Ingrid Kirst Consulting

Nonprofit Leadership Transition Consultant

Interim ED

Start with the Ending

A Guide for New Executive Directors

As a seasoned executive director, I’ve learned that the most effective leaders are those who not only excel in their current roles but also thoughtfully plan for their departure. While it may seem counterintuitive to think about leaving as you’re just beginning, a strategic approach to succession planning ensures a smooth transition and positions your organization for continued success.

Key steps to take from day one:

  • Develop relationships with all staff, board, and key partners. It’s easy to get caught up in small crises when you start a position but building relationships will allow you to make the changes you need long-term. All of the other steps will result from this initial work.
  • Conduct a comprehensive organizational assessment. This will identify quick fixes to implement right away and longer-term projects to explore.
  • Understand the finances in-depth. I create both short and long-term forecasts to help the board make realistic plans for their new executive director. I need to understand all of the funding sources and their potential for continuation
  • Implement board succession planning – including planning for term limits, filling vacancies, and recruiting officers. I often find that this has been neglected at nonprofits.
  • Explore succession planning with the board and work with them on a succession policy.
  • Create an operations manual. I document my work as I go knowing that I will be handing it off to someone else soon.
  • Start leadership development planning while assessing staff capabilities. I won’t make significant staff changes, but I will take care of any serious issues. I might suggest staff restructuring or a change in responsibilities. Or I recommend staff who are potential future leaders and how to expand their skill sets.
  • Help the board establish initial goals and evaluation processes for the new executive director so everyone is on the same page about priorities from the beginning.

Sometimes I wish I had taken my own advice. For example, it took three months to understand the complex finances at one organization where I was the interim. They had various funding sources and were paid in arrears for most of their work. I wished I had spent more time focused on what was coming in from the beginning. The board and I addressed some deferred building maintenance, but in retrospect, we should have focused more on fundraising before spending funds we didn’t have.

Remember, a well-planned departure is not just about handing over the reins; it’s about setting the stage for future success. Start with the end in mind, no matter how far off it is.

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

Succeeding as an Acting Executive Director

Being promoted to acting executive director can be an honor but comes with its fair share of stress. You are suddenly taking on a new set of high-level responsibilities while still trying to maintain your existing work. There’s a huge advantage to the organization to temporarily fill a position internally. It is a fairly fast and simple process, but there are significant challenges to overcome.

[Read more…] about Succeeding as an Acting Executive Director

Succession Planning for Success

Leadership changes at nonprofit organizations are expected, but too often no plan has been created. We know that so much can happen. The current leader’s spouse gets a job offer in another state. Their elderly parent suddenly needs around-the-clock care. The board finds out about an incident outside work, forcing the resignation of the current leader. Often, though, it is much less drastic. Maybe the current leader decides to take an extended vacation and realizes how much they need to record and delegate before they go. [Read more…] about Succession Planning for Success

Advantages of Executive Search Consultants for Nonprofits

Partnering with an outside search consultant to hire the next executive director allows the board to focus on leading the organization, and on choosing the best candidate, rather than getting bogged down in the details of the search. Too often, boards try to do everything themselves, not realizing until it is too late how much time a search takes, and how different it is from a corporate hire. The executive director is the most important position in the organization and putting in the necessary time to get it right will save everyone time and frustration later on. [Read more…] about Advantages of Executive Search Consultants for Nonprofits