Abstract
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