In the challenging landscape of nonprofit organizations, where passion meets purpose and resources are often scarce, leadership emerges as the critical bridge between vision and impact. For Amber Draper, this understanding became the foundation of transformative research that's now reshaping how outdoor recreation nonprofits engage their most valuable asset—their volunteers.
At the 2024 Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) annual conference, Draper displayed her expertise in nonprofit leadership with her presentation "Engaging Volunteers: The Power of Purposeful Leadership." Her interest in nonprofit leadership wasn't merely academic; it grew organically through years of volunteer experience with Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP), the local SORBA chapter dedicated to trail building and maintenance. As she volunteered alongside various board members through the years, Draper observed different leadership approaches, becoming increasingly curious about which styles most effectively engaged volunteers. This firsthand experience inspired her academic pursuit, culminating in her Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she combined knowledge from two certificate programs: Leadership and Professional Development and Nonprofit Management.
Addressing a Critical Need
Draper's research addresses a significant challenge facing nonprofit organizations today: declining volunteer rates. With volunteer participation dropping from 30% in 2019 to 23% in 2021, organizations like SORBA are seeking effective strategies to engage and retain their volunteer workforce.
"Nonprofit organizations, especially those in outdoor recreation, depend heavily on volunteers to fulfill their mission," explains Draper. "Understanding how leadership styles impact volunteer satisfaction and commitment is crucial for organizational success."
Her capstone project explored how different leadership approaches—particularly transformational, transactional, and servant leadership styles—affect volunteer engagement in outdoor recreation nonprofits like mountain biking, hiking, and running organizations.
"Amber led an impactful workshop at our annual fall meeting in Shelby County this past October on the topic of Engaging Volunteers: The Power of Purposeful Leadership," says Philip Darden, Executive Director of SORBA. "SORBA is a nonprofit, mostly volunteer-led organization with 47 chapters across seven states. Educating our chapter leaders on how to engage with their volunteers is necessary for the long-term sustainability of our organization. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our chapters. Being able to lead them effectively is a necessary skill to foster. The workshop that Amber led gave our volunteers an excellent basis on various leadership styles, how to harness their own personal style, and grow their ability to lead. We look forward to working with Amber more in the future as she understands the needs of our organization and the desires of our volunteer community."
Research-Driven Insights
Draper's literature review revealed compelling evidence that transformational and servant leadership styles significantly outperform transactional approaches in volunteer settings. Transformational leaders who inspire volunteers by focusing on meaningful work, building confidence, and forming relationships consistently achieve higher volunteer satisfaction and commitment. Similarly, servant leaders who prioritize volunteers' needs and empowerment create environments where volunteers feel valued and motivated.
"What makes Amber's work particularly valuable is how she bridges theoretical knowledge with practical application," says Dr. Stefanie Varghese, Draper's capstone chair. "Her ability to translate complex leadership concepts into actionable strategies for nonprofit leaders demonstrates the interdisciplinary strength of her education.”
Expanding Participation in Mountain Biking
As an active volunteer with BUMP, Draper is particularly passionate about expanding participation in mountain biking, especially among underrepresented groups like women. Her work provides nonprofit leaders with frameworks to create more inclusive, supportive environments that can attract diverse volunteer populations.
"Through effective leadership approaches, we can create spaces where everyone feels welcome and valued," Draper notes. "When volunteer leaders adopt transformational or servant leadership styles, they're better equipped to understand and address the unique motivations of different volunteer groups."
Impact Beyond the Classroom
Dr. Kent Andersen, a Program Director in the Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate and Professional Studies (IGPS), emphasizes the real-world impact of Draper's work: "Amber's project exemplifies our IGPS program's mission to develop professionals who can address complex challenges through interdisciplinary perspectives. Her ability to apply concepts from both leadership studies and nonprofit management to a specific sector demonstrates the value of our integrated approach to graduate education."
Dr. Carmel McNicholas-Bevensee, Director of IGPS and Program Director of IGS, emphasizes that the interdisciplinary structure of the program creates unique educational opportunities for students like Draper. "By partnering with certificate programs across campus, the IGS Master's degree offers remarkable flexibility that tailors each learner's education to their specific interests and career goals," she explains. "Students combine knowledge from multiple academic disciplines into a customized curriculum rather than following a single-discipline path. This approach develops diverse skill sets that enhance career versatility and foster the kind of creative problem-solving that employers highly value. The true power of interdisciplinary education lies in its ability to prepare graduates who can address complex societal challenges from multiple perspectives, something Amber's impactful work with nonprofit organizations clearly illustrates."
Draper's commitment and contributions to outdoor recreation nonprofits haven't gone unnoticed. She was recently chosen as the Alabama Volunteer of the Year for SORBA and will be recognized at the Spring Summit in Brevard, North Carolina.
Draper plans to continue her work with SORBA chapters as well as other nonprofits, offering leadership workshops and consulting services to help nonprofit boards implement effective volunteer engagement strategies. Her research not only contributes to academic understanding of nonprofit leadership but provides practical tools that organizations can immediately implement to strengthen their volunteer programs.
Through her interdisciplinary approach to nonprofit leadership, Amber Draper represents the transformative potential of UAB's IGPS program to create positive change in communities and organizations. Her work reminds us that effective leadership is not just about managing resources—it's about inspiring people to contribute their time and talents to causes they believe in.