The baby-boomer generation grew up in a period of social and political change, and many of them channeled their passions into mission-driven careers in the non-profit sector. As these leaders face retirement and transition in their own lives, the non-profit organizations they have founded and run are facing transitions for which they are usually unprepared. According to the Boston Globe, nearly a third of New England nonprofit leaders surveyed say they plan to leave their jobs in the next two years, and almost two-thirds anticipate leaving within five years; yet 60 percent of their organizations do not have a succession plan.
Most Boards simply avoid thinking about succession planning. Even where a Board has years to anticipate an Executive Director’s retirement, volunteer non-profit Boards rarely have the time, the expertise or the objectivity needed to manage a transition that keeps the organization strong and ready for new leadership. When the transition is unanticipated, as in the case of relocation, illness or other unforeseen events, the Board and staff are usually pulled into a crisis mode that can threaten the organization’s long-term success and survival.
In Washington DC and San Francisco, non-profit boards have found that hiring an interim director can provide specialized expertise to keep the organization on course while supporting a successful transition to new leadership. A short-term interim executive director can:
- Buy the Board time to define the position and find the right person. An interim director can meet the organization’s immediate needs, so that the Board does not have to fill the position before the desired skill set becomes clear, or before they find the right candidate.
- Bring the right skills for the transition. The skills needed to guide an organization through transition are often very different than those needed to run the operation on an ongoing basis.
- Provide a neutral, objective perspective. An interim director can to bring a fresh perspective and the credibility that comes with not having a personal stake in the organization’s structure.
- Position the new hire for success. Change is always difficult, and the resulting tension – regardless of ultimate resolution – can leave a “residue.” Having an interim director make, and own, the necessary changes can give the permanent executive director the level playing field they need to build success.
If your nonprofit needs an interim executive director, please get in touch with Interim Executive Network today.
