Love: Building Lasting Relationships in Nonprofits

Gena makes her presence known weekly. You can see her coming down the street, dressed in a variety of attire—shorts, a cutoff t-shirt, a scarf, and flats. Depending on the time of the month, her voice can be low with a mumble or thundering with all manner of expletives because her medication has run out. I cannot count the number of conversations we have had about birthdays, tissue paper, and rides to the Family Dollar Store. Then there are those moments when I am the “M’fer” or her favorite expletive, “bitch.” Gena is a fixture in the neighborhood, and she is my friend.

Love is a word often thrown around casually. We say we love people, but we also use the same word to describe our feelings for food, fights, and fashion. Unlike the Greek language, which has multiple words for different types of love, English relies on context to convey meaning. Love is both an action and an emotion, experienced in a variety of relationships—marriage, parent and child, or close friendships.

But what about the nonprofit workplace? How can we understand love in the context of nonprofit leadership?
For the purposes of this essay, I define love as an active display of behaviors that affirm human dignity and foster meaningful relationships. Love is actualized publicly through intentional actions that uplift both the giver and the recipient. In nonprofit leadership, love can serve as a powerful force that strengthens organizations and, most importantly, enhances the quality of life for those involved. As a leadership value, love cultivates trust, strengthens relationships, and drives lasting impact in nonprofit organizations.

 Love as a Foundation for Trust in Leadership

Trust is built on the firm belief that an individual will follow through on their commitments. Within nonprofit settings, trust is the glue that strengthens bonds between donors, employees, and beneficiaries. Resources of all types—financial, material, and emotional—are exchanged between these stakeholders with the expectation that they will be used responsibly to support and uplift others. Compassion, an expression of love, plays a critical role in developing and maintaining this trust.

Compassion involves observing another person’s difficult situation and freely participating in their pain to lessen their isolation. Suffering alongside someone is a powerful way to cultivate active listening, better understand their needs, and recognize one’s capacity to help. Compassion creates an opportunity for two individuals to form a bond of reliability and trust that may not have previously existed.

Nonprofit leaders can strengthen trust through acts of compassion in various ways. For instance, when an employee is struggling with a personal difficulty, a leader who takes the time to listen and provide flexibility demonstrates care for their well-being. Similarly, a donor who learns about a client’s specific need and takes the time to meet with them fosters a deeper connection between the donor, the organization, and the client. In moments of suffering or hardship, compassion-driven leadership creates trust and strengthens relationships.

Strengthening Relationships Through Love

Employees experience personal difficulties, and it would be negligent for a leader to ignore this reality. Changes in productivity, punctuality, or behavior may indicate underlying personal struggles. A leader can strengthen relationships with employees by creating an environment where they feel safe and supported in discussing their challenges.

From a leadership perspective, this means fostering a culture where people feel valued and heard. One-on-one meetings should sometimes be informal rather than purely structured. Put away the tablet or notepad and engage in active listening. Remember, employees spend more time at work than at home, and personal struggles inevitably affect their professional lives. If listening to personal issues is not your strength, develop this skill. Additionally, consider partnering with local agencies that provide counseling support and training to equip employees with resources to navigate personal challenges.

Investing time and resources in strengthening relationships between leaders and employees can be a game-changer in fostering a workplace culture driven by love and support.

Love as a Catalyst for Organizational Growth and Impact

In Star Trek: Into Darkness, the character Khan is interrogated by Captain Kirk and Spock. With tears streaming down his face, he says, “My crew is my family. Is there anything you would not do for your family?” While I am not suggesting that nonprofit leaders adopt Khan’s extreme measures, I can empathize with his deep sense of commitment to those he led.

Love can profoundly influence the motivation and commitment of leaders toward their teams and the people they serve. Organizational growth, increased capacity, and programmatic impact can all be consequences of leadership that prioritizes trust and strong relationships.

A culture of love, when embedded in an organization’s vision, mission, and values, can catalyze new ideas, foster collaboration between donors, employees, and clients, and drive meaningful change. Compassionate leadership rooted in love and focused on human flourishing can propel an organization toward new and transformative opportunities.

Practical Steps for Incorporating Love in Nonprofit Leadership

Here are some actionable steps to integrate love into nonprofit leadership:
1. Prioritize Relational Leadership – Spend intentional time fostering connections with staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries.

2. Model Compassionate Communication – Demonstrate empathy and kindness in every interaction. Sit with an employee in their difficulty without rushing to solve the problem.

3. Celebrate Contributions – Regularly acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of team members and supporters.

4. Empower Others – Equip individuals to take ownership of their roles and provide opportunities for growth. As I tell my team, “I want your fingerprints all over this project!”

​Love is an indispensable leadership value that can transform nonprofits by nurturing trust, strengthening relationships, and amplifying impact. Love is not a sign of weakness but a foundation of strength and resilience, even in the face of organizational challenges. Nonprofit leaders who embrace love as a guiding principle will foster meaningful change in their organizations and communities.


When love leads, lasting relationships and transformative impact follow.