Managing Leadership Transition for Nonprofits: Passing the Torch to Sustain Organizational Excellence

This is the Safari online edition of the printed book.

For nonprofits, leadership transitions are a time of high risk. This book explains why transitions are so challenging, and shows how to replace chaos and crisis with proven, sustainable planning. The authors show how to systematically identify, introduce, support, and monitor leaders in ways that enhance performance and promote the organizational mission.

Introduction     1

 

Section 1:  Leadership and the Challenge of Transition

Chapter 1   What Makes Nonprofit Leadership So Challenging?     29

Chapter 2   Why Transitions Fail     53

 

Section 2:  Fundamentals of Effective Leadership

Chapter 3   Mission, Vision, and Effective Leadership     77

Chapter 4   Leadership and Strategy     95

Chapter 5   Good Governance     109

Chapter 6   Alignment     131

 

Section 3:  Professionalizing the Transition Process

Chapter 7   Creating a Transition Management Plan     151

Chapter 8   Transition Management     175

Chapter 9   Managing the Search Process     191

Chapter 10  Using Interim CEOs During Transition     223

Chapter 11  Introducing the New Leader     235

 

Section 4:  Attending to New Beginnings

Chapter 12  Succession Planning     253

Chapter 13  Leadership Continuity and Long-Term Governance     265

Epilogue     285

 

Section 5:  Tools

Appendix A  Notes on Research and Research Methods     289

Appendix B  Sample Leadership Transition Plan     291

Appendix C  Sample CEO Job Descriptions     303

Appendix D  Sample CEO Evaluation Templates     315

Appendix E  Sample Board Evaluation Templates     327

References     337

Index     345