Constituency Delivery Community organizers like to say that there are two major sources of power - organized money and organized people. Most will tell you that a positive, effective leader can deliver people. Leaders who can bring people out for a meeting or an action may be skilled at building relationships, well respected or feared, but they can deliver people. People power is usually the strongest tool that nonprofit organizations have. When I was the executive director of a faith-based organizing effort in East Harlem, the tenor of discussions changed when those that I negotiated with knew that I was the lead staff person for an organization with an institutional membership of over 40 congregations and religious organizations.
Power can change the rules.
One cautionary note is that power must be used or exhibited to be a threat. Without a track record of bringing a constituency together, such power becomes meaningless. Patience Beware of the shooting star syndrome. Success brings forth a burst of energy, resources and visibility from outside one's community. This is an extremely seductive combination, particularly for new groups and their leaders.