Executive Transitions

Grantmakers and Nonprofit Leadership Change
 

Even for seasoned funders, supporting leadership transitions can be a tricky business. Where is the fine line between helping and intruding? What interventions work? And how can a grantmaker play a constructive role? Learn how grantmakers take up the transition challenge, engage with boards, support new CEOs, and help grantees use the moment to go in promising new directions.

Underwriting for this guide was provided by the Ford Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Supporting exiting and incoming CEOs
• When a board member calls
• Nurturing the next generation of leaders
   

SAMPLE QUOTES

"My message to funders is to make the leap of faith. Assume that, whatever the organization has been doing they will continue to do. You may decide a year later that that's not the case, but if all of us withhold our funding, there isn't a chance."

- Grantmaker on why support shouldn't leave even if an executive does
 

"It looks really bad to the outside world when an organization goes 'radio silent' during a transition."

— Grantmaker on the need to ask grantees for plans on communicating with outside stakeholders during executive transitions
 

"Our first reaction was, 'Oh, no! What about us?'"

— Grantmaker reporting candidly on how her foundation reacted to the news that a "mission critical" CEO planned to retire