From Mission to Impact

Insights on moral leadership in the social sector

A new study from The HOW Institute for Society with support from The Rockefeller Foundation confirms that social sector leaders have an opportunity to grow their moral leadership skills.

• Findings indicate that only 1 in 3 social sector CEOs are leading most effectively.

• 85% of social sector staff rate their organization’s moral leadership as “strong” or “very strong,” despite the finding that only 32% of social sector CEOs demonstrate top moral leadership behaviors.

• Organizations with strong moral leadership development report fewer mission barriers, but the implementation gap is real.

"We are partnering with The HOW Institute on this important work because we see moral leadership as an essential frontier to accelerate social innovation and systems change. Social sector leaders regularly face difficult problems and ethical dilemmas – situations where playbooks fall short, and character must carry the day. Moral leadership provides the compass to navigate these complexities, ensuring decisions are guided by fairness, justice, and empathy​—even under pressure. By leading with values and courage, moral leaders inspire extraordinary trust among stakeholders. From staff and volunteers to donors and communities, this trust, in turn, unlocks greater commitment, creativity, and progress."  

Zia Khan
Senior Advisor
The Rockefeller Foundation