There is a phrase that surfaces in almost every nonprofit I have ever worked with. Sometimes it comes from a long-tenured staff member defending a cumbersome process. Sometimes it comes from a board member explaining why the annual gala must happen in November, at the same hotel, in the same format it has used for […]
Author Archives: sabrina
24
Apr
Apr
Leadership transitions can feel like being at a crossroads. When an executive director steps away, staff members often face uncertainty about their roles, increased workloads, and concerns about the organization’s future. This uncertainty often breeds anxiety. Studies show that about 40% of employees feel anxious about organizational changes, making it the most common reaction during […]
06
Mar
Mar
Who’s Next? The Case for a Board Succession PlanAsk a room full of nonprofit board chairs how they ended up in the role, and you’ll likely hear the same story: nobody else wanted to do it. Someone’s term was ending, the vice-chair stepped aside, and before long, a capable and committed board member found themselves […]
11
Feb
Feb
When we feel responsible for something, letting go can be so hard, even when we know it’s the right thing to do. The good news is that, more often than not, letting go leads to growth, for those around us and even for ourselves. My House 24 years ago, I had the opportunity to take […]
16
Jan
Jan
Leadership transitions are inevitable in every organization and nonprofits are particularly susceptible. Whether it’s a planned departure or an unexpected resignation, a leadership change can stir uncertainty throughout the organization. When leadership shifts happen, the greatest risk is not just operational disruption; it is the potential loss of focus on the mission itself. Programs might […]
23
Dec
Dec
More Organizations Are Turning to Interim Leadership for Stability and Impact The recent slowdown in my blog posts is not an excuse—it’s a manifestation of the very dynamics this blog exists to explore: the structural, cultural, strategic, and operational challenges facing nonprofits and other social-impact enterprises. In December alone we have started new interim leadership […]
12
Nov
Nov
It has been said that “culture eats strategy for breakfast (or perhaps for lunch),” and my observation, through our work, is indeed that culture drives the ability to execute—and execution ultimately drives impact. Culture is typically the domain of the executive leader of an organization. On the other hand, in mission driven organizations clarity as […]
06
Nov
Nov
Leadership transitions are defining moments for any nonprofit organization. When an executive director leaves, even temporarily, it can feel like the foundation of the organization falters. Operations slow down, decision-making becomes uncertain, and the staff begins to wonder what the future holds. Regaining a sense of momentum and direction becomes the organization’s most pressing challenge. […]
Nonprofit Interim Professional Leadership
From Nonprofits to Social Impact Enterprises: Defining and Measuring What Matters
13
Oct
Oct
Last time, we argued that it’s time to stop calling these organizations nonprofits and start calling them what they really are — social impact enterprises. The distinction isn’t just semantic. It changes how we think, how we govern, and ultimately how we measure success. If we accept that these organizations are, in fact, businesses with […]
Nonprofit Interim Professional Leadership
How Professional Interim Executive Directors Guide Nonprofits Through Change?
09
Sep
Sep
Leaders change: That is a fact of life for all nonprofits. The real question is whether that shift will set the organization up for success or struggle. This is the reason why various nonprofits hire a professional interim executive director, also known as an interim ED, to guide the nonprofit through leadership transitions. But, what […]