How can you set your nonprofit organization up for long term health?
An interim nonprofit executive provides outside perspective to drive the creation and implementation of a strategic vision that aligns staff, leadership, board members and other stakeholders.
If you are facing a leadership gap, financial stress, bad morale, lack of communication and processes, or lull in performance, InterimExecs can quickly connect you with the right leader ready to deploy into your organization.
Whether Interim Executive Director, Interim CFO, or Interim COO – an interim executive is focused on accountability and results.
In a survey by NonProfit Finance Fund, 79% of nonprofit leaders saw an increase in demand for services, yet only 45% of organizations were actually able to meet those rising demands.
Managing Growth in a Nonprofit Organization
The nonprofit sector is faced with big change, and fresh thinking is needed to navigate challenges from revenue generation to best practices to an evolving fundraising landscape where donor retention and clear communication is paramount.
No matter the mission or type of nonprofit – association, foundation social advocacy group, scientific research, health, or education – it can be a struggle to manage growth and transition.
An interim executive can assess what is working, what isn’t, and create a roadmap going forward. They work closely with the board and team to put a strategic plan into action, supporting and building a strong culture with a commitment to governance and accountability, while setting clear measurable goals to evaluate progress along the way.
Even as a nonprofit, we still have to make a margin. We felt that if we could get an Interim CEO that brought us the business skills we could really advance the organization. And we were right.
Case Study
NonProfit Executive Takes On Consortium in Chaos
Vision Share, a non-profit consortium of eye banks around the US, needed help getting board members, organizational leadership, respective local organizations and the central team aligned under a common mission and goal.
We Deployed an Expert Interim CEO Who:
Detailed and approved strategic and organizational framework and infrastructure, market positioning, member services, financial modeling, member rules of engagement and business plan
Implemented the foundational internal and external execution components necessary to realize strategic goals across the organization and board
Evaluated, recruited and on-boarded a new permanent CEO
10 Signs You May Need an
Interim Nonprofit Executive
- Decline in revenue and insufficient runway to be a sustainable organization
- Board members and staff are not aligned on vision or a go-forward plan
- Employees feel stretched from lack of project management resulting in low morale
- There is no shared long term strategic vision
- Innovation has not been a priority, threatening future growthÂ
- Donors are concerned about organizational stewardship of their contributions
- Lack of systems or financial controls making it difficult for the board to practice effective oversight
- Senior leadership has failed, departed or needs to be shored up
- The mission has changed, but it hasn’t been effectively communicated
- Unusual turnover of leadership (staff and board)
Case Study
Leadership Gap Calls for an Interim CEO
When the Tourette Association found itself lacking leadership, an interim CEO engaged to complete vital tasks.
An Interim CEO parachuted in to:
Developed and implemented an operating plan with staff and board members to move the organization forward, addressing key revenue sources
Completed a name and mission change process while stabilizing financial situation
Streamlined operations, dramatically improved investments in fund development and marketing, and recruited and onboarded a permanent CEO
You offer a remarkable service. Really a positive experience. The Interim CEO was terrific. She was definitely the right choice for us.