Leadership Raleigh Class Guidelines
 
1. Attendance: To graduate from Leadership Raleigh, it is expected that you will attend all sessions in their entirety. Attendance at Orientation, Retreat and Graduation are mandatory. Failure to attend, requires withdrawal from the program. Note: there is one excused class absence and the invitation to attend or “switch” to attend the other class once to avoid loss of content and peer interaction. All requests must be submitted via email at the participant’s earliest convenience.

2. Non- Refundable Program Tuition: If a participant withdraws or is dismissed from the program at any time for any reason, the participant shall not be entitled to have any portion of their tuition refunded. Class tuition is non-transferable to another person or from one program year to the next.
 
3. Class Schedule: The eight topic specific classes will typically follow this schedule: meet at Lot-27, located at 502 New Bern Ave (Corner of New Bern and East) by 8:45 a.m. to board the bus for a day of programming that will conclude at 5 p.m. At 5 we will board the charter bus to return to Lot-27 by 5:15.
  • Retreat: overnight accommodation is included as part of the class tuition as well as designated meals and parking. Mileage and supplemental meals and entertainment are not included in the class tuition.
  • Report Session & Graduation: overnight accommodation and meals are included as part of your tuition. Mileage and incidentals are not included and will need to be covered by the individual
  • Guests: The program is designed for you and your classmates. Please do not invite guests to attend Leadership Raleigh activities. This is so that you may fully focus on the program and networking. Special Note: alumni may attend the class session that they help to plan.
  • Attire: Dress for Leadership Raleigh is business casual. Individual sessions may call for business attire (graduation) or casual (for any outdoor programming). The class agenda will be distributed in advance with recommendations for appropriate attire.
  • Class Materials: All class material will be sent electronically and stored in a ShareFile – uploaded throughout the program year.
  • Class Evaluations: To continuously improve the Leadership Raleigh program, you will be asked to complete an evaluation at different stages of the program year.

4. Project Team: As part of participation, in addition to the eight class days, each participant is placed into a project team to complete a service project that benefits the community with a local non-profit prior to graduation. This pairing and process is described in detail at the Retreat.
 
5. Conduct:  Any conduct that that discriminates, threatens, intimidates, or coerces on any basis a Leadership Raleigh participant, Raleigh Chamber employee, alumni advisory committee member, volunteer, visitor or a member of the public involved in Leadership Raleigh activities at any time, including not only Leadership Raleigh class dates, but also non-business and/or social functions associated with Leadership Raleigh Program, will not be tolerated and will result in immediate dismissal from the program. Any individual who believes that they have been subject to this conduct should immediately report the behavior or concern to the VP of Leadership Development or if the complaint involves the VP of Leadership Development, Amy Fowler the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce CFO.
 
6. Meals:  Your class tuition includes lunch during the program year. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know in advance so that we may make the necessary arrangements.
 
7. Accommodations: Please contact the Director of Leadership Development regarding accommodations. It is our intent that Leadership Raleigh is accessible and accommodates every participant to fully engage.
 
8. Phone Calls: As a courtesy to our speakers and fellow classmates, mobile devices should be in silent mode during session and used only during class breaks.
 
9. Participation: You are strongly encouraged to participate and share your thoughts and views during each session and afterwards.
 
10. Confidentiality: Candid discussions and exchange of opinions and ideas are made possible by the expectation that participants will treat all comments made during any class as confidential. Participants agree to treat the comments of speakers, presenters, and participants as confidential. While participants are free to share any ideas they learn with non-class participants, participants agree that they will not attribute any substance of such comments from a program session to a non-program participant.
 
11. Media: When you attend a Leadership Raleigh event or program, you enter an area where interviews, photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By entering the event premises, and in consideration of the benefit to be derived by you through your attendance at the event, you consent to interviews, photography, audio recording, and video recording, and to display, publicly perform, exhibit, transmit, broadcast, reproduce, record, photograph, digitize, modify, alter, edit, adapt, create derivative works, exploit, sell, rent, license, otherwise use and permit others to use, your name, image, likeness, appearance, voice, and other personal characteristics, and all materials created by or on behalf of the Raleigh Chamber or its affiliates that incorporate any of the foregoing (“Materials”), on a perpetual basis throughout the world and in any medium or format whatsoever now existing or hereafter created, including but not limited to, in and on magazines, brochures and other print publications, electronic, magnetic and optical media, television broadcasts, radio broadcasts, press releases, the internet, for any purpose, including but not limited to advertising, public relations, publicity, packaging and promotion of the Chamber and its affiliates and their activities and services, without further consent from you, approval by you, or royalty, payment or other compensation to you. You waive and release the Raleigh Chamber, its affiliates, and its and their directors, officers, employees, members, and sponsors, and each and all persons involved, from any liability in connection with the foregoing matters to which you have given your consent. You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver, and release before entering the event.
Thank you to our Leadership Raleigh sponsors!

2024-25 Leadership Raleigh Retreat Sponsors

2024-25 Leadership Raleigh Class Day Sponsors

2024-25 Leadership Raleigh Class Socials Sponsors

2024-25 Leadership Raleigh Class Coffee Sponsors

2024-25 Leadership Raleigh Graduation Sponsor

    Leadership Raleigh Application

    Leadership Raleigh Program Overview
    Celebrating 55 years of developing leaders, Leadership Raleigh is one of the oldest sustained community leadership programs in the nation.

    Leadership Raleigh provides its participants an immersive community experience that explores both issues and opportunities facing our region through presentations, panels, behind the scenes tours, experiential learning and civic engagement.

    With an expansive network of over 2,000 distinguished alumni, Leadership Raleigh continues a proud tradition of connecting and inspiring leaders to strengthen our region through the lens of our collective quality of life and how each class day’s theme impacts our economic growth, vibrancy and development of our region. We lead, we educate, we serve, we engage, and we grow.

    This transformational program includes an orientation, retreat, monthly sessions and graduation over the course of ten-months.
    Specifically, Leadership Raleigh provides a unique opportunity to:

    • Explore the history and current issues that impact our region
    • Discover and experience the rich history and culture of our region
    • Connect and interact with prominent business, civic and elected leaders
    • Select and engage in team projects with a local nonprofit partner adding to our decade’s long community impact
    ​
    What Will My Company Gain from Participating?
    A better, more connected leader. The program offers unique opportunities to meet fellow community leaders, establish connections and expand one’s circle of influence while learning a great deal about themselves and our community. These experiences provide pathways for participants to have a broader and more profound understanding of Raleigh, Wake and our Region, a deeper appreciation for civic engagement and an increased awareness of myriad ways to become effective contributors to the future success of our thriving community. Participants gain a heightened appreciation of the value of collaboration and servant leadership while honing their leadership skills.

    It’s imperative that we learn to work as a collective, cohesive body with a holistic understanding of our community’s needs and opportunities. Companies and organizations that invest in developing leaders stand to grow their foundation of a strong local network while deepening their connections to the community with the benefit of strengthening the commitment of leaders who participate in the program.
     
    LR51 and 52 Program Application
    Tuition for the 2025-2026 program year is $3,750. Tuition will be billed upon notification of acceptance at the end of June and a 50% deposit will be due by August 15, prior to the Orientation to ensure participation. The remaining balance will be due prior to September 12 for accepted participants to remain in the program. Payment plans may be arranged in unique circumstances.

    Tuition covers the cost of class day travel, meals, and lodging for both the out-of-town retreat and graduation. Tuition does not include mileage for the retreat or graduation, or any incidentals incurred during travel or class days.

    Please review the schedule, time commitment, and selection criteria before proceeding with the application.

    Some organizations have an internal process for selecting their applicant(s) for LR. It is recommended that you check with the individual or the department that oversees this process prior to completing the application to make sure you are following your organization’s protocol.
     
    Selection Criteria
    The Leadership Raleigh Review and Nominating Committee are Leadership Raleigh alumni. The committee seeks to identify individuals most likely to use their leadership abilities for the long-term benefit of Raleigh, our region and State as well as those that have demonstrated their want to participate. Class size is typically between 50 and 53, per class. Please note that space limitations will result in qualified candidates not being selected. Applicants who are not selected are encouraged to apply in subsequent years.

    Leadership Raleigh does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, religion, national origin or orientation. The committee will be seeking candidates that are well-rounded and represent our region.
     
    Application Deadline
    Completed application, one professional letter of recommendation and scholarship application (if applicable) are due before midnight on June 13, 2025.

    Applications will be reviewed from May to June and notifications will begin the last week of June into mid-July.
     
    Scholarships
    A limited number of partial scholarships are available through the John Freehafer Scholarship Fund to help candidates for whom the program fee presents a barrier to participate. These funds are for nonprofit & community as well as small and minority owned business leaders. The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Community Development Foundation that administers the John Freehafer Scholarship Fund may not be able to provide the full requested scholarship amount but will work with you to support your participation. Scholarships awarded generally range from $500 to $1,500.

    To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must submit the separate scholarship application along with the program application on/by the June 13, 2025 deadline.

    Scholarship applications are reviewed separately. Please note that applying for a scholarship will not impact the consideration of your program application.
     
    Program Schedule and Structure
    The dates and class themes are outlined below. You must indicate the class that works best for your schedule. You are granted one excused absence and the option to “switch” to attend the other class one time during the program. Each class will begin by 8:45 and wrap by 5:30 pm. Approximately, one week prior to class, you will receive a calendar invite, parking instructions and the class day agenda.

    Participation in the orientation, retreat and graduation are mandatory and cannot be counted as a “switch” as content is specific to the class you are attending.
     
    Leadership Raleigh Class 51
    • August 20 - Orientation
    • September 18-19, Opening Retreat, Hotel Ballast, Wilmington
    • October 2 – This is Raleigh
    • November 6 – Quality of Life & Place
    • December 4 – Education & Talent
    • January 8 – Economic Growth & Development
    • February 5 – Health & Human Services
    • March 5 – Government & Politics
    • April 2 – Justice & Public Safety
    • May 7 – Civic Education & Engagement
    • June 1-2 – Report & Graduation, the Graylyn, Winston-Salem
     
    Leadership Raleigh Class 52
    • August 20 - Orientation
    • September 22-23, Opening Retreat, Hotel Ballast, Wilmington
    • October 15 – This is Raleigh
    • November 19 – Quality of Life & Place
    • December 17 – Education & Talent
    • January 21– Economic Growth & Development
    • February 18– Health & Human Services
    • March 18– Government & Politics
    • April 15– Justice & Public Safety
    • May 20 – Civic Education & Engagement
    • June 3-4 – Report & Graduation, the Graylyn, Winston-Salem

    For both classes:
    • Two required local government meetings, choosing from:
      • Raleigh City Council Meeting
      • Wake County Commissioners Meeting
      • Wake County School Board Meeting
    • Optional activity, outside of class time:
      • Ride along with the City of Raleigh Police Department​
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    Application Submission
    Upon hitting submit, please confirm that you have received permission from your manager, director, employer to apply to participate in Leadership Raleigh. 
    *Upon clicking submit, you should be sent to a confirmation page.