Established in 1982, Leadership Asheville, a nonprofit organization, is one of the oldest and most prestigious community leadership organizations in the nation and is highly regarded throughout the greater Asheville region. Leadership Asheville’s influential graduates represent all sectors of our community and are dedicated to providing leadership that is dynamic, meaningful, and relevant.
People
What makes an organization great? Jim Collins, author of the book Good to Great, sums it up by saying that great companies "First get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats. People are not your most important asset. The right people are." The right people are those individuals who fit into your organization and help you to accomplish your future goals. The same holds true for communities. Those who participate in Leadership Asheville and help shape the region’s future are the “right people” for the community and continue to be an invaluable resource for the region.
One of the benefits of participating in Leadership Asheville programs is the network of contacts from more than twenty-six years of graduating classes. With over 1,000 graduates, Leadership Asheville Fellows provide great resources to all participants.
Programs
Our major role in the region, as outlined below, is to provide the foundation for aligning all our programs and initiatives into three distinct, yet related, lines of service that further our goal of building healthier communities.
Developing Community Leadership – Leadership Asheville offers programs and initiatives designed to strengthen the region. We develop leaders through long-term programs for those community members who want to make a difference.
Influencing Policy – To engage citizens and influence community policy, Leadership Asheville provides opportunities to discuss issues, provide feedback to decision-makers, and take action for positive change in our region. Our policy work can be structured in any of the following ways:
Task Forces
Collaborations
Policy Forums
Research
Promoting Community Connections – Leadership Asheville offers members and other regional citizens a variety of events designed to promote a spirit of community. You can gain leadership skills, learn about regional issues, serve as proactive issue-leaders and opinion-shapers, and enjoy lively social gatherings.
Projects
There is really only one way to learn how to do something and that is to do it. If you want to learn to throw a football, drive a car, build a mousetrap, design a building, cook a stir-fry, or be a management consultant, you must try doing it. Learning to lead is no different. Whether it is part of a program or Leadership Asheville Fellows work, Leadership Asheville connects and facilitates graduates from across the region to opportunities to work on the issues of the day and create the Greater Asheville area of our dreams. Not only do you obtain worthwhile community leadership experience, but you also provide a valuable service to the region.
Services
Building civic capacity is essential for caring, community-based action. Social, environmental, and economic challenges cannot and will not be met by business or government alone. Leadership Asheville supports the voluntary sector by providing capacity-building support and services in areas such as:
Information dissemination
Training
Consulting
Placement services
Leadership Asheville recognizes and celebrates the significant contribution the voluntary sector makes to the economy and to quality of life in our communities. In order to sustain this contribution, Leadership Asheville works to provide services which will prepare individuals from all parts of the community to help the region meet the challenges of tomorrow.
What makes an organization great? Jim Collins, author of the book Good to Great, sums it up by saying that great companies "First get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats. People are not your most important asset. The right people are." The right people are those individuals who fit into your organization and help you to accomplish your future goals. The same holds true for communities. Those who participate in Leadership Asheville and help shape the region’s future are the “right people” for the community and continue to be an invaluable resource for the region.
Our major role in the region, as outlined below, is to provide the foundation for aligning all our programs and initiatives into three distinct, yet related, lines of service that further our goal of building healthier communities.
There is really only one way to learn how to do something and that is to do it. If you want to learn to throw a football, drive a car, build a mousetrap, design a building, cook a stir-fry, or be a management consultant, you must try doing it. Learning to lead is no different. Whether it is part of a program or Leadership Asheville Fellows work, Leadership Asheville connects and facilitates graduates from across the region to opportunities to work on the issues of the day and create the Greater Asheville area of our dreams. Not only do you obtain worthwhile community leadership experience, but you also provide a valuable service to the region.
Building civic capacity is essential for caring, community-based action. Social, environmental, and economic challenges cannot and will not be met by business or government alone. Leadership Asheville supports the voluntary sector by providing capacity-building support and services in areas such as: 
