A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study: Does Passion Ensure Nonprofit Leadership Excellence?

This hermeneutic phenomenological research project involved nonprofit board members' insights into their leadership role in dealing with children with rare illnesses. The organization studied was a charitable 501(3)(C) nonprofit foundation in Indiana and utilized interviews with 13 nonprofit board members to gain information attained from these personal accounts to assist in potential leadership developmental actions for the sustainability of this emerging nonprofit organization in its future governance efforts. The research investigated the passion expressed by members to further the mission's accomplishments and whether this sentimentalist gesture is sufficient to provide nonprofit leadership excellence. Vital was gaining their opinions and reactions to their real-life leadership experience, specifically, those skills and behaviors they feel have been instrumental in defining or hindering their leadership responsibilities. The research explored themes related to the need for continual leadership development, board members' learning agility, engagement, diligence in their commitment, communication, abilities to interact with others, and mission-related outcomes regarding adaptability changes concerning the organization's future. In addition, leadership self-awareness needed to improve their nonprofit knowledge and behaviors, which is vital in establishing greater self-confidence in their performance, was reviewed. The qualitative study explored what leadership influences worked, what could improve, and what keeps these members and their organization from accomplishing its desired goals. Keywords: hermeneutical, sentimentalism, self-awareness, agility, adaptability, diligence

Grantor dc:publisher

Creighton University

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Wilson, Stuart Lee

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Logan, Todd, R.

• Leadership Theories
• Nonprofit Board Members
• Nonprofit Organization

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is retained by the Author. A non-exclusive distribution right is granted to Creighton University and to ProQuest following the publishing model selected above.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://cdr.creighton.edu/handle/10504/156083

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:cdr.creighton.edu:10504/156083