Greenlights for Nonprofit Success

Consulting: executive transitions

What will the leadership of your nonprofit look like in five years?
Research suggests that many Executive Directors will be stepping down in the near future. In a survey of Central Texas nonprofit executives, Greenlights found that two-thirds of current executives plan to leave their positions within five years.

 

Will this be a time of opportunity or crisis for your organization? Fewer than half of Central Texas nonprofits have a formal succession plan, and few seek outside assistance during their transitions.

 

What you can do to be prepared

Thoughtful succession planning--laying out a strategy for leadership continuity--can be done at any time. Board members and Executive Directors can work together to outline how your agency will handle a change in leadership and identifying areas where advance preparation is necessary. There are opportunities for leadership development, system refinement, and communications improvement that will strengthen an agency while an Executive Director is in place and will make the organization more resilient if a leader moves on.

 

How we can support you

When managed effectively, a leadership transition can be an opportunity for a nonprofit. Greenlights has developed, with the support of the MFI Foundation, a set of resources to help nonprofits through their executive transitions. We can work with you at every step along the way-from developing a succession plan to managing a search process; from hiring an Interim Executive Director to getting your new Executive Director off to a strong start.

 

Greenlights has also consulted with a number of nonprofits undergoing transitions, and our customized facilitation and coaching services (based on a proven Prepare - Pivot - Thrive model for executive transitions) may be just what your organization needs.

 

Our complete Executive Transition Management service helps nonprofits survive and thrive during times of transition. Our services include:

• Placing an Interim Executive Director to maintain high quality services
• Assessing the current organization to understand leadership priorities
• Guiding the search process through the creation of a transition committee
• Supporting the Interim Executive Director and the board throughout the transition
• Providing hands-on guidance for your board from experienced consultants
• Coaching the board and new Executive Director through the onboarding process 

In addition to our consulting services, Greenlights is pleased to offer free transition management resources, including tips and best practices for boards and outgoing and incoming Executive Directors. These materials can be found in our Resource Library under Executive Transition Management.

 

 

 

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