Great causes need strong leaders. They also need leaders who care. Mission-driven philanthropy is not just about the check; it is about the mission. It’s a matter of creating something that endures and serves people who are in need. Derek Maxfield, a founding board member of Saprea, is one leader who has put this idea into action. His story is a set of simple lessons that can be used in your own giving, leading, and community work.
Leadership That Starts With a Promise
Everything began with a hard season of life. Derek was diagnosed with leukemia soon after his wedding and spent months in the hospital. There he found a fellow patient named Greg who implored him to live for them both and do something great. He held on to that pledge for years. It is the root of Derek Maxfield’s leadership role in the survivor support space, because every decision is tied to a personal reason rather than a trend. When your purpose is real, your people can feel it.
Building Success to Fund a Cause
Derek started a business in 2004 and sold it in 2010. Rather than leaving, he asked what he could do to help others achieve their success. He was strongly moved to action after hearing about a woman who had blamed herself for the abuse she suffered when she was a child. His vision was to create another thriving business to support those who had suffered from child sexual abuse. He envisioned a healing place for women to begin to heal, a place in the mountains. Pay attention to the order in this case. He started with the need, then built the plan.
Giving Hope Through Healing
The retreat became a key part of Saprea’s work. By 2024, around 6,000 women had attended. It’s a soft yet firm message: Abuse has nothing to do with the victim. Derek’s belief in hope is that it helps people to be stewards of their own healing. It may take some time to heal, and this retreat is one step in the journey. However, a secure environment and caring message can alter one’s self-image. This is a smart lesson for any nonprofit leader. You don’t have to tackle all the problems at once. Do open and give them hope, and let them take steps of their own.
Focus Makes Giving Stronger
Through the Derek and Shelaine Maxfield Family Foundation, the family first gave broadly. After a while, they discovered that a fresh focus makes a greater impact. They now focus their international giving on Africa, Brazil, India, and Malaysia. Nearer to home, they sponsor scholarships for single mothers, provide meals and clothing to the homeless, and provide support for resocialization from the prison system. As a team leader or as a non-profit, where will your effort count the most? It’s better to do a little right than a lot half right.
Leading With Heart and Accountability
When you care, don’t neglect the tough questions. The Maxfield family would like to share its mission and results with organizations. Their children help decide how funds are shared and later request a stewardship report. This way he gives honest and thoughtful answers all the time. It also shows that leading with heart and leading with accountability can go together. People need to see honest results, and that builds trust. Everyone can benefit from seeing what a gift actually did for Donors, Board Members, and Volunteers.
Lessons You Can Apply Today
You may not run a foundation, but you can lead with purpose right now. Begin by stating why your cause is important to you. Pick one clear focus. Please check in with groups you support. Include family or team in the decision. Above all, give what you are able: time, skills or money. Share knowledge of what you learned so that more people can join the effort. Small and steady support can make survivors feel seen, and that matters more than the size of any gift.
Conclusion
The best way to make mission-driven philanthropy maximize impact is through a combination of purpose, focus, and accountability. In Derek’s case, pain can be a catalyst for working with others and care is the beginning of leadership. When considering personal giving or leadership, you don’t have to be in a perfect setting. Start your reasoning, take one step, and continue. Someone out there needs the hope you can offer.