Leadership Florida

What Leadership Florida does

Leadership Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit statewide leadership development organization founded in 1982 and headquartered at 3500 Financial Plaza, Suite 300, Tallahassee, Florida. Operating under the legal entity Leadership Florida Statewide Community Foundation Inc., the organization runs four class-based leadership programs: Cornerstone (for leaders age 40+), Connect (age 25-39), Education (K-12 education leaders), and Executive (bi-annual, for top executives new to Florida). Each program consists of nine months of multi-day sessions held across different Florida cities. Over 41 years the organization has engaged more than 3,500 leaders through a competitive application process spanning corporate, government, education, healthcare, nonprofit, and civic sectors across all nine Florida regions (Calusa, East Central, Gold Coast, Gulfstream, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, West Central).

The organization funds operations through membership dues, tuition, and meeting registrations (covering roughly two-thirds of revenue) plus corporate sponsorships and tax-deductible donations (covering the remaining one-third). A roster of 30+ named corporate sponsors spans banking (Bank of America, Regions Bank, First Horizon), healthcare (Tampa General, Baptist Health South Florida, Nemours Children's Health, AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Florida Blue), energy (Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, TECO), retail (Publix, Walmart, Amazon), telecom (AT&T, Verizon, Spectrum, Comcast), law (Greenberg Traurig, Gunster, Holland & Knight, GrayRobinson, Shumaker), real estate (GL Homes), and other sectors. Membership tiers include Lifetime Membership, Retired Members, and Veteran/Active Duty Military & Public Safety Members. The organization produces The Leadership Exchange podcast, hosts an Annual Meeting, recognizes members through five annual award programs (LeRoy Collins Lifetime Achievement, Distinguished Member, Chair's Award, Florida Impact, and "but for Leadership Florida"), and holds a federally registered trademark on its brand.

Leadership Florida is governed by a rotating Board of Directors and operates with a lean staff of 11-50 employees. President & CEO Wendy Spencer, a Cornerstone Class 24 graduate, leads day-to-day operations since her November 2016 appointment, with an active CEO search underway in 2025. The organization leverages Novi AMS association management software for member services and operates exclusively within the state of Florida with no global footprint.

Name

Leadership Florida

Legal name

Leadership Florida Statewide Community Foundation Inc.

Website

https://leadershipflorida.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Leadership Florida is a 501(c)(3) statewide nonprofit founded in 1982 that runs four class-based leadership development programs — Cornerstone, Connect, Education, and Executive — serving emerging and senior leaders across Florida's corporate, government, education, healthcare, and civic sectors through competitive application and multi-session cohorts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leadership Development Programs

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

C-Suite & Senior Executive Coaching (EDABANAA), Leadership Assessment, 360 Feedback & Development Planning (EDABAAAK)

Keywords

• Leadership development programs
• Executive education programs
• Nonprofit membership organization
• Professional development training
• Community leadership networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues and Tuition: The organization relies on membership dues, tuition, and meeting registrations as primary revenue sources. 100% of contributions are received by Leadership Florida Statewide Community Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support the organization through donations and sponsorships. The organization lists numerous corporate sponsors including GL Homes, Bank of America, Florida Power & Light, Publix, Walmart, AT&T, Verizon, and many others.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Leadership Florida is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers tiered leadership development programs and membership services to current and emerging leaders across Florida. The core offering comprises four class-based programs — Cornerstone (leaders age 40+), Connect (leaders age 25–39), Education, and Executive — each structured as a nine-month experiential learning experience with multi-day sessions hosted in different cities across the state. Graduates and dues-paying participants form a statewide lifetime membership network of more than 3,500 leaders spanning the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Product overview

Leadership Florida is a statewide nonprofit organization that offers a portfolio of leadership development programs and membership services. The core offerings include four distinct class programs: Cornerstone (for leaders age 40+), Connect (for professionals age 25-39), Education (for K-12 and higher education leaders), and Executive (for top executives). These programs provide nine-month experiential learning experiences with sessions held across Florida. The organization also operates a Lifetime Membership tier, hosts an Annual Meeting, maintains nine Regional Councils for local engagement, and produces The Leadership Exchange podcast. Additionally, Leadership Florida recognizes outstanding members through five award programs: LeRoy Collins Lifetime Achievement Award, Distinguished Member Award, Chair's Award, Florida Impact Award, and "but for Leadership Florida" Award. The organization leverages Novi AMS association management software for member services including a member directory, event registration, and communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cornerstone Program: Leadership program for individuals age 40 and over
• Connect Program
• Education Program
• Executive Program

Products and services

• Cornerstone Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,500 leaders engaged through leadership programs over 41 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GL HomescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGL Homes is a major corporate sponsor of Leadership Florida, supporting the organization's mission to develop Florida leaders.
• Bank of AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBank of America is a corporate sponsor of Leadership Florida. Multiple Bank of America executives participate in the organization including Ann Shaler (SVP), Bernard Hampton (Head of the Academy), and others.
• Florida Power & Light CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFlorida Power & Light Company (FPL) sponsors Leadership Florida with multiple executives involved in various programs.
• PublixcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPublix is a corporate sponsor of Leadership Florida, supporting leadership development across the state.
• WalmartcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWalmart is a corporate sponsor of Leadership Florida supporting the organization's programs and events.
• AT&TcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAT&T sponsors Leadership Florida with multiple executives participating in programs.
• VerizoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVerizon is a corporate sponsor of Leadership Florida with executives participating in programs.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon is a corporate sponsor of Leadership Florida supporting leadership programs.
• Duke EnergycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDuke Energy sponsors Leadership Florida with executives involved in programs.
• Greenberg TraurigcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGreenberg Traurig is a law firm sponsor of Leadership Florida. Fred Karlinsky from Greenberg Traurig has been featured on The Leadership Exchange Podcast.
• GunstercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGunster is a law firm sponsor of Leadership Florida with multiple attorneys including George LeMieux (Chairman of the Board), Brian Seymour, Bill Schifino, and others participating.
• Holland & KnightcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHolland & Knight is a law firm sponsor of Leadership Florida supporting leadership development programs.
• Tampa General HospitalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTampa General Hospital is a healthcare sponsor of Leadership Florida.
• Baptist Health South FloridacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBaptist Health South Florida sponsors Leadership Florida with executives participating in programs.
• Nemours Children's HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNemours Children's Health is a healthcare sponsor with executives Maggie Hightower, Heather Fagan, and Peggy Parish participating.
• Orlando HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrlando Health sponsors Leadership Florida with executives involved in programs.
• AdventHealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdventHealth (formerly Florida Hospital) sponsors Leadership Florida with executives including Shannon Gravitte, Amy Mangan, and Lori Johnson participating.
• Florida BluecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFlorida Blue is a healthcare sponsor of Leadership Florida.
• Regions BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegions Bank is a financial services sponsor of Leadership Florida.
• Helios Education FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHelios Education Foundation is an education-focused sponsor of Leadership Florida.
• Florida Department of EducationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFlorida Department of Education is an official sponsor and partner supporting education-focused leadership programs.
• JM Family EnterprisescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJM Family Enterprises is a corporate sponsor of Leadership Florida.
• The Mosaic CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Mosaic Company is a corporate sponsor of Leadership Florida.
• SpectrumcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSpectrum (Charter Communications) sponsors Leadership Florida.
• ComcastcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerComcast is a corporate sponsor of Leadership Florida.
• Volunteer FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer Florida partners with Leadership Florida on service initiatives including the #BringABook service project at Annual Meetings. The partnership supports literacy and student success initiatives.
• Florida Press AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership Florida and Florida Press Association partner to produce statewide televised debates including 'Decision 2016: Before You Vote' for Florida's U.S. Senate race.
• Seminole Tribe of FloridacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSeminole Tribe of Florida is a tribal sponsor of Leadership Florida.
• U.S. SugarcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerU.S. Sugar is a corporate sponsor of Leadership Florida with executives Eric Edwards and Ryan Duffy participating.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/leadershipfla
• Facebookfacebook.com/leadershipflorida
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leadership-florida

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Florida