Love Leadership: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World

Chapter 4. Vulnerability Is Power

By mid-2008, Operation HOPE was beginning to feel the effects of the growing financial crisis gripping our nation and soon to spread around the globe. HOPE partners in the financial sector were under severe pressure; some were merging with other companies and in some cases even shutting down overnight. This was a scary time for a nonprofit organization like ours that is nearly 100 percent partner financed.

Although no partner canceled its commitment to HOPE, almost every one began to slow payments to the organization. One of our substantial funders told me that it had approved our grant, but needed to sit on the funding until the last minute. It was stockpiling cash for itself during this period. This was breathtaking ...