A study examined how nonprofit organizations, particularly local education funds, and their leaders address social issues. Local education funds are a set of voluntary, intermediate, and mission-driven organizations at the center of educational and civic capacity building. This report provides the results of the first phase of the Public Education Network leadership study of 59 LEF executive directors, portraying their characteristics and perceptions. Survey items were formulated by Urban Institute researchers, examined by experts inside and outside the network, and pilot-tested using current and former Los Angeles executive directors. Judging from the survey, executive directors would prefer to spend less time carrying out management of programs and more time on strategic planning. Interpersonal skills and strategic planning were ranked as key to effective leadership. A community-collaborative model of leadership was preferred because interacting with and mobilizing the community is an integral role. That executive directors tend to be white and middle-income, whereas students in the districts served tend to be lower income, is a concern. The majority believe their boards of directors are executing their responsibilities effectively. (Contains 20 references.) (RKJ)