Giving Compass' Take:

• Miecha Ranea Forbes explains effective ways to plan for leadership changes in nonprofit organizations and the best pathways forward to navigate these changes.

• Why is it important for donors to understand leadership changes in nonprofit organizations to better inform their charitable giving?

• Read more about challenges in nonprofit leadership.

Every organization experiences leadership change. But these days, the nonprofit sector is experiencing a big demographic shift. Which is why it's essential for all nonprofits to start planning for the kind of thoughtful leadership transitions —including those resulting from both expected and sudden departures — any organization needs to survive and thrive.

According to the 2017 BoardSource report Leading With Intent, only 27 percent of nonprofits have a formal succession plan in place. That's unfortunate, because having such a plan in place can help any organization overcome the challenges and bumps in the road that almost always pop up in the wake of a leadership transition.

In the past, the process was commonly referred to "succession planning." However, that term often refers to identifying a successor for a specific leader and, in our view, has outgrown its usefulness. It's more helpful, instead, to think about the work of preparing for and managing leadership change as "intentional pathway planning," a more expansive term that serves as a reminder that leadership change involves much more than thinking about a single role or person; it's a holistic approach and lens that should be applied to every step of the hiring and onboarding process.

Tips for successful intentional pathway planning include:

  • Consider the big picture.
  • Plan and train.
  • Look internally first.
  • Know when to look externally.
  • Use consistent systems.
  • Prioritize staff development.
  • Emphasize where DEI meets pathway planning.
  • Customize your plans.
  • Expect the unexpected.
  • Consider your organization's biggest challenges.
  • Communicate wisely.

Read the full article about managing leadership changes by Miecha Ranea Forbes at PhilanTopic.