Case Study: Golden LEAF Foundation helps young rural leaders succeed with Center for Creative Leadership

Golden LEAF Foundation helps 192 scholars build rural leadership with Center for Creative Leadership

The Golden LEAF Foundation, a foundation headquartered in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, faced the challenge of fostering future community and business leaders for the state's rural areas. They partnered with the Center for Creative Leadership to create the Golden LEAF Scholars Leadership Program, a leadership training initiative designed to equip scholarship recipients with the skills and experience to return to and succeed in their home communities.

The Center for Creative Leadership implemented an 8-month program featuring a leadership conference, funded internships, and community needs assessments. A key component involved scholars interviewing established rural leaders, using CCL's research methodology to analyze pathways to leadership. Results included 93 out of 99 initial scholars securing internships, and the program successfully engaged 192 freshmen and sophomores, building a pipeline of skilled young leaders dedicated to rural North Carolina.

Golden LEAF Foundation