Many Boards, as they consider the possibility of interim leadership during a transition, express concerns about an interim executive director’s lack of experience in working with the unique concerns of their particular organization. 

That fact is, experienced interim executive director have usually worked with non-profit organizations of many different sizes, ages and locations.  They may work full-time in an office at a non-profit organization for many months, and then accept an engagement to work part-time from home for a different organization.  They may help an organization transition from a founder-director to new leadership; guide a merger, or support a Board and staff as an organization closes its doors for the last time. The organizations themselves can range from small, community-based direct services providers, to large national policy advocates. 

While recognizing that each organization presents a unique history, culture and circumstance, an experienced interim also knows that there are needs and concerns common to all non-profit organizations, and that need to be addressed in each engagement.

  1. Reassurance – an interim executive director will reassure important stakeholders, such as Board, staff and funders, that whatever concerns exist will be dealt with transparently, professionally and with great care for the values and mission of the organization
  2. Good management – an interim executive director will motivate and support staff through the transition so that existing programs, strategic plans, programs and campaigns will not be interrupted
  3. Leverage opportunity – an interim executive director will make an objective assessment of practices and procedures that permanent staff may find difficult to accomplish in their day-to-day routines.  This assessment can be a valuable tool for the Board and the future executive director.
  4. Create a foundation for success – an interim executive director will work with the Board and program leadership to identify and resolve current challenges so that a new executive director can look forward, and not back, as they move into the new position.

Good management, objective assessment and leveraging opportunity are the skills that an interim executive director brings to every non-profit in transition – and this is how we position organizations, and new executive directors, for future success.