COMMUNITY PROJECTS

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY PROJECT?

Throughout Leadership Niagara's flagship Community Leadership Development Program, participants develop their competencies and skills in a number of areas. The cornerstone of the program is participation in an Experiential Learning Project with a Community Partner. In small teams of 3-5 people, our participants collaborate to support a local community not-for-profit organization in addressing a challenge or working on a project the organization has identified.

This learning activity benefits both our participants and the community organizations they work with.

Working as a team allows participants to:

• Apply the program learnings to a real situation in Niagara to become effective change leaders
• Develop an increased understanding of Niagara’s communities, people, and sectors
• Collaborate with a diverse group of community leaders
• Develop their personal community leadership acumen
• Gain an understanding of a local not-for-profit organization, learn about its role in supporting the local community, and understand the challenges and opportunities it faces.

Your organization will collaborate with a network of professionals who will:

• Bring fresh outlooks to your team and provide creative ideas for addressing your challenge or project
• Apply expertise from diverse professional backgrounds
• Community partners will ideally submit a challenge or project that:
  • Will be addressed over a 6-8 month period (participants will begin during November and complete the bulk of the work by May)
  • Encourages participants to learn about the organization and community they are assisting

DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION QUALIFY FOR A COMMUNITY PROJECT?

If you are a not-for-profit group, charity, or service club in Niagara, you are eligible for free assistance with a project through Leadership Niagara's community projects.

Leadership Niagara has finished accepting applications for our 2025-26 Community Leadership Development Program (CLDP), but we will be accepting applications next spring for the 2026-27 CLDP.

Our program participants represent a wide range of organizations in Niagara and come with a variety of skills. Working collaboratively with your organization, our project teams can assist your organization in working through a challenge or project. Your organization will collaborate with a network of professionals who will:

• Bring fresh outlooks to your team
• Provide creative ideas for addressing your challenge or project
• Apply expertise from diverse, professional backgrounds

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR IN AN APPLICATION?

Each year, Leadership Niagara receives applications from numerous community groups with a wide range of current and relevant needs and challenges. These may include support for review of your business, marketing, strategic, engagement, or communication plans. The key is that the project is a collaboration between your organization and the CLDP participants and will be substantially completed within a 6-to-8-month time period. If selected, your organization could receive support from CLDP participants who will work with you on a community project of your choice starting November 2025.

HOW CAN I SUBMIT AN APPLICATION?

To submit your community project application, feel free to either fill out the application form by clicking the Apply Now button below or at the top of this page, or you may email our Executive Director at eamaro@leadershipniagara.ca.