The University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach, is inviting Georgia communities to apply for capacity-building funding through its Innovations in Community Leadership Initiative. The initiative supports communities seeking to develop local leaders and strengthen the relationships and networks that make collaboration and collective action possible.

ICLI funding helps communities design leadership development experiences that reflect local priorities, connect people across sectors and organizations, and build their capacity to work toward a stronger future.

Since launching in 2020, ICLI has helped more than 30 communities and organizations turn local ideas into leadership opportunities. The Fanning Institute is inviting a new round of ICLI applications from communities with an inspired idea to improve youth, adult or intergenerational leadership opportunities and networks in their community.

When leaders across a community know one another, build trust and work toward shared goals, they can accomplish more together than any one organization or individual can accomplish alone. Investing in local leadership development is one method for communities to strengthen those connections, encourage civic engagement and bring people together to address challenges and pursue opportunities for improvement.

“Every community has people who are passionate about making a difference. Turning that passion into meaningful change takes the right tools, resources and opportunities,” said Jennie Welch, Fanning Institute director. “Through ICLI, we are able to develop local leadership capacity and networks that make a difference for years to come. That lasting impact is what makes this initiative so special.”

In McDuffie County, the Fanning Institute partnered with the Thomson-McDuffie Chamber of Commerce through the Innovations in Community Leadership Initiative to support the Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy, a program designed to provide aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with practical skills, resources and guidance.

“The leadership initiative in McDuffie County has had a tremendous impact on our community,” said Kenya Calhoun, president and CEO of the Thomson-McDuffie Chamber of Commerce and a former academy participant. “It has helped us identify emerging leaders and equip them with the tools they need to be successful in the next phase of their lives. That impact has extended to our local nonprofits and businesses, strengthening our community as a whole.”

The Berrien County and Adel-Cook County chambers of commerce saw an opportunity to bring neighbors together. With ICLI support, they created Leadership in Neighboring Communities, a regional program where adults from both counties build relationships and explore ways to work together across county lines.

Other partnerships have opened doors for leaders and entrepreneurs in Barrow and Grady counties, each program reflecting its community’s distinct needs.

Partners ready to make a long-term commitment to their community are encouraged to apply. Strong applications will identify a meaningful leadership development need, describe a community outcome they hope to improve and demonstrate readiness for a multi-year partnership. Applicants should also explain the need for partnership and financial assistance and provide two letters of support from community partners committed to the partnership’s long-term success beyond the Fanning Institute’s initial investment.

ICLI is supported by private donations to UGA, including contributions from the Fanning Advisory Board members and a lead gift from the James L. Allgood Family.

The schedule for the 2027 application cycle includes:

• Nov. 9, 2026: Call for proposals released
• Jan. 13, 2027: Pre-application information session
• Jan. 20, 2027: Questions due
• Jan. 29, 2027: Proposal deadline

To learn more about ICLI and the application process, please visit www.fanning.uga.edu/icli/.