Serving on a nonprofit board isn’t just an act of service — it’s a master class in leadership. As a board member for two startup nonprofits — Social Offset and The Clothesline for Arlington Kids — I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand how mission-based organizations move forward, aligning values with strategic objectives, and blending purpose and passion with the goal of creating impactful change.
As a chief strategy officer, these experiences have redefined my perspective of what it means to lead with intention, resilience, and adaptability. From embracing diverse perspectives and purpose-driven leadership to cultivating strategic agility and ethical decision-making, each aspect of board service has broadened my leadership toolkit and given me a deeper appreciation of what can happen when you engage a community.
The following six themes have shown up throughout my time serving as a board member, influencing how I approach leadership both within and beyond the nonprofit sector.
1. CROSS-ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING: THE VALUE OF DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES
Serving on the board of Social Offset, where we create socially supportive options for event attendees whose values may not align with their event location, has taught me the importance of embedding core values into strategic planning. Similarly, at The Clothesline for Arlington Kids, which provides wardrobes for children in need, I’ve seen how community engagement drives impactful grassroots initiatives.
These two organizations operate in completely different spheres — event planning and community welfare — but the leadership principles they highlight are universal. Social Offset revealed how value alignment can elevate organizational missions, offering a model for navigating sensitive or contentious issues. Meanwhile, The Clothesline demonstrates the power of hyper-local action: focusing on a specific community need can yield transformative outcomes.
Why This Matters: Seeking insights from varied sectors fosters creativity and helps ground strategies in diverse perspectives.
2. PURPOSE-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP: ALIGNING VISION WITH VALUES
The missions of both Social Offset and The Clothesline are aligned with my personal values: emphasizing social impact. This alignment reinforces the importance of leading with purpose and integrating broader societal goals into organizational strategy.
Purpose-driven leadership isn’t just about having a mission; it’s about embodying that mission in every decision. Intentionality is key here. This is easy with a laser-focused nonprofit seeking to allow kids to learn with dignity and can be harder in corporations with profit-motive and a wider range of services. But when I use the same approach — what is it that we are trying to solve and how is our solution better than other options? — then I can use a similar mindset.
Why This Matters: Purpose-driven leadership builds trust, organizational culture, and long-term value. Leaders who remain steadfast in their values inspire teams to achieve more change.
3. STRATEGIC AGILITY: THRIVING AMID UNCERTAINTY
Startups like Social Offset and The Clothesline often operate in dynamic environments that demand quick thinking and adaptability. Whether it’s addressing funding gaps, responding to stakeholder concerns, or dealing with sudden shifts in the external environment, board roles test one’s ability to innovate on the fly. This has refined my ability to pivot and see uncertainty as a growth opportunity, not a hurdle.
Why This Matters: Being agile means embracing experimentation and empowering teams to make decisions under less-than-ideal conditions.
4. COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP: BUILDING STRONGER TEAMS
Volunteer boards thrive on collaboration. Engaging with stakeholders, whether it’s donors, volunteers, or community members, has taught me the importance of listening and addressing all types of needs. If you don’t address these needs collaboratively, you limit the ability to gain trust among the people who matter.
Of course, working with groups of people who have different expertise and motivations can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding. I’ve gained much from stepping into environments where the education and training, experiences and expertise (and even jargon) are different from mine.
Why This Matters: Collaborative leadership goes beyond simply hearing different perspectives; it requires actively integrating those perspectives to co-create solutions. Every stakeholder should feel valued and part of a shared purpose.
5. INTEGRATING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: ETHICAL LEADERSHIP IN ACTION
Social responsibility is central to nonprofit board service. My experiences have highlighted to me the importance of grounding leadership decisions in ethics and integrity, and ensuring that the work is not only effective but also principled.
Ethical leadership enhances an organization’s reputation and ensures sustainability. Fairness and equity are critical, as even small ethical lapses could undermine the community’s trust.
Why This Matters: Organizations with a strong ethical foundation are better equipped to achieve success that lasts. Leaders must model these principles to develop a culture of accountability and trust.
6. PERSONAL GROWTH: LEADERSHIP AS A CONTINUOUS JOURNEY
Board service has been a source of personal and professional development for me. The challenges faced and lessons learned through mentorship and collaboration have made me a more empathetic and effective leader. Learning from other board members with varied experiences has reminded me of the importance of humility, the importance of being willing to learn and grow alongside others. It has reminded me that there’s a way to create change and build community, step by step, if you’re willing to follow a blueprint where values matter as much as the end game.
Why This Matters: Leadership isn’t static. If it’s important to you, you’ll dedicate a lot of time to defining and redefining what it means to you and how you do it. Volunteer service is an invaluable avenue for developing the qualities that make you an exceptional leader and can provide an outlet for connection and relationships that carry on throughout your life.
With a job focused on strategy, where progress can be incremental, volunteering lets me see the rewarding and tangible outcomes of direct community engagement, whether that’s empowering kids to face the world with confidence or making spaces where values and community connect. Being open to the lessons that come with serving in this way allows me to remain grounded in my leadership and remember that significant change often starts with small, purposeful actions that may not emerge from the corporate boardroom.
Erin M. Fuller is the global head of Association Solutions at MCI and chief strategy officer at MCI USA.
This article was originally published on Fast Company.
