While nonprofit leaders are expected to demonstrate authenticity as they leverage leadership skills in the interest of their organizations, full transparency as an African American nonprofit executive carries risk in a world where conformity to the dominant gender and race in society remains the norm. The journey to authentic leadership is therefore uncertain and complex, lending itself to competing challenges of developing into a state of authenticity in leadership.

Against that backdrop, a phenomenological method and multiple case study approach was adopted to examine African American nonprofit executives and their lived experiences, appreciation for, and progress toward developing into an authentic leader. We adapted Control and Drift Theory to understand how awareness of self-identity, professional experiences, and events impact the executives’ ability to manage the degree of authenticity they demonstrate in their journey toward authentic leadership. The study advances knowledge on the leadership traits of African Americans and deepens the understanding of their lived experiences and journey toward authentic leadership as executives in nonprofit organizations.