How Does an Interim Executive Director Help During a Leadership Transition?

Enlisting an experienced, external Interim Executive Director is often the best way to stabilize a non-profit in transition. Here are three ways an Interim Executive Director (ED) positions organizations to succeed in their next chapters.

1)   An Interim ED fixes problems. Resolving urgent challenges better positions the long-term ED to succeed and can help organizations attract higher-quality candidates. For instance, I once joined an organization in the middle of their fiscal year, and they had no budget. (It was all in the head of the outgoing ED, who was no longer available.) How many candidates would apply for a long-term position at an organization with no budget? This is a great example of where an Interim ED can roll up her sleeves, tackle the problem, and stabilize the organization. In this case, I created a detailed operating budget for the organization and even earned them a surplus. This allowed the incoming ED to focus on other challenges, such as long-term planning and strategy.

2)   An Interim ED brings deep experience in change management. She is an expert in leading organizational transitions and mitigating related challenges. This includes boosting staff morale (which often nosedives during transitions) and increasing communication amongst and between the staff, Board, funders and partners.

3)   An Interim ED gives the organization time for a thoughtful executive search. Searches for long-term EDs often take longer than anticipated. The top candidate may decline the offer, and the search has to begin again. Or the perfect candidate can’t start for six months. Or the Board needs some time-sensitive organizational issues resolved before hiring a long-term ED. With an experienced Interim ED, Boards and staff can sleep at night knowing someone is keeping the trains running on time and overseeing the fundraising.

For nonprofits facing leadership transitions, an Interim ED is usually the best option. The Interim ED resolves urgent organizational challenges, brings tested expertise in change management, and stabilizes the nonprofit during a thoughtful executive search.