The Niagara Community Foundation was part of the Steering Committee of local leaders who created Leadership Niagara in 2007 in response to a distinct need to identify, nurture and grow future leaders within each sector of our community. Today, Leadership Niagara is a community-owned initiative supported by Niagara’s most-recognized organizations and businesses, all of which are dedicated to building stronger leaders within our community.

Leadership Niagara (LN) is an innovative program that brings together individuals who are recognized as emerging and aspiring leaders in the public, private and not-for profit sectors of our community. LN provides opportunities for participants to explore and strengthen their leadership skills, develop a new-found network of meaningful contacts, and learn more about the outstanding characteristics and challenges of our community.

Each year, 30 to 40 applicants are selected into the program, which begins with an opening retreat, followed by a series of eight workshops between September and June. In addition, participants are divided into work teams where they’re responsible for the completion of a community project. Successful graduates join a growing network that’s dedicated to ensuring a stronger, healthier, more vibrant Niagara.

The Niagara Community Foundation provides over $5,000 in annual bursaries to program participants from the voluntary sector.