Leadership Greater Chicago

What Leadership Greater Chicago does

Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit civic leadership development organization founded in 1983 at the invitation of The Chicago Community Trust and headquartered at 303 E. Wacker Dr., Suite 2060, Chicago, Illinois. LGC serves accomplished cross-sector professionals — from corporate, nonprofit, government, and education sectors — through three core offerings: the yearlong Signature Fellows Program (running since 1985, with 1,400+ alumni), the Daniel Burnham Fellowship (a six-session accelerated program for senior executives launched in February 2019 and operated as a registered trademark), and the invitation-only Leadership Series discussion events on regional socioeconomic issues. The organization has cultivated a network of more than 1,600 Fellows including 590+ CEOs and 110+ current public officials, with 83% of Signature Fellows continuing to reside in the Illinois region after graduation.

LGC generates revenue through four streams: sponsoring organization contributions of $20,000 per Fellow from private sector and large nonprofit sponsors (with scaled pricing for smaller nonprofits, government institutions, and entrepreneurs), $1,500 individual Fellow contributions, donations and charitable contributions for scholarships and program development, and corporate sponsorships of the Leadership Series. Sponsorship commitments are structured as multi-year contracts payable in full before program commencement, and the organization supplements delivered programs with a digital platform — the LGC Fellows Network portal (launched October 2025, powered by Hivebrite) — that enables peer-to-peer connections, event registration, fellow-led convenings, and an opt-in AI-powered 'LGC Connect' introduction feature. LGC's go-to-market is relationship-led and invitation-driven: candidates are identified through existing Fellows, corporate partners, and community leaders rather than via mass marketing.

LGC operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees led by CEO Myetie Hamilton (appointed July 2023, the first Black American woman to lead the organization), supported by a Chief of Staff, Managing Director of Programs, Director of Programs, Director of Administration, Director of Marketing and Communications, and Manager of Marketing and Development Operations. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and a Leadership Fellows Association Board, with no parent company, no external equity funding, and no M&A activity. Impact is measured in civic terms: more than $5 million invested in leadership development historically, a $20M Xchange Chicago tech workforce hub, $450M mobilized for Pullman neighborhood revitalization, a $10M Chicago Prize, and $66M enabled for community violence intervention through the SC2 initiative.

Name

Leadership Greater Chicago

Legal name

Leadership Greater Chicago

Website

https://lgcchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Leadership Greater Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 that runs the yearlong Signature Fellows Program and the six-session Daniel Burnham Fellowship for cross-sector civic leaders in the Greater Chicago region, cultivating a network of 1,600+ Fellows including 590+ CEOs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Leadership Development

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inclusive Leadership & Leading Diverse Teams (EDABAAAM), Executive Leadership Summits (C-Suite, Board, Strategy Offsites) (THAHAMAA)

Keywords

• Civic leadership development
• Executive fellowship programs
• Nonprofit leadership training
• Cross-sector networking
• Community leadership initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Sponsoring Organization Contributions: Organizations sponsor Fellows through financial contributions - $20,000 for private sponsors and large nonprofits, scaled amounts for smaller nonprofits, government institutions, and entrepreneurs. This covers approximately 200 hours of leadership development, individual coaching, and network access.
2. Individual Fellow Contributions: Individual Fellows contribute $1,500 as part of their program participation, covering leadership development and network access.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and organizational donations support scholarship funding for non-corporate sector Fellows, curriculum enhancement, accessibility resources, and program development like the Leadership Series.
4. Corporate Sponsorship (Leadership Series): Organizations sponsor the Leadership Series to gain access to Chicago's most influential thought leaders and changemakers, with benefits including exposure to top business, government, philanthropy, and nonprofit leaders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Leadership Greater Chicago operates fellowship-based civic leadership development programs for accomplished cross-sector professionals in the Greater Chicago region. Its offerings include the yearlong Signature Fellows Program, the six-session Daniel Burnham Fellowship for senior executives, and the off-the-record Leadership Series discussions, complemented by an exclusive digital platform for alumni engagement.

Product overview

Leadership Greater Chicago operates as a civic leadership development organization offering two primary fellowship programs and a digital networking platform. The LGC Signature Fellows Program is a year-long premier civic leadership development experience that uses the city as a classroom, immersing cross-sector professionals in socioeconomic issues. The Daniel Burnham Fellowship is an accelerated six-session onboarding program for senior executives. The LGC Leadership Series provides off-the-record discussions on regional issues. The LGC Fellows Network is an exclusive digital platform powered by Hivebrite that enables peer connections, event registration, and collaborative activation among the organization's 1,600+ Fellows.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LGC Signature Fellows Program: Premier civic leadership development program designed for the region's most promising leaders, assembling diverse cross-sector leaders and leveraging the city as their classroom.
• The Daniel Burnham Fellowship
• Leadership Series
• LGC Fellows Network

Products and services

• LGC Signature Fellows Program Yearlong immersive civic leadership development program that assembles diverse cross-sector professionals and uses Chicago as a classroom to equip them with knowledge, networks, and skills to address regional socioeconomic challenges.
• The Daniel Burnham Fellowship Accelerated six-session civic onboarding experience designed for senior executive leaders to immerse them in Chicago's civic fabric, forge cross-sector relationships, and activate civic engagement impacting workforce and economic progress.
• LGC Leadership Series Off-the-record discussion series featuring top experts and policymakers addressing socioeconomic issues impacting the Chicago region, with a new theme each year; exclusively-invited to Fellows and Leadership Series Sponsors.
• LGC Fellows Network Exclusive digital platform powered by Hivebrite that enables LGC Fellows to connect with one another, register for events, host small-group convenings, and access AI-powered introductions to foster cross-sector partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• $450 million in public and private investments mobilized for Pullman neighborhood revitalization
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Advocate Health CarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting LGC's civic leadership development programs and Leadership Series events, providing sponsorship and access to healthcare sector leadership networks.
• Allstate InsurancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing sponsorship for civic leadership programs and fellowship opportunities.
• AoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner sponsoring LGC programs and Leadership Series, supporting leadership development initiatives.
• Ariel InvestmentscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting civic leadership development; Co-CEO John Rogers Jr. is a prominent LGC Fellow.
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor partner sponsoring candidates for Signature Fellows Program and providing pro bono consulting services. Managing Director Michelle Stohlmeyer Russell (LGC Fellow since 2009) accepted the 2025 Corporate Civic Leadership Award on behalf of BCG. Served as 2026 Corporate Chair of Celebrate Leaders event.
• BMOcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing sponsorship and supporting fellowship programs; U.S. CEO Darrel Hackett received 2026 Distinguished Fellow Award.
• CBREcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting LGC's civic leadership initiatives and programs.
• The Chicago Community TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of LGC in 1983; continues as key philanthropic partner supporting leadership development programs. President & CEO Andrea Sáenz is an LGC Fellow since 2009.
• ComEdcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and utility provider; SVP Melissa Washington (LGC Fellow since 2016) serves as LGC Board Chair.
• Ernst & Young, LLPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting LGC's civic leadership programs and initiatives.
• FHL Bank ChicagocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner sponsoring Leadership Series and fellowship programs; Cedric D. Thurman (LGC Fellow since 2008) represents FHLBank Chicago.
• Fifth Third BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting civic leadership development programs.
• W.W. Grainger, Inc.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing sponsorship; SVP Melanie Tinto serves as Daniel Burnham Fellow representing Grainger.
• GCM GrosvenorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting civic leadership initiatives and programs.
• Jenner & BlockcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and law firm; Managing Partner Wade Thomson (LGC Fellow since 2017) accepted the 2026 Corporate Civic Leadership Award. Received the award for demonstrated civic leadership through service and impact.
• JPMorganChasecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting leadership development; Midwest Regional Executive Damion Heron (LGC Fellow since 2018) serves on the Board of Directors.
• BlueCross BlueShield of IllinoiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting civic leadership programs and healthcare sector engagement.
• Metropolitan Family ServicescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit partner; President & CEO Ric Estrada is a prominent LGC Fellow; Domonique F. McCord serves as Chief Program Officer and LGC Fellow.
• Nicor GascoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner; President & CEO Wendall Dallas is a Daniel Burnham Fellow; provides tech job placements through Xchange Chicago partnership.
• Northern TrustcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner; EVP Kimberly Evans represents the firm; provides tech job placements through Xchange Chicago. Board member Stacey Bolton serves as Daniel Burnham Fellow.
• Old National BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting civic leadership development programs.
• McCormickcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting LGC's leadership development initiatives.
• Sidley Austin LLPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm partner providing sponsorship; multiple LGC Fellows including Partners Larry Fogel and Karim Basaria represent the firm.
• TranswesterncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner; Executive Managing Director Larry Serota (LGC Fellow since 2013) serves on the LGC Board.
• UChicago MedicinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partner; System Vice President Keisha Mullings-Smith serves as Daniel Burnham Fellow representing UChicago Medicine.
• United AirlinescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner; President Brett Hart (LGC Fellow) represents United; key civic engagement partner.
• Vistria GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner; CEO Martin Nesbitt and team engage with LGC programs and initiatives.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Coro: National nonprofit running immersive, cohort-based civic leadership training programs; directly comparable to LGC's experiential fellowship model developing cross-sector civic leaders.
• Leadership Greater Washington: Regional civic leadership organization with class-based fellowship programs building cross-sector leader networks in a major metro, mirroring LGC's Chicago-focused model.
• FUSE Corps: Nonprofit placing and developing executive leaders to solve civic and community challenges, overlapping with LGC's cross-sector civic activation mission.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Creative Leadership: Global leadership development provider offering executive programs; overlaps with LGC's leadership training offering though corporate rather than civic-focused.
• Aspen Institute (Global Leadership Network): Prestigious institution running values-based leadership fellowships for executives; overlaps with LGC's senior-executive civic leadership development but at national/global scale.

Regional players

• The Economic Club of Chicago: Chicago membership organization convening top business, civic, and government leaders; comparable to LGC's convening and elite-network function in the same market.
• Civic Consulting Alliance: Chicago nonprofit mobilizing cross-sector leaders and corporate partners to address regional civic challenges, sharing LGC's geography and cross-sector collaboration approach.

Emerging players

• New Leaders Council: Fellowship-based organization training emerging civic and political leaders through cohorts, comparable to LGC's application-based leadership pipeline.

Others

• The Chicago Community Trust: Community foundation that founded LGC in 1983 and remains a philanthropic partner; an ecosystem funder rather than a direct competitor.
• City Year: Civic service nonprofit (former employer of LGC's CEO) developing service leaders; thematically adjacent in civic leadership development but service-corps rather than fellowship model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leadership-greater-chicago
• Xx.com/lgcchicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Leadership Greater Chicago