How Purpose, Co-Creation, and Courageous Leadership Build Sustainable Change in Nonprofits
Welcome to another deep dive into the world of nonprofit leadership. If you’re here, you probably already know that leading a nonprofit is about so much more than just managing budgets and programs. It’s about guiding people through constant change—sometimes in turbulent, uncertain conditions—and doing it in a way that honors your mission and your people.
In my recent conversation with Patrick Farran, founder of The Ad Lucem Group and author of The Intentional Executive, we unpacked the real gaps in nonprofit leadership today and how we can close them together—through purpose, co-creation, and a willingness to lead with courage and curiosity.
It All Starts With Purpose
One of the biggest pitfalls I see—and Patrick confirmed this—is when leaders and teams get so caught up in the day-to-day “how” and “what” that they lose sight of the “why” and the “who.”
“If you have a big enough why, you can endure anyhow.” — Victor Frankl
That quote from Frankl, which Patrick shared, says it all. Purpose is your anchor in a sea of shifting tactics and daily fires. When your team knows why you exist and who you’re really here to serve, it’s easier to stay steady when the winds of crisis or change blow in.
So ask yourself: Is your organization clear on its “why”? Are you spending more time aligning people to purpose or stuck fixing the next problem?
Stop Creating in Isolation: The Power of Co-Creation
One of my favorite parts of this conversation was talking about co-creation—and why it’s the hidden force behind buy-in, sustainability, and real culture change.
“People support what they help to create.”
You can have the best plan, the perfect consultant’s report, and the slickest PowerPoint in the world—but if people don’t feel ownership, they won’t champion it.
Patrick illustrated this perfectly with the IKEA Effect: when people build something themselves—no matter how imperfect—they value it more. The same is true for a strategic plan, a new program, or a culture shift. If you invite staff, board members, and community partners into the room to dream, debate, and design together, you get better ideas and stronger commitment.
But let’s be honest: co-creation is messy. It can be uncomfortable. It can create conflict. And that’s not a bad thing.
Conflict Isn’t Chaos—It’s Creative Fuel
So many of us in the nonprofit sector are helpers and peacemakers by nature. We shy away from conflict because it feels unkind. But as Patrick reminded me:
“The absence of conflict is not peace—it’s apathy.”
Healthy tension is a sign that people care. They’re invested enough to speak up, challenge, and push ideas forward. What’s not healthy is silencing different perspectives just to keep the peace.
Real leadership is about creating the space and safety for constructive conflict to happen—without spiraling into drama or blame. That means setting clear intentions: This is a brainstorming session, not a directive. These are ideas, not orders.
When people know where they stand, they feel safe to contribute honestly. And when they see their input reflected in the final product, they’re more invested in making it succeed.
Listening Beats Knowing
One of my favorite parts of coaching nonprofit leaders is watching them realize they don’t have to have all the answers. In fact, pretending you do is one of the quickest ways to kill momentum and trust.
“Your team will respect you more if you can say: I don’t know—what ideas do you have?”
It’s not weakness to ask questions—it’s wisdom. The collective intelligence in your organization is always greater than any one individual’s knowledge. The best leaders aren’t the smartest people in the room—they’re the ones asking the best questions.
Build From Strength, Not Just From Fixing
Another powerful insight Patrick shared is the idea of appreciative inquiry: focusing on what’s working and doubling down on it.
So many nonprofits spend most of their time solving problems, filling gaps, or fixing what’s broken. That’s necessary sometimes. But it’s also exhausting.
Imagine if, instead, you spent equal energy asking:
When are we at our best?
Where have we thrived?
What makes our people feel most alive and engaged?
When you focus on flourishing, you don’t just fix—you grow. You stop operating at “not sick” and start operating at “truly well.”
Co-Creation Is the Cure for Control
All this ties back to something I’ve learned over and over: you can’t control your way to lasting change. But you can co-create your way there.
Co-creation invites people to step up, share their perspectives, and own the outcome. It shifts the dynamic from “This is being done to me” to “This is ours to build.”
But here’s the real secret: when you open the door for more voices, you have to get comfortable with not knowing exactly how it will unfold. And that’s okay.
The messiness, the conflicting ideas, the debates—that’s where the gold lives. Because in that tension is where you’ll find the best, most unexpected solutions.
Real Leadership Means Raising Your Standard
I always say: when you raise your standard, people rise to meet you. It’s true at every level—personal, professional, organizational.
Stop waiting for your board to “behave,” your donors to “get it,” or your staff to “step up.” Start with you. Lead with clear purpose. Listen more than you speak. Hold space for conflict. Celebrate what’s working.
When you show up differently, everything around you shifts. Not because you forced it—but because you invited it.
Let’s Build Organizations That Flourish
If you take anything from this conversation, let it be this:
Anchor in your why.
Co-create instead of controlling.
Make space for conflict—healthy conflict.
Focus on flourishing, not just fixing.
That’s how we build organizations that don’t just survive turbulent times—but thrive through them.
And if you’re ready to step into that kind of leadership, I’m here for you.
👉 Book your free Influence Activator Call
Let’s discover how you can align, co-create, and lead your people with purpose—one conversation at a time.