How to prepare for emergency executive transitions

With the median age of nonprofit executive directors continuing to creep upwards, the Center for Nonprofit Advancement of Washington, D.C., offers nonprofits a template outlining how to put together an emergency succession plan for executive directors. The Center reviewed recent studies on executive leadership and noticed that, while more organizations are grappling with anticipated changes in leadership, few plan for emergency changes, either short-term or long-term.

No matter the age, health or happiness of the current leader, the Center points out, all organizations should be prepared for a sudden, unplanned change of executive directors. This led to creation of an Emergency Succession Plan Template, which is now available at no cost. Click here to download a copy.

The template defines the contents of a plan and makes it easy and painless to adapt and implement. It includes plans for short-term, long-term and permanent executive director changes, including a specific name or selection criteria for selecting an acting executive director, a communications plan to notify board members, funders and other key stakeholders and a thorough contact inventory. It allows the organization to assemble important scattered information into one document that is quickly available in an emergency.

Nonprofits need only tailor the name and a make a few leadership decisions and they will be on their way to a complete Emergency Succession Plan that can be reviewed and updated annually by the board of directors. The template makes it easy to prepare to continue your work despite future leadership changes and challenges.