The purpose of this qualitative study of renowned religious leaders of history was increasing understanding of leadership transactions impacting transformation. The study addressed the broad theoretical area of leadership and specifically the concepts of transactional and transformational leadership. Research focused on 10 transformational religious leaders from past eras. Collectively these leaders represented a diversity of religions, seven eras of history, and five geographic regions of the world. Data analysis of historical and seminal textual documents revealed that renowned religious leaders of history did make use of leadership transactions to impact positive transformation; specific types of transactions effectuated positive transformation in religious organizations; and leadership transactions that effectuated positive transformation in religious organizations are potentially transferable to other organizations. Four prominent themes were discovered in the study: (1) the transactions of love, respect, trust, compassion, sincerity, or hope were used for establishing higher motivation and morality; (2) superior communications through extensive use of analogies, examples, similes, and parables were transactions for deepening understanding of purpose and intent; (3) marketing techniques, were used as transactions for strengthening authority, fusing purposes, and encouraging followers to become leaders; and (4) a combination of transactions was used by all leaders in the study for facilitating the transition of followers and leaders to a transformational perspective.