Dallas Regional Chamber: Quality of Life Foundation

Leadership Dallas, founded in 1975 by the Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC), is the region's premier leadership development program; a group of diverse individuals are selected each year in a competitive process based on proven leadership potential within their organization and in the community. The Leadership Dallas Alumni (LDA) mission is to educate membership about significant issues facing the region and to encourage activism and engagement in the community.

Forty-six years and more than 2,300 participants later, the contribution and dedication of Leadership Dallas graduates has had an invaluable impact on our dynamic city. As a graduate of Leadership Dallas or a transfer from an equal standing program, you automatically qualify for lifetime access to be a part of the Leadership Dallas Alumni (LDA) program. As a member of the LD family, you are able to connect and engage with a diverse network of influential Leadership Dallas graduates who are helping make the Dallas Region the best place in the United States for all people to live, work, and do business.

Our Needs

Funds raised here will go towards providing scholarships for future Leadership Dallas applicants who cannot access the program due to the cost of the tuition. This is a great opportunity for Leadership Dallas Alumni to give back to the life changing program they had the privilege of participating in.

Barry Barker Scholarship Fund

During the 1997-98 program year, Leadership Dallas lost long-time friend Barry Barker, a graduate of the first Leadership Dallas class, former President of the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association, and former chair of the curriculum committee. After his passing, the DRC and the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association renamed its scholarship fund in Barker's memory. The Barry Barker Scholarship Fund helps future leaders of Dallas with their Leadership Dallas tuition.

Patti Clapp Scholarship Fund

For nearly 24 years, Patti Clapp served the DRC in a variety of critical roles, from Director of Leadership Development to Vice President of Education. As the Director of Leadership Development, she led the revitalization of Leadership Dallas, which contributed to the continued success of the DRC's flagship leadership program. In honor of one the DRC's longest-serving and most impactful, effective, and influential leaders, the Patti Clapp Scholarship Fund was established to help future leaders of the Dallas Region with their Leadership Dallas tuition.

Diversity in Leadership Scholarship

In 2020, the Dallas Regional Chamber established a Board-level Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council and four sub-councils, including a Diversity in Leadership Sub-Council. The Diversity in Leadership Sub-Council is focused on developing opportunities for diverse representation in board rooms and the executive-suite of companies large and small. The Sub-Council will consider scholarships for qualified candidates from underestimated population groups that, without financial support, would not be able to participate in Leadership Dallas.