Leadership Rochester

What Leadership Rochester does

Leadership Rochester is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit leadership development organization founded in 1992 and headquartered in Rochester, New York, serving the Greater Rochester and Monroe County region. Its core product is the Signature Program, a cohort-based experiential curriculum that uses Rochester and Monroe County as a classroom, exposing a cross-section of adult professionals from healthcare, education, government, nonprofit, and business sectors to community systems and influential local leaders. Supporting offerings include the Emerging Leaders Teen Program for high school students, the annual Kickstart Leadership Symposium, the Virtual Speaker Series with monthly workshops and subscription memberships, Thrive Team collaborative service projects, and the Best Class Challenge alumni fundraising initiative. The organization claims more than 1,800 alumni serving on over 600 executive governance boards, with reported alumni outcomes including 87% board service, 52% board officer experience, and 40% reaching senior C-suite roles.

Revenue is generated through a mix of program fees (undisclosed), corporate sponsorships across multiple tiers (Presenting, Class, Program, Community Connect, Community Building), tax-deductible donations including United Way payroll deductions (code #2432), recurring Virtual Speaker Series subscriptions (Ignite at $25/month, Trailblazer Momentum at $75/three months), and branded merchandise through the LR Shop. Distribution is direct and event-driven: employer nominations and alumni referrals feed cohorts, the Virtual Speaker Series operates on a self-serve subscription model, and flagship sponsors include ESL Federal Credit Union, The Prospect Fund, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, RIT Executive Education, and Coordinated Care Services Inc. Governance is provided by an alumni-dominated Board of Directors, with leadership transitioned in May 2024 to Camille Simmons (2015 alumna) following Gwen Van Laeken's six-year tenure.

Name

Leadership Rochester

Legal name

Leadership Rochester, Inc.

Website

https://leadershiprochester.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Leadership Rochester is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 that runs cohort-based leadership development programs for adult professionals and high school students in the Greater Rochester and Monroe County region, supported by corporate sponsorships, program fees, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leadership Development Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Organizational Culture & Values-Based Leadership (EDABAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL), Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service (EDALAHAG), Inclusive Leadership & Leading Diverse Teams (EDABAAAM)

Keywords

• Leadership development
• Community leadership programs
• Civic engagement training
• Professional development services
• Youth leadership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Tuition and fees for Signature Program and youth programs. Program runs September through June annually.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate and organizational sponsors support programs at various levels (Presenting, Class, Program, Community Connect, Community Building sponsors)
3. Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals and organizations. United Way payroll deduction available (code #2432). Best Class Challenge alumni fundraising campaign.
4. Virtual Speaker Series Memberships: Monthly subscription memberships for Virtual Speaker Series providing access to workshops, recordings, and community forums
5. Merchandise: LR Shop selling branded merchandise through Creator Spring platform

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Leadership Rochester is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs experiential leadership development programs using Greater Rochester and Monroe County as a classroom. Its flagship Signature Adult Program connects, educates, and engages a cross-section of community leaders across business, healthcare, education, government, and human services sectors. Supporting offerings include the Emerging Leaders Teen Program for high school students, the annual Kickstart Leadership Symposium, a Virtual Speaker Series, and The Best Class Challenge alumni fundraising initiative.

Product overview

Leadership Rochester offers a portfolio of leadership development programs centered around its Signature Program for adult professionals and the Emerging Leaders Teen Program for high school students. Supporting offerings include the annual Kickstart Leadership Symposium, a Virtual Speaker Series with monthly workshops, and The Best Class Challenge fundraising initiative. The programs use Greater Rochester and Monroe County as a classroom, with participants meeting at various venues to learn directly from community leaders. The Signature Program features Thrive Team service projects where cohorts collaborate on real organizational needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Emerging Leaders: Youth program for high school students that develops leadership skills and raises awareness about key issues affecting the Rochester community.
• Kickstart Leadership Symposium
• Signature Program
• Virtual Speaker Series

Products and services

• Signature Adult Program Flagship adult leadership development program that connects, educates, and engages a diverse cross-section of community leaders through experiential learning across business, healthcare, education, government, and community systems in Greater Rochester. Participants include Thrive Team service projects and program-day site visits to influential community organizations.
• Emerging Leaders Teen Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of alumni report developing strong leadership management skills
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• ESL Federal Credit UnionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor for 30th Anniversary TV Special on 13WHAM. Long-time supporter providing Health and Wellness Day sponsorship and marketing committee participation.
• RIT Executive EducationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerClass Executive Education Sponsor providing educational programming and resources for leadership development.
• Coordinated Care Services Inc. (CCSI)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram sponsor. Host venue for Health & Wellness Program Day. CEO Anne Wilder serves on Board of Directors as Vice Chair.
• Hillside Work-Scholarship ConnectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram sponsor and collaborative partner for service projects connecting youth with career opportunities.
• United Way of Greater RochestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPayroll deduction partner (code #2432). CEO Jaime Saunders speaks at Leadership Rochester events. COO Cicely Strickland-Ruiz serves on LR Board.
• Nazareth UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent partner for Kickstart 2024 Symposium. Host venue for leadership programming. Dr. Joseph Porter Jr. serves as keynote speaker.
• StarbridgesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Connect Sponsor for Kickstart 2024 Symposium.
• Volunteers of AmericasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Building Sponsor for Kickstart 2024 Symposium.
• Gallina Development Corp.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram sponsor. Marketing Director Lauren Gallina Payne serves as Board Chair.
• DashersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram sponsor. CEO Veronica Dasher serves as Education Day sponsor and speaker.
• Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing program support. Multiple RIT faculty and staff involved in programming and board service.
• University of RochestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast sponsor and educational partner. Medical Center staff participate in programs as speakers and panelists.
• City of RochestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner providing speakers, site visits, and government sector insights. Multiple city staff serve as alumni and board members.
• Rochester City School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner. Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small speaks at Education Day. Students participate in youth programs.
• Monroe CountysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing programming and site visit opportunities. Sheriff's Office participates in law enforcement education.
• Landmark Society of Western NYsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric preservation partner providing walking tours and history education for Get Grounded program days.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Junior Achievement of Rochester (JA Rochester): Rochester-area youth leadership and workforce readiness nonprofit. Comparable in youth civic leadership programming and a natural local partner or partial competitor for the Emerging Leaders Teen Program cohort.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Creative Leadership: Internationally recognized leadership development research and training provider offering cohort programs, executive education, and assessments. Operates at significantly larger scale and competes for the same employer leadership training budgets.
• Leadership Cincinnati / The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber: Region-wide leadership programs run out of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, including adult and youth cohorts. Larger and more institutionally backed than LR but operates the same playbook.
• Coro Foundation: National nonprofit running civic leadership fellowship programs in multiple cities with alumni networks. Broader geographic footprint and curriculum but directly competing for the same cohort of emerging community leaders.

Direct peers

• Leadership Greater Hartford: Hartford-area leadership development organization with signature and youth programs. Comparable mission and regional scope, particularly relevant for benchmarking alumni engagement and donor stewardship.
• Leadership Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit running signature leadership programs and alumni networks across cross-sector community leaders. Directly analogous mission and operating model to Leadership Rochester, just in a larger metro.
• Leadership Louisville Center: Louisville-based nonprofit with multiple cohort programs (Signature, Focus, Ignite) and youth leadership initiatives. Strong analog given similar multi-program portfolio and alumni-driven fundraising model.
• Leadership Buffalo: Buffalo, NY-based regional leadership development nonprofit offering similar cohort-based community leadership programs for professionals and emerging leaders. Most directly comparable geographic and structural peer to Leadership Rochester.
• Leadership Charlotte: Charlotte, NC-based regional leadership program with flagship adult cohort, youth program, and alumni association. Closely mirrors Leadership Rochester's product portfolio and community-development model.
• Leadership Akron: Akron, OH-based nonprofit offering community leadership programs for professionals and youth. Comparable size and structure, serving a similar mid-sized Rust Belt region with cohort-based experiential programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leadership-rochester

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Rochester