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Leadership Raleigh - John Freehafer Scholarship Fund

GREATER RALEIGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Foundation Annual Youth Leadership GrantsGrants for MinoritiesSmall Business Grants
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Funding Amount

$500 - $2,000

Deadline

June 5, 2026

57 days left

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Leadership Raleigh - John Freehafer Scholarship Fund

Program Type: Partial scholarship fund

Geographic Scope: Greater Raleigh and Triangle region, North Carolina

Focus Areas: Leadership development and community engagement for nonprofit leaders and small/minority-owned business leaders

Eligibility:

  • Nonprofit & community organization leaders

  • Small and minority-owned business leaders

  • Applicants for whom the Leadership Raleigh program fee presents a barrier to participation

  • Must be applying to Leadership Raleigh Classes 53 or 54 (2026-2027 program year)

    • Award Details:

  • Limited number of partial scholarships available

  • Scholarships awarded generally range from $500 to $2,000

  • The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Community Development Foundation administers the fund

  • May not be able to provide the full requested scholarship amount but will work with applicants to support participation

    • Program Context:

  • Supports participation in Leadership Raleigh, a 55-year-old community leadership program

  • Leadership Raleigh program tuition is $3,875 for 2026-2027

  • Program includes 10-month curriculum with class days, mandatory retreat, and graduation

  • Develops leaders and strengthens the community through immersive educational experiences

  • Applicants must commit to mandatory orientation, retreat, and graduation participation

  • Requires attendance at Wake County Board of Commissioners and Raleigh City Council meetings

    • Contact:

  • Phone: 919.664.7000

  • Email: shana.overdorf@raleighchamber.org

  • Address: 800 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601

    • How to Apply

    Scholarship Application Process

    Deadline: June 5, 2026 (before midnight)

    Required Materials:
    1. Completed Leadership Raleigh program application
    2. One professional letter of recommendation
    3. Separate scholarship application form

    Scholarship Application Form Questions:

  • Name, Title, Company

  • Supervisor/Board Chair Name and Contact Information

  • Tell Your Story: Demonstrate how your leadership experiences and aspirations align with the work pillars of the Greater Raleigh Chamber and Leadership Raleigh (required)

  • Highlight Achievements: Focus on the results of your leadership and the positive impact you've had (required)

  • Describe Your Soft Skills: Emphasize interpersonal skills such as communication, empathy, and conflict resolution (required)

  • Commitment to Community & Collaboration: Share how participation in Leadership Raleigh will further your community engagement (required)

  • Upload most recent financials (990 form, audit, or equivalent) - Max file size 20MB

  • Scholarship Amount Requested

    • Application Notes:

  • Applying for a scholarship will NOT impact consideration of your program application

  • Scholarship applications are reviewed separately from program applications

  • All applications must include the separate scholarship application along with the program application to be considered

  • Notification of scholarship decisions will be provided separately

    • Selection Criteria:

  • Well-rounded candidates who represent the region

  • Demonstrated commitment to community benefit and collaboration

  • Leadership experience and potential for long-term community impact

    • Apply with Grantable Learn more

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    youth-leadershipminoritiessmall-businesses

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