Authentic Passion - Do Something!
- Tom Iselin
- Jun 8, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 11, 2025
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to First Things First: Boot Camp — A Leadership Guide to Building a Gold-Standard Nonprofit.Today is Day Six, and we’re continuing our deep dive into Authentic Passion, the series we kicked off on Day Five. Yesterday, we explored the difference between lip-service passion and authentic passion—and why people need to talk less and do more if they truly care about a mission.
In today’s post, we examine the first tactic required to build a DO SOMETHING culture inside your nonprofit: Commitment.
THE FIRST TACTIC OF AUTHENTIC PASSION: COMMITMENT
Authentic passion is genuine belief in a mission manifested in meaningful action.And action requires two things:
Commitment
Motivation
Anyone can claim commitment. Anyone can pat you on the back and say, “I love your mission” while contributing nothing. That’s why the goal isn’t to get people committed to a mission, but rather committed to fulfilling a mission.
There’s a massive difference.
Every person connected with your nonprofit—board, staff, volunteers—must understand this foundational principle:
Your organization’s number one priority is the commitment to fulfill your mission.Not admire it. Not agree with it. Not talk about it.Fulfill it.
A STORY FROM THE FIELD: ADAPTIVE SPORTS
I shared this story before, but it’s worth repeating.
Years ago, I was hired to rescue a nonprofit called Adaptive Sports. The organization was in turmoil—no money, no direction, no stability. Yet the board constantly told me how “passionate” they were about:
Starting a Special Olympics program
Helping wounded veterans
Building sustainable funding
But in six years, they had done nothing to bring these passions to life.
Why?
Because they weren’t committed to fulfilling the mission.They were committed to the idea of the mission.
And that difference is everything.
Authentic passion requires people willing to take action—not just admire the mission from the deck of the ship, but actually grab a rope, trim a sail, swab a deck, and steer.
HOW TO BUILD A CULTURE OF COMMITMENT
To create an authentically passionate, DO SOMETHING culture, start by making this declaration:
“The commitment to fulfill our mission is the number one business objective of this nonprofit.”
To put this into practice, here’s what must happen:
Change the mindset of board and staff
Hold meetings and discussions about authentic passion
Educate people on what fulfilling the mission truly means
Adopt new philosophies and policies that support action
Prepare for resistance—change is uncomfortable
Encourage those ready to work… and release those who aren’t
This is a paradigm shift.It may require serious cultural overhaul.But once people understand commitment as work rather than belief, you’ll see the difference immediately.
People will:
Roll up their sleeves
Volunteer for hard tasks
Take initiative
Step into responsibility
And your organization will begin sailing toward the island of your dreams.
Some people will bail out—and that’s fine. Toss them a life preserver and give them a friendly wave as your ship moves forward.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Authentic passion begins with commitment manifested as action.• Being committed to a mission is meaningless without being committed to fulfilling the mission.• Cultural change requires education, structure, and accountability.• Resistance will happen—but those who stay will strengthen your organization.• A DO SOMETHING culture starts with setting “fulfilling the mission” as your top priority.
SUMMARY
Commitment is the bedrock of authentic passion. It transforms vague enthusiasm into actionable purpose. If you want a DO SOMETHING culture—one where your nonprofit actually moves forward—start by redefining commitment as the willingness to act, contribute, and work to fulfill your mission. Once people internalize this shift, authentic passion begins to thrive.
Tom Iselin
“One of America’s Best Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Facilitators”
Additional Resources:
Articles
Tom's Books, Podcasts, and YouTube Channel
About the Author
Tom Iselin is recognized as one of America’s leading authorities on high-performance nonprofits. He has built nine sector-leading nonprofits and two software companies, written six books, sits on multiple boards, and has been rated one of America’s Best Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Facilitators. His work on nonprofit strategy, board leadership, and culture has been featured on CNN, Nightline, and in Newsweek.
Tom is the president of First Things First, a firm specializing in board retreats, strategic planning services, fundraising strategy, and executive coaching for nonprofit CEOs.
Board Retreats & Strategic Planning
If you’re looking for a board retreat facilitator or strategic planning facilitator who has been in the trenches and understands real-world nonprofit challenges, Tom can help your board gain clarity, build alignment, and create an actionable plan that improves performance and impact. His sessions propel organizations to the next level of performance and impact . . . and they're fun!
Board Retreats and Strategic Planning Services:
858.888.2278
