WATCH: Finding + Supporting Your Next Nonprofit Leader
I had the pleasure of joining the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation’s Knowledge Bites series for a conversation about nonprofit leadership transitions.
We talked about a challenge many organizations are facing right now: finding and supporting the next generation of nonprofit leaders.
For many boards, hiring a new Executive Director is one of the most important decisions they will ever make. And if your organization hasn’t been through an executive director search recently, the process can seem a bit murky. Especially for small and rural organizations where resources may be limited and leadership roles often carry a wide range of responsibilities.
But it’s also an opportunity to step back and ask:
→ What does our organization need from its next Executive Director?
→ How can our board support that person well?
→ What can we do now to prepare for a future leadership transition?
During the session, we explored many of the questions nonprofit boards are asking as they prepare for an upcoming executive search.
Topics We Explored
During the conversation, we discussed:
How boards can clarify the “must-have” skills for their next Executive Director and which skills can be learned on the job
What organizations can do now to prepare for a future nonprofit leadership transition
When it makes sense to hire an executive search consultant and when a board may choose to conduct a search in-house
Strategies for broadening your candidate pool during a nonprofit executive search
How boards can support a new Executive Director during their first months in the role
The questions shared by participants confirmed something I see often in my work with nonprofit boards: leadership transitions are real, complex, and incredibly important moments for organizations.
It was encouraging to see so many leaders thinking proactively about how to approach them.
Watch the Recording
If you weren’t able to attend the session live, or if you’d like to revisit the conversation, you can watch the full recording below.
Planning for Your Next Leadership Transition
Leadership transitions rarely happen on a perfect timeline.
Sometimes they’re planned years in advance.
Sometimes they happen more quickly than expected.
Either way, organizations that approach the process thoughtfully are much better positioned to find the right leader and support them once they arrive.
If your board is beginning to think about an upcoming executive director search, whether that feels urgent or still a few years away, I hope this conversation offers a helpful starting point.
Thinking about a leadership transition? I work with nonprofit boards to plan and facilitate thoughtful executive searches and leadership transitions.
You may also find our guide helpful: What to Expect During a Nonprofit Executive Search