Journal of Research Administration

Background: Strategic leadership is increasingly viewed as a vital determinant of organizational success and sustainability, especially within non-profit organizations where mission fulfillment, stakeholder trust, and human capital play central roles. In Saudi Arabia, the evolving non-profit sector under Vision 2030 emphasizes leadership effectiveness, innovation, and employee involvement as essential components for achieving social impact and operational excellence. Objective: This systematic review aims to examine the impact of strategic leadership on the management and performance of non-profit organizations, focusing on the mediating role of employee participation. It seeks to synthesize existing empirical evidence and theoretical insights to better understand how participatory leadership enhances effectiveness, accountability, and long-term organizational success. Methods: The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. Comprehensive searches were conducted across major academic databases for studies published between 2020 and 2025. Inclusion criteria targeted research that examined strategic leadership, participative management, empowerment, and performance in non-profit or public contexts. The selected studies were analyzed thematically, and the review process was illustrated through the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram showing identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion stages. Results: Findings indicate that strategic leadership has a significant positive effect on non-profit performance, sustainability, and innovation. Leaders who encourage employee participation, empowerment, and shared decision-making are more likely to foster motivation, learning, and adaptability within their organizations. Employee participation emerged as a mediating factor that translates leadership vision into improved effectiveness and service quality, highlighting the importance of inclusive and transformational leadership approaches. Conclusions: Strategic leadership, when supported by employee participation and empowerment, enhances both managerial efficiency and mission-driven outcomes in non-profit organizations. This review underscores the need for leadership models that are adaptive, ethical, and participatory to meet the evolving demands of the Saudi non-profit sector and to advance the goals of Vision 2030.