succession planning

The primary goal of emergency succession planning is to prepare an organization for the unplanned absence or departure of a key manager. Nonprofit organizations can adapt this sample emergency backup succession plan (Raffa, formerly TransitionGuides) for appointing an acting executive director, president or chief executive offider in the event of an unplanned leave.

This 2004-2008 series of publications on executive transition management was funded in part by the Casey Foundation and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. It features ten reports on topics related to leadership change--using interim directors, "founder's syndrome," how boards can be proactive, and more.

This guide outlines the steps and stages of a well-conducted search for a new CEO or Executive Director, as experienced by BoardWalk Consulting, a national executive search firm that specializes in recruiting CEOs and senior leaders for nonprofits and foundations. (BoardWalk Consulting)

In Letting Go and Leaving: The Founder's Role in a Successful Transition, executive transition expert Tom Adams shares the story of a successful executive transition and tips for letting go (©2003 Common Ground, North Carolina Center for Nonprofits). 

Adapt RoadMap Consulting's "Leadership Transitions Work Plan Example" to get a jump start on the executive transition process and timeline. 

Tom Adams with CompassPoint developed this sample job description for an interim executive director that you can adapt for your own purposes.

"Interim Executive Directors: The Power in the Middle" by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund explains the benefits and basics of using an interim executive director in a leadership transition. Interim executive directors are highly skilled managers who temporarily take the helm of an organization, help the board and staff address important systems and capacity issues, and lay the groundwork for the permanent leader’s success.

Acting and Interim Chief Executives - During a chief executive transition, nonprofits generally rely on transition leadership to bridge the gap between the former executive's departure and hiring a new CEO. However, the type of transition leadership an organization chooses depends on a number of factors.

Nonprofit Quarterly's "Exit Agreements for Nonprofit CEOs: A Guide for Boards and Executives" provides a context and a set of choices when considering whether an exit agreement is needed and, if so, what might be included. Learn the important difference between an exit agreement and a separation agreement. 

BoardSource's Executive Transition Timeline provides a timeline that nonprofits can use to help prepare for an upcoming transition or update their succession planning process.