ELEVATE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
What is Elevate Leadership Institute?
The Elevate Leadership Institute is designed to cultivate leadership qualities and perspectives that shape intentional, everyday actions. We believe that true leadership begins with the ability to lead from wherever one stands—whether at home, in the workplace, or within the broader community.
The future of the Black Hills Region relies on proactive, visionary leaders who are committed to strategic, forward-thinking leadership that serves the common good. The Elevate Leadership Institute develops passionate, engaged citizens who understand how local, state, and regional systems influence our daily lives.
Our program attracts committed individuals from across the Black Hills and equips them with the knowledge, experiences, and insights needed to assume leadership roles throughout the community. Participation in an ELI leadership class builds confidence, sharpens essential skills, highlights personal strengths, and empowers individuals to seize opportunities for growth and impact.
Graduates of the Elevate Leadership Institute emerge ready to serve, engage, lead, and inspire others to do the same. Together, we foster a shared vision and build purposeful partnerships that work to elevate the region—creating a stronger, more vibrant future for all.
Who is Elevate Leadership Institute For?
Aspiring Entrepreneurs
As soon as you take the seemingly small step of hiring your first employee, the entire dynamic of your business is liable to change, because you’re no longer only responsible for yourself. If your ultimate career goal is to be a successful entrepreneur, developing your leadership skills is an essential piece of the puzzle, and can help you gain the skills necessary for building and managing high-performing teams.
Businesses And Organizations
Realizing the benefits of promoting from within, companies need to provide a pathway for their employees to develop the skills necessary for success. Investing in professional development initiatives, such as leadership training, is an effective way of doing so. It can also improve employee retention: Statistics show that employees would stay with a company longer if it invested in helping them learn and grow professionally.
New Leaders
Many established organizations follow a strict hierarchy in determining who to hire or promote into a leadership position. Applicants, whether internal or external, must typically meet a certain level of education and experience even to be considered. But in smaller or more nimble organizations, this hierarchy may not be formally established, which can enable an individual to move into a position of leadership even if they don’t yet have experience in such a role. (This can be particularly true for many startup environments.)
If you find yourself suddenly and unexpectedly thrust into a position of leadership, pursuing leadership training can be an effective means of getting oriented to your new role.
Early- And Mid-Career Professionals
Early- or mid-career professionals who are currently working as individual contributors or specialists within their department or organization stand to benefit from completing leadership training. This is especially true for anyone who has a desire to eventually move into a position of management or leadership but is unsure of how to get there. By taking a leadership course and proactively developing your leadership skills, you’re priming yourself to be ready when the opportunity arises to make a change.
The program costs $2,000 for investors and $2,500 for non-investors. Some financial assistance is available.
Application Process
Approximately 24 participants will be selected each year. The online application is step one. A panel of judges will review applications and invite the top-scoring applicants to an in-person interview for the final selection. Interviews will be held in July and you will be notified the beginning of August if you have been selected.
2026 Program Dates & Details
The ELI class sessions will be held from approximately 8:30 am - 4:00 pm each day (final schedule may change). Please make sure you can commit to the full schedule before you apply.
- *September 11
- *October 9
- *November 13
- *December 11
- *January 8, 2026
- February 12, 2026
- *March 12, 2026
- April 9, 2026
- May 14, 2026 (*Graduation to follow in the evening)
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*Indicates required sessions. A participant may miss up to one session (although not encouraged). If you are not able to make each session or know you’ll miss a required session, we’d encourage you to wait to apply until a better time.
Application Tips
Be Authentic: Be genuine in your application and showcase your unique qualities, experiences, and perspectives. Authenticity is key in demonstrating your suitability for the Elevate Leadership Institute. A strong and well-written application is powerful and compelling for the judges.
As you write your application, imagine the judges have no idea who you are. Be thorough in your answers and remember this is the only opportunity for the judges to read about who you are to determine if you should move to the next round.
Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your application, thoroughly proofread it for any grammatical errors or typos. Consider asking a trusted friend, family member, or mentor to review your application for feedback.
Linda Rabe Women In Leadership Scholarship
The Linda Rabe Women in Leadership Scholarship was established by Elevate Rapid City in honor of Linda Rabe, former President and CEO of the Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce. Linda spent over thirty years with the Chamber, was the first female to serve as its chief executive, and broke barriers for other women in leadership throughout her career. Her dedication and commitment to bringing more women into leadership positions in the Black Hills continues to inspire to this day.
This scholarship will be awarded to a woman going through the Elevate Leadership Institute, who shows potential as a current or future community leader and who demonstrates passion, integrity, and a commitment to the mission of Elevate Rapid City — Elevate the Rapid City region for everyone.
To apply for this full-tuition scholarship, you will need to submit your ELI application and the scholarship application. The application will ask for a 500-word personal statement as well as a letter of recommendation.