Q: Why did you write this book?
A: So many nonprofits struggle with leadership turnovers.  I want nonprofit boards to see the great opportunities for agency advancement that can arise at the moment of an executive turnover. I also want nonprofits to be able to manage their transitions inexpensively.  The advice and tools in this book make that possible.  In 1997, I started the Executive Transitions program at CompassPoint. The CompassPoint team of transition consultants has now helped over 300 nonprofits think about where they’re going and find the executive that fits that future.  Based on our experience, we've created and honed a transition toolkit which now contains more than 170 items.  We wanted to share what we know—especially with medium-sized and smaller nonprofits that need affordable guidance and proven tools to help them manage these transitions.

Q: How big of an issue is leadership turnover?
A: It’s huge.  CompassPoint surveyed nearly 2,000 nonprofit executive directors in eight cities for our report, Daring to Lead 2006. We found that three quarters didn’t plan on being in their current jobs in five years.  An even higher proportion of executives of small organizations (fewer than 10 paid staff) said they were likely to leave within five years.  Yet, less than a third of the 2,000 executives had discussed succession planning with their boards.

Q: What's at stake during executive transitions?
A: A nonprofit board has a lot on the line when faced with searching for its next staff leader. Its constituents—clients, staff, funders—are looking to them to find the right person to take the organization forward, to deliver on its mission and goals. The wrong hire can set the agency back and do damage to the quality and availability of programs that the agency’s audience has come to rely on.  Replacing a failed new hire means more money and time in starting the transition over again. The right hire will build on the achievements of his predecessors and advance the agency’s contributions to its community.  A transition process well-done builds excitement for the future of an agency and draws resources to its programs.

Q: Who is this book for?
A: This book will be a very useful guide for nonprofit boards…and for anyone else involved in a leadership turnover in a community organization. Readers will find the essential tools they need to make the most of an opportune moment of renewal for their agencies. And they will avoid damaging missteps. Executive directors looking for advice on how to prepare their organizations for their departures will make good use of the steps and protocols presented.  Similarly, managers in community agencies can learn how to best channel their input into the work of renewing their agencies’ visions and strategies and choosing new leaders. Funders can offer this book as a guide to grantees that are about to enter an executive transition. Funders can also use the book as a template against which to evaluate the transition grant requests they receive from community groups.