Leadership Development
Executive Transitions Program
The departure of an executive director is a transformational event for a nonprofit, regardless of the circumstances. The burden of replacing that leadership rests with the Board of Directors. The Nonprofit Center applies its expertise in leadership transitions by guiding the board through the process of hiring or changing executive directors. In partnership with the nonprofit, we develop a time and cost-effective approach to address every step, from assessing the organization's staff leadership needs to fostering successful integration of the new hire. In keeping with our understanding of the special needs of some nonprofits, we have taken this program a step further with an Interim Executive Director Program.
Leadership Transitions Support
Responsibility for executive staff leadership transitions rests with a nonprofit's board. The Nonprofit Center has created several programs to facilitate this process for board members with appropriate guidance, support and tools.
What is your organization doing to prepare for its eventual change in leadership? How are you grooming your future leaders? The experts tell us that there is little to lure young nonprofit professionals into future executive director positions and that we have to act to change that or risk serious damage to the nonprofit sector.
The Philadelphia Inquirer delves into the issue of leadership transition >
Read how Interim Executive Directors are solving leadership issues >
For help with issues related to leadership transition, including executive transitions, interim executive directors, and succession planning, contact The Nonprofit Center.
Nonprofit Center Study Reveals Few Nonprofits Ready for
Leadership Transition
The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University, recently conducted an informal study to get a sense of whether the Greater Philadelphia region will experience the same leadership gap predicted in other major metropolitan areas.
As today's baby-boomers, many of whom are the executive directors of local nonprofits consider retirement, are plans being made to groom their replacements?
The answer, unfortunately, is a resounding no.
Thank you to the 223 executive directors who responded to our survey, sharing their future plans and the status of succession planning within their organizations. Here are some of the significant findings:
- 66.8% of our current EDs plan to leave their current positions by 2010 at the latest.
- 51% of organizations have had "no discussion at all" about succession planning
- 90% of organizations have no written succession plan
- 52% of organizations have no one within their organization who could be groomed to replace the E.D.
These are just some of the startling results that warn of a future leadership gap in local nonprofits.
For a complete copy of survey results, email The Nonprofit Center at nonprofitcenter@lasalle.edu
The Nonprofit Center, in anticipation of these pending leadership changes, has developed an Executive Transitions Program to aid nonprofit boards and executives in addressing this crucial issue.
Our work in this area includes:
- Succession Planning to help nonprofits build their bench strength and protect their vision by preparing their future leaders
- Executive Transition Planning to support an organization's board by guiding it through the process of hiring or changing executive directors
- Interim Executive Director Program to place short-term leadership while an organization addresses the challenges it faces before a permanent hire should be made.
"If nonprofits do not act now to address their failure to have a plan for leadership succession, as well as committing to developing new managers, this leadership gap will extend to include managers at many levels of an organization and threaten its ability to fulfill its mission," says Laura Otten, director of The Nonprofit Center.
The Nonprofit Center is available to help your organization's executive director and board face its responsibilities for transition planning now. For more information, call 215-951-1701.
