About Reimagining Leadership
Reimagining Leadership is a project exploring what the nonprofit sector’s future of leadership may look like. As the nonprofit landscape weathers major shifts, nonprofits are being called on to do more with less in an impossible environment. Through conversations, gatherings, and other explorations, Reimagining Leadership aims to be a thought experiment space to provoke new ideas and challenge longstanding assumptions.
Over the years, ONN has explored the role and state of leadership in Ontario’s nonprofit network, from identifying specific leadership competencies the sector needed to bringing together nonprofit leaders in different forums to discuss current issues. In 2025, ONN brought together nonprofit leaders to help identify concerns and problems related to leadership in the nonprofit sector and co-create potential solutions as part of a Leadership Sandbox.
A key message floated to the top: that creating bold, thriving, sustainable nonprofit leadership requires disruption.
The sector must continue to reimagine the many leadership qualities that nonprofit organizations, the sector, and communities require and demand in a rapidly shifting world.
Moving away from the “single leader framework”
Much has changed in the past several years which prompt us to, once again, interrogate the future of leadership in the nonprofit sector.
ONN’s most recent report explores moving away from the “single leader framework” and static leadership competencies, towards reimagining leadership to be a “forest” of leaders. It expands upon the “oppression tree” framework created by the Centre for Community Organizations, visualizing the current systems, structures, beliefs, and barriers that nonprofit leadership is rooted in. It emphasizes the importance of planting a new tree, one rooted in leadership models that prioritize relationship and collaboration, and encourages the sector to steward leadership “forests”.
What’s next?
ONN has been connecting with various ED networks across Ontario. We will be mobilizing the work that’s already been done, and sharing stories from the community to inspire new ideas.
Do you host an ED network (formal or informal) in your region? We’d love to connect! Get in touch with our Director of Network Engagement by emailing erin@theonn.ca.
Explore the relationship between leadership and governance. Check out the Reimagining Governance Lab for free tools and resources to help you explore and deepen the relationship.
