more.
LFW Application
Applications for the 2025 cohort are closed. Please check back in September for details about our 2026 cohort.