Date of Conferral

10-9-2025

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Rocky Dwyer

Abstract

Nonprofit organizations led by African American women face persistent challenges in achieving operational success and financial sustainability. When nonprofit leaders fail to implement effective strategies to engage and motivate diverse donors to make significant charitable donations, they could limit their organization’s capacity to fulfill its mission, which in turn affects the community. The purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore the strategies that some African American women leaders used to increase donor engagement and improve fundraising effectiveness. The study was grounded in the conceptual frameworks of the Baldrige Excellence Framework, McKinsey 7-S, and servant leadership theories. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews with five nonprofit leaders based in a nonprofit organization in the south Atlantic region of the United States. Interpretation of the findings involved thematic analysis, methodological triangulation, and member checking. The five key themes that were identified were (a) trust-building to demonstrate authenticity, (b) strategic engagement to employ cultural messaging to improve donor outreach, (c) visionary leadership to align practices with community needs, (d) community-centered engagement to prioritize engagement and partnerships, and (e) data-driven decision making to track progress and promote sustainability. A key recommendation is to use strategic dashboards to track revenue, enhance donor retention, and manage data. Implications for positive social change include the potential for African American women leaders to engage communities more effectively, advance equity, and strengthen trust, thereby fostering equitable resource distribution through inclusive and sustainable nonprofit practices.

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