Ingrid Kirst Consulting

Nonprofit Leadership Transition Consultant

Boards

When You Have Time to Plan for a Retirement

For some organizations, boards have plenty of time to prepare for a departure. This is a huge opportunity for the nonprofit, but it has to be used wisely.

Some boards jump into planning and preparing the organization. Others fret and fritter the time away. Too often I get a phone call from someone trying to figure out what to do because their ED is retiring in a month. Then I learn that the ED told the board a year earlier that they were leaving, and the board didn’t know what to do.

If I had a full year before an ED retired, here’s what I would recommend:

[Read more…] about When You Have Time to Plan for a Retirement

Beyond the Heir Apparent: Nonprofit Leadership Searches and Internal Candidates

The question of who will lead an organization into the future is a pivotal one. Should you hire a known quantity from within, or conduct an external search? If you have a potential internal successor, navigating the process requires careful consideration of several key factors. In my experience with ED searches, I have seen that regardless of which path you follow, step one is vital.


[Read more…] about Beyond the Heir Apparent: Nonprofit Leadership Searches and Internal Candidates

Navigating Change and Growth: My Journey at Lincoln Bike Kitchen

Lincoln Bike Kitchen (LBK) was an organization in need of a major transition. With no staff members previously, the functioning of the nonprofit relied heavily on the dedication of its board members for all administrative and operational tasks. The Lincoln Bike Kitchen’s mission to repair donated bicycles and provide them to the community was supported by a strong volunteer base that preferred to wrench on bikes rather than manage spreadsheets. Recognizing the limitations this model presented, the board concluded that hiring staff was the essential next step towards organizational growth. At the same time, they were embarking on a capital campaign as part of an upcoming move to a larger location and needed staff support to manage the campaign details. LBK hired me as their interim executive director to help them reach their goals. [Read more…] about Navigating Change and Growth: My Journey at Lincoln Bike Kitchen

Sometimes It’s Cheaper to Hire a Search Consultant

Engaging a professional executive search consultant can offer substantial cost benefits. This was borne out in a recent collaboration with a nonprofit board that had initially attempted to find a new executive director on their own. After months of stress, no candidates were found who were right for the position, prompting the board to enlist my expertise. I helped them find multiple highly-qualified candidates and they hired their top choice.

[Read more…] about Sometimes It’s Cheaper to Hire a Search Consultant

Case Study: Effective Communication in a Crisis

I was recently involved in a situation where a nonprofit had to deal with a quickly escalating negative PR issue. I learned a lot about how to manage the issue quickly and effectively.

The situation: a video was posted online that showed a board member conducting herself in a manner both contrary to organization policy and generally accepted behavior. The board member continued to add fuel to the fire in the video’s comments in an attempt to defend herself, and also publicly identified herself as a board member of the organization. The video rapidly went viral with people sharing and commenting on it from around the world. The organization’s leaders were receiving many messages demanding they do something about this board member.

[Read more…] about Case Study: Effective Communication in a Crisis

Building an Effective Board of Leaders: A Step-by-Step Guide

Great leadership is essential for every board, but it takes time to develop a strong, effective board. While you can’t instantly create an exceptional board, there is good news – you can cultivate a board that will significantly benefit your organization. In this article, I will guide you through the essential steps to building a high-impact board.

[Read more…] about Building an Effective Board of Leaders: A Step-by-Step Guide