Straight-talk guidance for nonprofit executive directors about role reality and coaching support
Your board evaluation shouldn’t feel like an ambush. Learn how to take control of the process, create meaningful criteria, connect evaluation to compensation, and turn feedback into development. Most boards want to evaluate well—they just need you to show them how.
Stepping into your first executive director role means facing competency gaps in finance, board relations, fundraising, and strategic planning—all while battling imposter syndrome. This comprehensive guide provides a realistic 24-month development timeline for first-time nonprofit EDs, addressing the competency gaps you’re facing, the mistakes to avoid, and the support systems you need to build. Learn how to develop executive presence authentically, create early wins while learning, and access the mentoring and coaching resources that accelerate your success without burning out.
Only 27% of nonprofits have written succession plans—leaving most organizations one unexpected event away from chaos. But succession planning isn’t about leaving; it’s about loving your organization enough to ensure it thrives whether you’re there or not. Learn how to build bench strength, preserve institutional knowledge, engage your board in succession planning, and know when it’s time to stay versus go—all without triggering organizational panic. Includes the three succession timelines every ED needs, failure patterns to avoid, and practical tools for starting this critical work today.
Succession Planning While Thriving: Why the Best EDs Plan Their Exit Read More »
Most nonprofit executive directors spend 80% of their time on operations and firefighting, leaving strategic leadership to happen in the margins—if at all. This creates a dangerous pattern: the organization becomes dependent on your operational involvement while missing the strategic direction only you can provide. Learn how to calculate your current strategic-operational ratio, implement a delegation framework that works in resource-constrained environments, and gradually shift toward spending half your time on true strategic leadership.
Finding Balance Between Strategic Leadership and Daily Operations in Your Nonprofit Read More »
When crisis hits your nonprofit, the first hours matter most. Learn the five-stage crisis leadership framework (Assess, Stabilize, Communicate, Mobilize, Learn), get a practical first 48-hours checklist, and discover how to maintain personal stability while your organization shakes. From financial emergencies to reputation threats, this guide helps executive directors lead with clarity during their organization’s most challenging moments.
Crisis Leadership for Nonprofit Executive Directors: Navigate Organizational Emergencies Read More »
Nonprofit executive directors face unique isolation—surrounded by people who need them, yet lacking anyone they can be completely honest with. This guide maps the five essential support relationships every ED needs: coach, mentor, peer group, thought partner, and therapist. Learn how to build intentional support systems, find peers who understand your challenges, navigate virtual and local network options, and create confidential spaces for real conversation. Includes practical guidance on avoiding common pitfalls like the Lone Wolf pattern and advice overload, plus answers to the most common questions about building your professional support network.
Building Your Support Network as a Nonprofit Executive Director Read More »
Burnout doesn’t announce itself—it creeps in disguised as dedication. For nonprofit executive directors, the unique pressures of mission weight, resource scarcity, and emotional labor accelerate the slide faster than almost any other sector. This guide reveals the four-stage burnout progression, the early warning signs most leaders miss, and practical strategies for building genuine immunity. Learn how to conduct an energy audit, establish sustainable rhythms, and know when transition might be the healthiest choice.
Preventing Nonprofit ED Burnout Before It Starts Read More »
Board relationships don’t have to feel like a performance review that never ends. Learn the skills of “managing up”—understanding board motivations, mastering meeting management, building champion networks, and navigating difficult conversations. This practical guide helps nonprofit executive directors transform their board relationships from exhausting to energizing through strategies for handling micromanagers, educating without condescension, and creating genuine partnership.
Managing Up to Your Board: The Nonprofit ED’s Strategic Guide Read More »
Making the leap from nonprofit founder to executive director is one of leadership’s most challenging transitions—not because you lack skills, but because it requires a fundamental identity shift. This guide walks you through the four stages of founder evolution, addresses the emotional work of moving from “my organization” to “our organization,” and provides practical strategies for building systems without losing your founding spirit. If you’re a founder struggling to let go while staying engaged, this is the roadmap you’ve been looking for.
From Founder to Executive Director: The Transition Guide for Nonprofit Leaders Read More »
Starting as a new nonprofit executive director? Your first 90 days set the trajectory for your entire tenure. This week-by-week roadmap helps you navigate the critical balance between listening and leading, avoid the traps that derail promising EDs, and build the relationships and understanding that make effective leadership possible. From stakeholder mapping to founder syndrome navigation, get the practical guidance corporate onboarding guides never provide.
Your First 90 Days as a Nonprofit ED: The Week-by-Week Roadmap for Success Read More »