BUSINESS-ART “ECONOMIC DILEMMA”

Nonprofit arts organizations are experiencing declines not unlike those experienced by other nonprofits twenty years ago. At that time, key leadership in strategic planning reversed trends of decline. This research explores stakeholder perceptions of authentic leadership in strategic planning in nonprofit arts organizations in metropolitan Detroit. Eight arts organizations were represented in the study. Findings suggest that there is an insufficient application of authentic leadership traits, such as trust and empathy, in the strategic planning process of the sample organizations. Further, findings suggest that an imbalance between arts-based mission and commerce-based business in the strategic planning process hinders effective planning, leading to ineffective outcomes.