TransitionGuides

Dedicated to sustaining and strengthening nonprofits through better managed leadership transitions and related organizational development.

A change in executive leadership is one of the most important, challenging and powerful opportunities a nonprofit organization will face.

Change is Coming--On average, more than one in ten executive director jobs turns over each year. That number is projected to climb by 15 percent or more as the baby-boomer generation--many of whom founded core organizations in their communities 20 to 30 years ago--begin to reach retirement age.

Change is Challenging--Under the best circumstances, replacing an executive director is a time-consuming and risky endeavor. The top leadership role in an organization in today's environment is exceedingly complex. Too often these transitions happen unexpectedly, leaving the organization and Board scrambling.

Prepare, “Pivot” and Thrive--Properly managed, a leadership transition provides a pivotal moment, enabling an organization to change direction, maintain momentum, and strengthen its capacity. Whether you are a board member, an executive director, a foundation executive or other supporter of nonprofits, this site will help you understand how executive transitions can build the capacity of your nonprofit, your grantees or your members and clients.

How this Site can Help--This site was built by TransitionGuides, a collaborative association of consultants, management support organizations and others who specialize in serving nonprofit organizations, their executives and their board leaders during leadership transitions.

Here you will find the collected wisdom of decades of work researching and managing executive transitions. We invite you to explore by clicking on the links above. If you have a question, feel free to call us at (301) 439-6635 or use our on-line "Ask a Question" form.

TG News

TransitionGuides is honored to announce that its founders, Tom Adams and Don Tebbe, were recently recognized by the Alliance for Nonprofit Management for their significant contributions to innovation and management solutions in the field of nonprofits.

Tom Adams jointly received, along with Tim Wolfred from CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, the “Innovative Practice Award” for “innovation that has significantly changed the nonprofit capacity building field.” Adams and Wolfred were recognized for their national leadership in developing new and effective approaches to executive transition and succession planning for nonprofit organizations.

Don Tebbe received the 2009 Terry McAdam Book Award for his book, entitled Chief Executive Transitions: How to Hire and Support a Nonprofit CEO, which was published by BoardSource last year. The McAdam Book Award is presented annually to “the most inspirational and useful new book published which makes a substantial contribution to nonprofit management.”

Congratulations Tom and Don!