Interim Executive Directors - Leading Transitions
%XECUTIVE4RANSITIONS-ONOGRAPH3ERIES
)NTERIM%XECUTIVE$IRECTORS
4HE0OWERINTHE-IDDLE
EVELYNWALTER(!!3 *2FUND
6OLUME
"Y4IM7OLFRED #OMPASS0OINT.ONPROFIT 3ERVICES %XECUTIVE4RANSITIONS -ISSION3TREET TH&LOOR 3AN&RANCISCO#! PHONE FAX TIMW COMPASSPOINTORG WWWCOMPASSPOINTORG
¹ 4HE%VELYNAND 7ALTER(AAS *R&UND
4HE%VELYNAND7ALTER(AAS *R&UND
4HE!NNIE%#ASEY&OUNDATION
4HE(AAS *R&UNDISDEDICATEDTOCELE BRATINGANDBUILDINGCOMMUNITY)TSEEKS TOCREATEVIBRANT SAFENEIGHBORHOODS THATSUPPORTTHEHEALTHYDEVELOPMENTOF YOUNGPEOPLEANDTHEWELL BEINGOFTHEIR FAMILIES4HE&UNDALSOSEEKSTOSTRENGTH ENTHEBONDSOFMUTUALRESPECTAMONG PEOPLEFROMALLWALKSOFLIFETOPURSUE COMMONINTERESTSANDCONTRIBUTETOTHE LARGERCOMMUNITY4HROUGHITSGRANTMAK ING THE(AAS *R&UNDASPIRESTOSERVEAS AVOICEOFHOPEANDAPOSITIVE UNIFYING FORCEFORSOCIALCHANGE
4HE!NNIE%#ASEY&OUNDATIONISA PRIVATECHARITABLEORGANIZATION DEDICATEDTOHELPINGBUILDBETTERFUTURES FORDISADVANTAGEDCHILDRENINTHE5NITED 3TATES4HEPRIMARYMISSIONOFTHE &OUNDATIONISTOFOSTERPUBLICPOLICIES HUMANSERVICEREFORMS ANDCOMMUNITY SUPPORTSTHATMOREEFFECTIVELYMEETTHE NEEDSOFTODAYSVULNERABLECHILDREN ANDFAMILIES)NPURSUITOFTHISGOAL THE &OUNDATIONMAKESGRANTSTHATHELPSTATES CITIES ANDNEIGHBORHOODSFASHIONMORE INNOVATIVE COST EFFECTIVERESPONSESTO THESENEEDS
!BOUTTHE!UTHOR
4HE%XECUTIVE4RANSITIONS -ONOGRAPH3ERIES
"EFOREMOVINGINTOHISCURRENTPOSITION ASHEADOF%XECUTIVE,EADERSHIP3ERVICES AT#OMPASS0OINT.ONPROFIT3ERVICES 4IM7OLFREDSERVEDTIMESASINTERIM EXECUTIVEDIRECTOROF3AN&RANCISCO"AY !REANONPROFITS4IMBEGANHISNONPROFIT CAREERINASEXECUTIVEDIRECTOROF AN)LLINOISCHILDWELFAREAGENCY(EWAS ANEARLYORGANIZEROFLOCALANDNATIONAL RESPONSESTOTHE!)$3EPIDEMICASEXECU TIVEDIRECTOROFTHE3AN&RANCISCO!)$3 &OUNDATIONFROMTO(EISCO AUTHOROFTWOSEMINALSTUDIESOFNONPROF ITEXECUTIVEDIRECTORTENUREANDEXPERI ENCE ,EADERSHIP,OSTWITH-IKE !LLISONAND*AN-ASAOKA AND$ARING TO,EADWITH*EANNE0ETERS "OTH STUDIESWEREPUBLISHEDBY#OMPASS0OINT
)NTERIM%XECUTIVE$IRECTORS4HE0OWERIN THE-IDDLEISTHESECONDVOLUMEINANEW MONOGRAPHSERIESONEXECUTIVETRANSI TIONSANDEXECUTIVETRANSITIONMANAGE MENT FUNDEDBYTHE%VELYNAND7ALTER (AAS *R&UNDANDTHE!NNIE%#ASEY &OUNDATION)TINCLUDES
#APTURINGTHE0OWEROF,EADERSHIP #HANGE5SING%XECUTIVE4RANSITION -ANAGEMENTTO3TRENGTHEN/RGANIZATIONAL #APACITY
&OUNDER4RANSITIONS#REATING'OOD %NDINGSAND.EW"EGINNINGS!'UIDEFOR %XECUTIVE$IRECTORSAND"OARDS
5P.EXT'ENERATION#HANGEANDTHE ,EADERSHIPOF.ONPROFIT/RGANIZATIONS 4HESEAREALLAVAILABLETHROUGHTHE#ASEY &OUNDATIONANDONLINEATWWWAECFORG INITIATIVESLEADERSHIP
4ABLEOF#ONTENTS
%XECUTIVE4RANSITIONS7IDESPREADAND#HALLENGING !GENCIESIN4RANSITION!NXIETYAND5NFINISHED"USINESS )NTERIMSIN!CTION#ENTRAL#ITY9OUTH!CTION#ENTER 4HE)NTERIM%$-AKINGTHE-OSTOF#HANGE 4HE)NTERIM%$!DVANTAGE!N/VERVIEWOFTHE"ENEFITS ,OOKINGFORAN)NTERIM%$7HOAND(OWTO(IRE )NTERIMSIN!CTION&AIRFAX#!3! )NTERIMSIN!CTION!NGEL)SLAND)MMIGRATION3TATION&OUNDATION 4HE)NTERIM%$/N4HE*OB&IRSTAND,AST3TEPS )NTERIMSIN!CTION0AULS0LACE )NTERIMSIN!CTION3OUTH"AY7ATER%DUCATION0ROJECT 2ELATED0UBLICATIONS
%XECUTIVE4RANSITIONS 7IDESPREADAND#HALLENGING ,EADERSHIPCHANGEISANINCREASINGLYCOMMONASPECT OFNONPROFITORGANIZATIONALLIFE2ESEARCHSUGGESTSTHAT EACHYEAR ONEINTENNONPROFITSGOESTHROUGHALEADER SHIPTRANSITION!STHELARGENUMBERSOFLEADERSFROM THEAGINGBABYBOOMGENERATIONBEGINTORETIRE WE CANEXPECTEVENMOREOFTHESELEADERSHIPTURNOVERS !CCORDINGTOASURVEYOFMORETHAN NON PROFITORGANIZATIONS PERCENTOFRESPONDENTSSAY THEYARELIKELYTOGOTHROUGHALEADERSHIPTRANSITION BY WHILEJUSTPERCENTHADEXPERIENCEDA TRANSITIONDURINGTHEPASTYEARS&IFTY FIVEPERCENT OFEXECUTIVEDIRECTORSWEREOVERTHEAGEOF/THER STUDIESPREDICTASIMILARLEVELOFhTURBULENCEATTHE TOPvOFNONPROFITSBETWEENNOWANDTHEENDOFTHE DECADE #HANGEISHARD 4RANSITIONSCANBEVERYDIFFICULTFORNONPROFITORGANI ZATIONSOFALLSIZES&ORSMALLER GRASS ROOTSAGENCIES WITHLIMITEDFINANCIALRESOURCES THEYCANBEPARTICU LARLYCHALLENGING5NLIKEMANYFOR PROFITCOMPANIES NONPROFITSRARELYHAVEPLANNEDORROUTINESUCCESSIONS RAISINGTHEDOWNSIDERISKSOFTHETRANSITIONPERIOD &URTHER hFOUNDERvTRANSITIONS WHICHOURONGOING RESEARCHSUGGESTSWILLBERELATIVELYMORECOMMON ARE NOTORIOUSLYTHORNYANDCANTESTTHERESILIENCEOFNON PROFITORGANIZATIONSEVENMORE0OORLYMANAGEDTRAN SITIONSOFANYKINDCANERODEORGANIZATIONALEFFECTIVE NESSANDSERVICEQUALITY ANDINTHEWORSTCASES PUTA NONPROFITOUTOFBUSINESS
RELATIVELYPREDICTABLE TRANSITIONPROCESS THESEPERIODS OFCHANGECANBEPOTENT PIVOTALMOMENTS OPPORTUNI TIESTOUPDATEANORGANIZATIONSSTRATEGICDIRECTIONAND IMPLEMENTNEEDEDCAPACITYBUILDING4HECASESTUDIES INTHISMONOGRAPHPRESENTSTORIESOFNONPROFITGROUPS CAPITALIZINGONTHESPECIALGROWTHOPPORTUNITIESTHAT APPEARBETWEENTHETENURESOFPERMANENTLEADERS )NTERIMEXECUTIVEDIRECTORS 4HEPOWERINTHEMIDDLE 4HEFOLLOWINGMONOGRAPH THELATESTINASERIESON EXECUTIVETRANSITIONSPRODUCEDWITHSUPPORTFROMTHE %VELYNAND7ALTER(AAS *R&UNDANDTHE!NNIE% #ASEY&OUNDATION DESCRIBESTHEBENEFITSANDBASICSOF USINGANINTERIM%XECUTIVE$IRECTORINTERIM%$ INA LEADERSHIPTRANSITION!NONPROFITBOARDFACINGATRAN SITIONMAYBEGINBYTALKINGWITHACONSULTANTEXPERI ENCEDINEXECUTIVETRANSITIONANDSEARCH4HISMONO GRAPHWILLCOVERTHEISSUESTHATNONPROFITSINTRANSITION SHOULDTHENCONSIDERWHENWEIGHINGWHETHERTOUSEAN INTERIM%$EITHERINTANDEMWITHATRANSITIONCON SULTANTORONTHEIROWN
&IRST LETUSBECLEARABOUTWHATWEMEAN)NTERIM %$SARENOTSIMPLYBOARDMEMBERSORSTAFFWHOSITIN THEEXECUTIVEDIRECTORSSEATFORAFEWWEEKSORMONTHS UNTILANEWDIRECTORISFOUND)NTERIM%$SAREHIGHLY SKILLEDMANAGERSWHOTEMPORARILYTAKETHEHELMOFAN ORGANIZATIONFOURTOEIGHTMONTHSONAVERAGE HELP THEBOARDANDSTAFFADDRESSIMPORTANTSYSTEMSAND CAPACITYISSUES ANDLAYTHEGROUNDWORKFORTHEPER 4RANSITIONSASPIVOTALMOMENTS MANENTLEADERSSUCCESS7HILENOTALLORGANIZATIONS 4RANSITIONS HOWEVER NEEDNOTBEASSOCIATEDWITHBAD INTRANSITIONREQUIREANINTERIM%$ OURRESEARCHAND OUTCOMES#OMPASS0OINT.ONPROFIT3ERVICES ALONG PRACTICETODATEAT#OMPASS0OINTSUGGESTTHATTHOSE WITHTHE!NNIE%#ASEY&OUNDATIONANDOTHERS HAS GROUPSTHATDOUSEANINTERIM%$EMERGESTRONGER DEVELOPEDACOMPREHENSIVEANDAFFORDABLEAPPROACH MOREFINANCIALLYSOUND ANDWITHHIGHLEVELSOFOPTI TO%XECUTIVE4RANSITION-ANAGEMENT%4- WHICH MISMABOUTTHEFUTUREIMPACTOFTHEIRAGENCYSERVICES CANHELPNONPROFITSNOTONLYSURVIVETRANSITIONS BUT )NSUM THEUSEOFINTERIM%$SREPRESENTSAPOWERFUL USETHEMASOPPORTUNITIESTOGROWANDTHRIVE)NPAR CAPACITY BUILDINGSTRATEGY ONEWEBELIEVENONPROFITS TICULAR WEHAVEFOUNDTHATWHENNONPROFITSRECEIVE SHOULDCAREFULLYCONSIDERWHENADDRESSINGTHECHAL THEPROPERSUPPORTANDUNDERSTANDTHEUNSETTLING BUT LENGESOFTHEIRNEXTLEADERSHIPTRANSITION
4EEGARDEN 0AIGE#HANGE!HEAD.ONPROFIT%XECUTIVE,EADERSHIPAND4RANSITION3URVEY"ALTIMORE -$!NNIE%#ASEY&OUNDATION )Nn -ARYLAND!SSOCIATIONOF.ONPROFITSANDTHE!NNIE%#ASEY&OUNDATIONBOTHSURVEYEDEXECUTIVEDIRECTORSANDRECEIVED RESPONSESFROMOVEREXECUTIVESINEACHSURVEY&OR-$.ONPROFITEXECUTIVES PERCENTPLANNEDTOLEAVEWITHINFIVEYEARS AND PERCENTWEREFOUNDERSORLONG TERMOVERTENYEARSTENURE EXECUTIVES&OR#ASEYGRANTEEEXECUTIVES PERCENTPLANNEDTOLEAVE WITHINSEVENYEARS ANDPERCENTWEREFOUNDERSORLONG TERMEXECUTIVESOFWHOMPERCENTWEREFOUNDERS3TUDIESBY#OMPASS0OINT .ONPROFIT3ERVICES ANDTHE#%/2OUNDTABLEOF#OMMUNITY&OUNDATIONS REPORTSIMILARFINDINGS
!GENCIESIN4RANSITION !NXIETYAND5NFINISHED"USINESS %NTERINGANAGENCYASITSTEMPORARYLEADER THE INTERIM%$WILLNOTFINDTHEORGANIZATIONINAhSTEADY STATEv3TAFFANDBOARDWILLBEINTHEMIDSTOFSEPARAT INGFROMTHEPREVIOUSEXECUTIVEWITHVARYINGDEGREES OFFEAR SADNESS ANDANTICIPATION4HEDEPARTING%$ WILLALSOBEINANIN BETWEENSTATE WORKINGTHROUGH THEFEELINGSTHATACCOMPANYASEPARATION PERHAPS CONFUSEDABOUTHOWMUCHINFLUENCEHEORSHEWANTS ORSHOULDHAVEONTHEAGENCYSFUTURE)FTHEBOARD FORCEDTHEDEPARTURE EMOTIONSMAYBEPARTICULARLY HIGH#OMPLICATINGTHESITUATION SOMEFUNDERS DONORS ANDVOLUNTEERSMAYBETAKINGAhWAITANDSEEv ATTITUDEBEFOREWHOLEHEARTEDLYREINVESTINGTHEMSELVES INTHEORGANIZATION
!SWEWILLDISCUSSLATERINTHISMONOGRAPH ITISTHE INTERIMLEADERSTASKTOSTEPINTOTHISUNSETTLEDPERIOD INTHEAGENCYSLIFEWITHAHEALTHYRESPECTFORITSMIS SIONANDTHECONTRIBUTIONSOFALLINVOLVED-AKING SPACEFORTHEMAJORPARTIESTHOUGHTSANDFEELINGSWILL PROMOTEAHEALTHIERAGENCYENVIRONMENT!TTENDING WITHCAREANDCALMTOANYOPERATIONALDEFICIENCIES WILLPREPARETHEORGANIZATIONFORGREATERACHIEVEMENTS UNDERITSNEXTPERMANENTEXECUTIVE
)NALLCASES THEINTERIM%$ANDORGANIZATIONMUST PROPERLYHONORTHEDEPARTINGEXECUTIVESSERVICEAND ACCOMPLISHMENTS THEWORKHEORSHEHASDONEINTHE FACEOFTHEENORMOUSCHALLENGESINHERENTINNONPROFIT WORK/UTOFPASSIONFORTHEAGENCYSMISSION THE -OSTCONCRETELY THEINTERIM%$WILLINVARIABLYFIND DEPARTINGLEADERACCEPTEDTHEJOBSSTRESSES MADE UNDER RESOURCEDADMINISTRATIVESYSTEMS%VENINTHE PERSONALSACRIFICES ANDGAVEHISORHERBESTSOTHAT BESTOFTIMES NONPROFITSEXPERIENCEATENSIONBETWEEN THELIVESOFOTHERSMIGHTBEIMPROVEDANDENRICHED INFRASTRUCTURENEEDSANDPROGRAMFUNDINGANDTHISIS USUALLYRESOLVEDBYSHORTCHANGINGINFRASTRUCTURE %$SWHOARESUCCESSFULINCARRYINGOUTTHEIRWIDE ARRAYOFDUTIESDOSOBYDINTOFPASSIONANDWILESAND LONGHOURSANDOFTENBYCUTTINGADMINISTRATIVECOR NERSINWAYSTHATWORKFORTHEM3ERVICESANDGOODS FORCLIENTSALWAYSCOMEFIRST 3OAS%$SPREPARETOLEAVETHEIRORGANIZATIONS EVEN THEMOSTSUCCESSFULWILLREPORTTHATTHEREARETHINGS THEYWOULDHAVEDONEBETTERIFGIVENTHETIME RESOURCES ANDSTAFF!CCOUNTINGSYSTEMSMAYBELESS THANIDEAL0ERSONNELFILESMAYBENEGLECTEDORPER FORMANCEEVALUATIONSPUTOFF4HEREMAYBEDELAYED END OF CONTRACTREPORTSTOFUNDERSORHAPHAZARDDATA COLLECTIONONCLIENTSERVICES,EAVINGTHINGSUNDONEIS ALMOSTINEVITABLEINCHRONICALLYUNDER RESOURCEDNON PROFITSETTINGS
#OMPASS0OINTHASDOCUMENTEDTHEPROFESSIONALLIFEOFEXECUTIVEDIRECTORSINTWOSTUDIESON%$EXPERIENCEANDTENURE,EADERSHIP,OST
ASURVEYOF3AN&RANCISCO"AY!REAEXECUTIVES AND$ARINGTO,EADASURVEYOFEXECUTIVESINCITIESACROSSTHECOUNTRY !COPYOF$ARINGTO,EADCANBEDOWNLOADEDFROMTHEhRESEARCHvPAGEOFTHE#OMPASS0OINTWEBSITE!HARDCOPYOF,EADERSHIP,OSTCAN BEORDEREDFROMTHEWEBSITEBOOKSTORE
#ENTRAL#ITY9OUTH!CTION#ENTER
)NTERIMSIN!CTION
4HE#ENTRAL#ITY9OUTH!CTION#ENTERWASDEFICIT SPENDINGWHENITS%$ 'ARY RESIGNEDONSHORTNOTICE TOTAKEASIMILARPOSITIONINANOTHERPARTOFTHESTATE &ORMOSTOFTHELASTCENTURY THE#ENTERHADPROVIDED AFTER SCHOOLANDRECREATIONALPROGRAMMINGFORTHE YOUTHINTHESURROUNDINGWORKINGCLASSNEIGHBOR HOOD(OWEVER GENTRIFICATIONANDSOARINGHOUSING COSTSHADBEGUNTOPUSHOUTMANYMIDDLE AND LOW INCOMEFAMILIES&ORTHELASTTHREEYEARSOF'ARYS SIX YEARTENURE THE#ENTERSPROGRAMSHADBEENIN SERIOUSDECLINE
!BOARDMEMBER "ILL WHOHADRECENTLYBEENLAID OFFFROMHISSOFTWAREENGINEERINGJOB STEPPEDINTO THEACTING%$POSITION WHILETHEBOARDCONDUCTED ASEARCH"OARDRECRUITINGFAILEDTOTURNUPQUALIFIED CANDIDATES)NTHEMEANTIME "ILLWASUNSUCCESSFULIN TURNINGAROUNDTHEAGENCYSFINANCESANDTHECITYS SOCIALSERVICESAGENCY WHICHHADLONGCONTRACTED WITHTHE#ENTER THREATENEDTOTERMINATEITSSUPPORT
!TTHESAMETIME !LFREDOTOOKONTHEAGENCYS BOOKS0AYABLESWEREOUTOFCONTROL(EHIREDANEW STAFFACCOUNTANTANDPURSUEDLONGOVERDUERECEIV ABLES!LFREDOTHENPERSUADEDAPERSONALFRIENDTO MAKEASIX FIGURELOANTOTHE#ENTERTOPAYOFFCREDI TORS4HELOANWASSECUREDBYTHE#ENTERBUILDING WHICHWASMORTGAGE FREE !LFREDOTHENUSEDHISCREDIBILITYWITHCITYAGEN CIESANDLOCALFOUNDATIONSTOATTRACTFUNDSTOMAKE CRITICALREPAIRSTOTHE#ENTERSFACILITIES WHICHHAD BEENLONGDEFERRED&IFTYTHOUSANDDOLLARSFROMONE FOUNDATIONWENTTORESTORINGFOUROFTHE#ENTERS SIXBATHROOMS WHICHHADBEENSHUTDOWN!NOTHER GRANTPAIDFORTHEPAINTANDSUPPLIESUSEDBYTWO VOLUNTEERORGANIZATIONSTOGIVETHEWHOLEBUILDINGA NEWCOATOFPAINT !S!LFREDOPUTSIT hMYJOBWASTOBECONSTANTLYHUS TLINGONBEHALFOFTHE#ENTERv(ISEFFORTSTORENEW THEBUILDINGANDPROGRAMSLIFTEDADEMORALIZEDSTAFF 4HENEWFINANCINGENDEDTHEFREQUENTPAYROLLDELAYS INTHESIXMONTHSPRIORTO!LFREDOSSTART PAYCHECKS HADBEENLATEEIGHTTIMES /NENEWGRANTWENTTO COMPUTERPURCHASESSOTHAT FORTHEFIRSTTIME ALLSTAFF HADTHEIROWN0#WORKSTATIONS
4HROUGH#OMPASS0OINT THE#ENTERBOARDTHENHIRED ANINTERIM%$ !LFREDO WHOHADASTRONGHISTORYOF RUNNINGSOCIALSERVICEANDWORK READINESSNONPROFITS INTHECITY!LFREDODIDAQUICKREADONTHERANGE OFTHINGSTHATNEEDEDCORRECTINGTOGETTHE#ENTER BACKONITSFEET(ETHENSIGNEDA MONTHCONTRACT WITHTHEBOARDINORDERTOHAVETHETIMEREQUIREDTO !LFREDORECRUITEDFORTHEPERMANENT%$POSITIONA ADDRESSTHEM COUPLEOFGREATCANDIDATESWHOCAMEFROMTHENEW COMMUNITIESTARGETEDBYTHE#ENTER/NEOFTHEM /NTHEPROGRAMMINGFRONT !LFREDOREFRAMEDTHE TOOKTHEJOB AND!LFREDOAGREEDTOBEAVAILABLEFOR #ENTERASAhSAFEHAVENvAFTER SCHOOLFACILITYFORYOUTH SIXMONTHSASAMENTOR LIVINGINHIGHCRIMEAREASOFTHECITYOUTSIDETHE IMMEDIATEAREAAROUNDTHE#ENTER(EMARKETEDITS !LFREDOSQUICKANDAGGRESSIVESTYLEINTAKINGONTHE PROGRAMSTOTHEFAMILIES CHURCHES ANDSCHOOLSIN #ENTERSPROBLEMSWASIMPORTANTTOHISSUCCESSIN THOSENEIGHBORHOODS0UBLICTRANSPORTATIONALLOWED TURNINGITAROUND!LSOCRITICAL ESPECIALLYINREASSUR EASYACCESSTOTHE#ENTER4HESTAFFRECEIVEDTRAINING INGFUNDERSANDGENERATINGWORKINGCAPITAL WASHIS ONHOWTOHEADOFFDRUGDEALINGANDMINIMIZEOTHER REPUTATIONASASUCCESSFULNONPROFITEXECUTIVEINTHE DANGERSINSOMECITYNEIGHBORHOODS CITY4HE#ENTERSBOARDCOULDNOTHAVEAFFORDEDTHE SALARYREQUIREDTOHIRETHATLEVELOFTALENTONAPER MANENTBASIS!LFREDOSINTERIMWORKGOTTHEAGENCY TOASTABLEPOINTWHEREITCOULDBEMAINTAINEDAND CARRIEDFORWARDBYNEWERTALENTATTHEHELM
#ENTRAL#ITY9OUTH!CTION#ENTERISTHEFICTITIOUSNAMEFORANACTUALCLIENTOF#OMPASS0OINT.ONPROFIT3ERVICES 4HENAMESOFALLPERSONSMENTIONEDHAVEALSOBEENCHANGED
4HE)NTERIM%$ -AKINGTHE-OSTOF#HANGE !NEXECUTIVESDECISIONTOLEAVEANONPROFITAGENCY KICKSOFFAPERIODOFORGANIZATIONALTRANSITION 2EFLECTINGACHANGEMODELDEVELOPEDBY7ILLIAM "RIDGES THEELEMENTSOFATRANSITIONCANBEORGA NIZEDINTOTHREEOVERLAPPINGPHASES4HEFIRSTISTHE %NDINGPHASE WHERETHEORGANIZATIONGETSCLOSUREON THEDEPARTINGEXECUTIVESTENURE!LLPARTIESEXCHANGE GOODBYESANDAPPRECIATIONSTHEYMAYALSONEEDTO WORKTHROUGHTHEIRFEELINGSOFLOSSORANGER!TTHE OTHERENDOFTHEPROCESS THE"EGINNINGPHASEINCLUDES THENEWEXECUTIVELEADERSWELCOMEANDORIENTATION ANDCANINCLUDESIGNIFICANTORGANIZATIONALCHANGESOR NEWWAYSOFDOINGBUSINESS "RIDGESREFERSTOTHE-IDDLEPHASEINACHANGEPROCESS THEPERIODBETWEENTHE%NDINGANDTHE"EGINNING ASTHEhNEUTRALZONEv4HISISBOTHATIMEOFORGANIZA TIONALVULNERABILITY ANDVERYIMPORTANTLY APERIODOF HEIGHTENEDOPPORTUNITY3INCETHELEADERISLEAVING THEORGANIZATIONISMUCHMOREOPENTOCHANGETHAN USUAL3YSTEMSANDCULTUREBECOMEABIThUNGLUEDv 4HEYCANBEIMPROVEDANDPUTBACKTOGETHERBYBOARD ANDSTAFFINNEWANDEXCITINGWAYSTHATLEAVETHEORGA NIZATIONSTRONGERANDMORESTABLE
4HEPOWEROFTHETRANSITIONPERIODTOPRODUCEFRESH PERSPECTIVESANDCHANGECANRARELYBEFULLYREALIZED IFTHEDEPARTINGLEADERSTAYSINPLACE%VENWITHTHE BESTOFINTENTIONSTOLETGOANDGIVETHEAGENCYSPACE TOCREATEANEWFUTURE THEDEPARTINGEXECUTIVEEXERTS ANUNEXPRESSEDORPERHAPSEVENOVERT FORCEFORMAIN TAININGTHESTATUSQUO/FTENINADVERTENTLY HISORHER PRESENCEDELAYSTHELEADERSHIPSEPARATIONPROCESS
)NTERIMSINTHE#LERGY )NTERIMPASTORSAREROUTINELYENGAGEDBYSEVERAL 0ROTESTANTDENOMINATIONSINTHE#HRISTIANFAITH4HE 0RESBYTERIAN#HURCH FORINSTANCE MANDATESTHATWHEN AREGULARPASTORLEAVESACONGREGATION ANINTERIMPAS TORMUSTBEBROUGHTINFORAMINIMUMOFONEYEAR4HE INTERIMLEADERISCHOSENFROMAMONGACORPSOFPASTORS WHOHAVEGRADUATEDFROMANINTERIMMINISTRYTRAINING INSTITUTE
4HEINTERIMPASTORLEADSSEVERALhDEVELOPMENTAL TASKSvFORTHECONGREGATION!SINNONPROFITGROUPS !NINTERIM%$ISANESPECIALLYPOTENTTOOLFORMAK THEINTERIMHELPSTHECONGREGATIONGAINPSYCHOLOGICAL INGTHEMOSTOFTHECAPACITYBUILDINGOPPORTUNITIES CLOSUREWITHTHEDEPARTEDPASTOR4HISISBASEDONTHE INTHETRANSITIONSNEUTRALZONE7ITHTHEPHYSICAL PREMISETHATACONGREGATIONCANNOTFULLYEMBRACEITS DEPARTUREOFTHEPREVIOUSEXECUTIVE THENEUTRALZONE NEXTPASTORUNTILITHASEMOTIONALLYhLETGOvOFTHEPRE ISMORECLEARLYDEMARCATEDTHANINTHECASEOFAhLAME VIOUSONE!SECONDTASKISATTENDINGTOADMINISTRATIVE DUCK vWHOSTAYSINPLACEUNTILHISORHERSUCCESSOR SYSTEMS)TISACKNOWLEDGEDTHATEVENTHEBESTPASTOR ISHIRED4HEINTERIM%$SPRESENCEMAKESITCLEARTO hWILLHAVEHADGIFTSINSOMEAREASANDNOTHADGIFTSIN EVERYONETHATTHEORGANIZATIONISINANhIN BETWEENv OTHERSv4HEINTERIMPASTORLOOKSTOAREASWHERETHE PLACE!SASEASONEDNONPROFITMANAGERHIREDFROM GIFTSWERELACKING!FINALINTERIMTASKISHELPINGTHE OUTSIDETHEAGENCY THEINTERIMCANSTEPINASASTEW CONGREGATIONCREATEANUPDATEDVISIONFORITSFUTURE ARDANDCHANGEAGENT(EORSHECANBOTHMANAGETHE 4HENEXTPASTORISTHENCHOSENWITHTHESPECIFICSKILLS TRANSITIONSRISKSANDHEIGHTENTHENEUTRALZONECRE NEEDEDTOHELPTHECONGREGATIONREALIZETHATVISION ATIVITYOFBOARDANDSTAFF4HESKILLEDINTERIM%$WILL ALSOENGAGEEXTERNALSTAKEHOLDERS PARTICULARLYFUNDERS 7EBELIEVETHENONPROFITSECTORCOULDBENEFITBROADLY BOTHTOCOMMUNICATETHATTHEREWILLBENOLOSSOFPRO FROMTHISTHOUGHTFULANDINCREASINGLYTIME HONORED GRAMMOMENTUMANDTOENGAGETHEMINCREATINGTHE APPROACHTOLEADERSHIPCHANGE AGENCYSFUTURE
7ILLIAM"RIDGESHASLECTUREDANDWRITTENEXTENSIVELYONHISMODELFORMANAGINGCHANGEINORGANIZATIONS/NEOFHISBOOKS
-ANAGING4RANSITIONS-AKINGTHE-OSTOF#HANGE ISLISTEDINTHE2ELATED0UBLICATIONSSECTIONATTHEENDOFTHISMONOGRAPH
4HE)NTERIM%$!DVANTAGE !N/VERVIEWOFTHE"ENEFITS 4HEUSEOFANINTERIM%$CANHAVEAVARIETYOFBEN EFITSTHATENABLEANONPROFITTOTRANSFORMTHEUNCER TAINTYOFTHETRANSITIONPERIODINTOANOPPORTUNITYTO CREATEASOLIDPLATFORMFORORGANIZATIONALGROWTH !NOBJECTIVEREVIEW 4HECAPACITYBUILDINGADVANTAGESOFANINTERIMEXECU TIVEDIRECTORINCLUDEANOBJECTIVEREVIEWOFADMIN ISTRATIVESYSTEMSANDARESULTINGPLANFORUPGRADES 4HEINTERIM%$WILLAFFIRMWHATISRIGHTABOUTTHE OPERATIONSOFTHEAGENCY(OWEVER HEORSHEISALSO UNIQUELYFREETOhSPEAKTHETRUTHvTOTHEBOARDAND MANAGERSABOUTWHATISDYSFUNCTIONAL TOIDENTIFYTHE BARRIERSTOFULLPROGRAMMATICACHIEVEMENTONBEHALF OFCLIENTS3OMEOFTHEANALYSISRESULTSFROMREVIEWS WITHINTERNALPERSONNEL/THERIMPORTANTPERSPECTIVES AREGAINEDINTALKINGWITHFUNDERSANDPEERAGENCIES 4HECANDORWITHWHICHRECOMMENDATIONSFORCHANGE AREMADESHOULDALWAYSBEACCOMPANIEDWITHTHE RESPECTDUEFORTHEEFFORTSOFTHEPREVIOUSEXECUTIVE
&ACILITATINGAFRESHVISION 4HEINTERIM%$ENGAGESALLKEYSTAKEHOLDERSIN SCRIPTINGAFRESHANDEXCITINGVISIONFORTHEAGENCYS FUTURE7ITHTHENEWVISIONINHAND THEBOARDCAN SHARPENITSPROFILEOFTHENEXTEXECUTIVEANDBETTER FOCUSITSRECRUITINGEFFORTS !MENTORWHOKNOWSTHEROPESOF THEORGANIZATION )FTHENEXTEXECUTIVEISAFIRST TIMER WHICHISFRE QUENTLYTHECASEWITHSMALLTOMID SIZEDAGENCIES THE INTERIM%$CANBEINVALUABLEINMENTORINGTHEROOKIE %$&OREXAMPLE ALLCANDIDATESPLACEDININTERIM%$ POSITIONSBY#OMPASS0OINTHAVEPREVIOUSLYSERVEDAS NONPROFIT#%/SANDCANGUIDETHEPROFESSIONALDEVEL OPMENTOFNEWLEADERS
!VOIDINGTHERUSHTOHIRE "EYONDTAKINGADVANTAGEOFTHEPOWEROFTHENEUTRAL ZONE HAVINGANINTERIMINPLACESIMPLYALLOWSTHE BOARDTOTAKETHETIMENEEDEDTORECRUITASTRONGPOOL OFCANDIDATES)FEMPLOYINGANINTERIMISNOTCONSID 3PECIALIZEDSKILLSANDEXPERTISE EREDWHENAN%$LEAVESONSHORTNOTICE TOOMANY 4HEINTERIM%$WORKSWITHMANAGERSTODEVELOP BOARDSBECOMEANXIOUSANDRUSHTHEHIRINGPROCESS SHORT TERMSOLUTIONSFORREMOVINGMAJORORGANIZA 4HEBOARDMAYSKIPKEYRECRUITMENTSTEPSANDCHOOSE TIONALBARRIERS,ONGER TERMSTRATEGIESMAYREQUIRE THENEXTPERMANENTEXECUTIVESINVOLVEMENT)NTERIMS ALESS THAN IDEALCANDIDATE4OOOFTEN THERESULTISA BRINGTOTHISPROCESSWISDOMANDTECHNIQUESACCUMU FAILEDEXECUTIVETENUREANDANOTHERLEADERSHIP TRANSITIONNOTTOOFARDOWNTHEROAD LATEDINTHEIROWNNONPROFITCAREERS3OMECHARACTER IZETHEIRROLEINTHISREGARDASTAKINGCAREOFPROBLEMS !COST EFFECTIVESTRATEGY ROOTEDINTHEPASTSOTHATTHENEWLYHIREDEXECUTIVE 4HEAGENCYSBUDGETLINEITEMALLOCATEDFORTHEEXECU CANFOCUSONTHEFUTURE TIVESALARY PLUSTAXESANDBENEFITS CANBEAPPLIED TOTHEINTERIM%$SCOMPENSATION#ALCULATEDASA #REATINGSEPARATION 4HESKILLEDINTERIMLEADERALSOFACILITATESTHEAGENCYS PER HOURRATE THECOMPENSATIONFORANINTERIMCANBE QUITEABITMORETHANTHEAGENCYWOULDTYPICALLYPAY NECESSARYSEPARATIONFROMTHEWAYSANDMEANSOFTHE ITSEXECUTIVE)NTERIMSCANCOMMANDTHEHIGHERRATE PREVIOUS#%/3TAFFANDBOARDAREGIVENFORUMSIN BECAUSETHEYAREVETERANEXECUTIVESWHOAREIMMEDI WHICHTOACKNOWLEDGETHEDEPARTEDEXECUTIVESGIFTS ANDACHIEVEMENTS TALKABOUTWHATTHEYWOULDLIKETO ATELYREADYANDPREPAREDTOMEETTHENEEDSOFANAGEN CY(OWEVER MOSTINTERIMSCANBEHIREDFORLESSTHAN SEEMAINTAINEDANDWHATMIGHTHAVEBEENDONEDIF A HOURWEEKTYPICALLYTOHOURSPERWEEK FERENTLYSOMETIMESACCOMPANIEDBYPASSIONSTHAT 7HILETHEHOURLYRATEISHIGHER THETOTALCOSTNEED HADBEENBOTTLEDUPANDOUTLINEWHICHSKILLSAND NOTBEMUCHHIGHERTHANTHEFUNDSALREADYALLOCATED ATTRIBUTESTHEYDLIKETOSEEINTHEIRNEXTEXECUTIVE FORTHEPERMANENTEXECUTIVESSALARY!DDITIONALLY 4HESEACTIVITIESANDTHEPASSAGEOFTIMEBRING INTERIM%$SGENERALLYDONOTRECEIVENORMALAGENCY ADDEDDISTANCEFROMTHEPRESENCEANDTENUREOFA BENEFITSPAIDVACATIONS SICKLEAVE INSURANCE ETC STRONG%$ CREATINGAMOREWELCOMINGENVIRONMENT WHICHALSOREDUCESCOSTSFORTHEHIRINGAGENCY FORTHENEWLEADER
,OOKINGFORAN)NTERIM%$ 7HOAND(OWTO(IRE (AVINGPRESENTEDTHEWAYSINWHICHANINTERIM%$ CANHELPABOARDTAKEADVANTAGEOFTHECHANGEOPPOR TUNITIESINALEADERSHIPTRANSITION WEWILLNOWDISCUSS WHATTOLOOKFORINCANDIDATESFORTHEINTERIMROLE WHERETOFINDTHEBESTCANDIDATES ANDTYPICALTERMS OFENGAGEMENT 4HEINTERIM%$ASSIGNMENTISNOTANEXECUTIVETRAIN INGOPPORTUNITY4HEHEIGHTENEDVULNERABILITIESAND CHALLENGESINHERENTINALEADERSHIPTURNOVERAREBEST HANDLEDBYASEASONEDMANAGERWHOHASMASTEREDTHE COMPLEXITIESOFTHENONPROFIT#%/ROLE4HEINTERIM MUSTLEADANXIOUSSTAFF REASSUREWARYFUNDERS KEEP FINANCESANDFUNDRAISINGONTRACK ANDHELPBOARDAND STAFFGETREADYFORTHENEXTSTAGEINTHEAGENCYSLIFE !BROADLYSKILLEDINTERIMLEADERCANSTAYONTOPOF THESEISSUESASTHETRANSITIONUNFOLDS 'IVENTHEEXECUTIVEEXPERIENCECRITERION INTERIM%$ CANDIDATESARELARGELYMID TO LATECAREER NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS-OSTWEREONCE%$SANDNOWHAVEINDE PENDENTCONSULTINGPRACTICES4HEIRCONSULTINGSPECIAL TIESVARYFROMFUNDRAISINGTOFINANCESYSTEMSTOEXECU TIVECOACHING3OMEARERETIREDANDDONTWORKFORTHE MONTHSBETWEENINTERIM%$ENGAGEMENTS!LLINTERIM CANDIDATESARELIKELYTOBEMORESKILLEDTHANTHEPER MANENT%$MOSTNONPROFITSWILLEVENTUALLYHIRE 7HILEALLINTERIM%$CANDIDATESAREEXPERIENCED EACH HASHISORHEROWNSETOFPARTICULARSTRENGTHS3OMEARE SUITEDTOTAKEONLARGER MORECOMPLEXINSTITUTIONS /THERSAREPARTICULARLYADEPTATENGAGINGANADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONWITHACULTUREOFCONSENSUSDECISION MAKING3OMEHAVESTRONGFINANCEBACKGROUNDS AND THEYREREFERREDTOAGENCIESWHOSEBOOKSAREINDISARRAY 3OMEAREBETTERATHELPINGAGENCIESREVITALIZETHEIR FUNDDEVELOPMENTSTRATEGIES !NAGENCYSEEKINGANINTERIM%$WILLUSUALLYPREFER CANDIDATESWITHBACKGROUNDSINTHEIRPARTICULARBUSI NESSEG HOMELESSSERVICES ENVIRONMENTALADVOCACY ORTHEARTS (OWEVER THEMOSTIMPORTANTREQUIRE MENTSAREAHONEDADMINISTRATIVESKILLSETANDTIME TESTEDWISDOM#ONTENTKNOWLEDGEISNOTESSENTIAL 3OMEONEWHOHASLEDAYOUTHDEVELOPMENTAGENCYCAN BEANEFFECTIVEINTERIM%$ATAHOMELESSAGENCY
!VETERANHEALTHCAREADVOCATECANBETHETEMPORARY HEADFORANENVIRONMENTALAGENCY!PERFORMINGARTS VETERANCANGUIDEAMUSEUMTHROUGHITSTRANSITION 4HENEEDFORDEMOGRAPHICFITMUSTALSOBEADDRESSED 4OWHATDEGREEISITCRITICALTHATTHEINTERIMLEADER MATCHTHESAMEDEMOGRAPHICPROFILETHATTHEAGENCY WOULDPREFERINITSPERMANENTLEADER 4HEDOMESTIC VIOLENCEPREVENTIONAGENCYMIGHTWELLREQUIRETHAT ITSTEMPORARYEXECUTIVEBEAWOMAN"UTWHILETHE YOUTHDEVELOPMENTAGENCYSERVINGPRIMARILYINNER CITY ,ATINOAND!SIANADOLESCENTSMIGHTSEEITASIMPOR TANTTOHAVEAPERSONOFCOLORINTHEREGULARPOSITION ITMIGHTHIREANINTERIMEXECUTIVEOFANYRACEWHO WOULDBRINGTHEFUNDDEVELOPMENTSKILLSREQUIREDTO GETTHEMBACKONSOLIDFINANCIALFOOTING4HEIDEAL OFCOURSE WOULDBETHATTHEAGENCYMANAGINGTHE INTERIM%$REFERRALSERVICEHAVEABROADLYDIVERSEPOOL OFNONPROFITPROFESSIONALS !CENTRALSKILLINSTEPPINGINTOANAGENCYISTHEABILITY TOLISTENANDLEARN"OARDANDSTAFFMEMBERSKNOWTHE BUSINESSDETAILS)NDUSTRYFUNDERSANDPEERAGENCIES ARETYPICALLYEAGERTOBRINGTHEINTERIMUPTOSPEED )NSOMECASES BEINGANOUTSIDERISANADVANTAGE4HE SOPHISTICATEDINTERIMADMINISTRATORCANASKQUESTIONS THATINSIDERSMIGHTNOTFEELEMPOWEREDTOASK ,ISTENINGSKILLSARECRITICALINANOTHERWAY!TRANSITION HEIGHTENSENXIETIESABOUTTHEFUTURE!KEYTASKOF THEINTERIMLEADERISTOHEARTHECONCERNSANDFEARSOF STAFFANDBOARDANDGIVETHEMCONFIDENCETHATTHISTRIP THROUGHTHEUNCERTAINTYOFTHENEUTRALZONEWILLCON CLUDEWITHTHEARRIVALOFANEWANDCONFIDENTFUTURE 4HEINTERIMLEADERISTHESTEADYPRESENCEAMIDTHETUR MOILANDDOUBTINHERENTINACREATIVECHANGEPROCESS
&INDINGTHERIGHTINTERIMxQUICKLY !SWITHANYHIRE BEFORERECRUITINGBEGINS ITSESSEN TIALFORTHEBOARDTOGETCLEARONWHICHEXECUTIVE SKILLSAREPARTICULARLYIMPORTANTTOTHEAGENCYINTHE MONTHSIMMEDIATELYAHEAD$OTHEFINANCIALMANAGE MENTSYSTEMSNEEDANUPGRADE )STHEREAMAJORFUND RAISINGDINNERCOMINGUPTHATTHEINTERIM%$WILL OVERSEE $OESACOMPLEXGOVERNMENTGRANTREQUEST NEEDTOBESUBMITTED )SSTAFFMORALEAMAJORCON CERN 4HEBOARDWILLBEAWAREOFMANYOFTHETASKS AHEAD"UTSOMEPOINTEDCONVERSATIONSWITHACOUPLE OFPROGRAMSTAFFMEMBERS ALLKEYMANAGERS ANDTHE OUTGOING%$WILLPROVIDEAFULLERPICTUREOFWHATTHE INTERIM%$WILLBETASKEDWITHGETTINGDONE4HIS PROCESSWILLALSOHELPTHEBOARDSETPRIORITIESONWHAT ITNEEDSINTHENEXT%$ 7ITHASKILLSPROFILEINHAND BOARDSCANDRAFTA ONE PAGEJOBANNOUNCEMENTTHATHASBRIEFSECTIONS DEVOTEDTO
!GENCY$ESCRIPTIONWITH7EBSITEADDRESS )NTERIM%$*OB$ESCRIPTIONTOBULLETPOINTS
COMPLETIONOFAUDIT
%XPECTED)NTERIM4ENUREEG *UNETHROUGH/CTOBER (OWTO!PPLY #ANDIDATESARESCREENEDFORTHEMAJORSKILLSNEEDED THEIRGENERALSAVVYABOUTMANAGINGTHECOMPLEXITIES OFTHENONPROFIT%$ROLE ANDTHEIRAVAILABILITYFORTHE FULL EXPECTED INTERIMTENUREANDFORAFEWWEEKS BEYOND INCASETHESEARCHFORAPERMANENT%$TAKES LONGERTHANEXPECTED )NORDERTOHAVEGOODCANDIDATESAVAILABLEONSHORT NOTICE SOMENONPROFITCONSULTINGAGENCIESMAINTAIN ROSTERSOFPRE SCREENEDCANDIDATESFORINTERIMPOSI TIONS!T#OMPASS0OINTAND-ARYLAND.ONPROFITS FOR INSTANCE VETERANEXECUTIVESSEEKINGTOFILLTEMPORARY ROLESAREINTERVIEWEDTODETERMINETHEIRPARTICULAR SKILLSANDJOBPREFERENCES!FTERTHEIRREFERENCESARE CHECKED THEYAREADDEDTOAROSTEROFINTERIM%$CAN DIDATES4HEN WHENANAGENCYMAKESCONTACTSEEKING ATEMPORARYEXECUTIVE CANDIDATESWHOSEPROFILESFIT
IZATIONGOALS)THADHIREDACREDENTIALEDPROGRAM DIRECTOR ITHADMOVEDTOLARGERANDMOREWORKABLE &AIRFAX#OURT!PPOINTED3PECIAL!DVOCATES&AIRFAX QUARTERS ANDITHADREPLACEDITSANTIQUATEDCOMPUTER #!3! ISAnYEAR OLDORGANIZATIONTHATUSESTRAINED ANDPHONESYSTEMS&UNDRAISING HOWEVER REMAINED COMMUNITYVOLUNTEERSTOPROVIDEONE ON ONEADVO ASTRUGGLE CACYFORCHILDRENINABUSEANDNEGLECTCASESBEFORE THECOURTSIN&AIRFAX#OUNTY 6IRGINIA&AIRFAX#!3!IS !SPARTOFTHELEADERSHIPTRANSITIONPROCESS THE PARTOFANATIONWIDENETWORKOF#!3!PROGRAMS BOARDHIREDATRAINEDINTERIM%$4HEINTERIMWORKED WITHTHEBOARDTOSTEPUPTOTHEFUNDRAISINGCHAL WITH INDIVIDUALSSERVINGAS#!3!VOLUNTEERS &AIRFAXHASTHELARGEST#!3!PROGRAMIN6IRGINIAAND LENGE3HEHELPEDTHEBOARDRECOGNIZETHATITS STRUCTUREANDCOMPOSITIONWEREARTIFACTSOFAPERIOD ISAMONGTHENATIONSLARGEST WHENTHEORGANIZATIONWASLARGELYRELIANTONGOVERN &ACEDWITHANEXECUTIVEDEPARTUREINEARLY THE MENTFUNDS ANDTHEBOARDMOSTLYPROVIDEDFINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONFOUNDITSELFATACROSSROADS0REVIOUSLY OVERSIGHTWHILEASSISTINGSTAFFWITHTHEPROGRAMAND THEBOARDHADMADEACOMMITMENTTOELIMINATETHE ADMINISTRATIVEISSUES ORGANIZATIONSWAITINGLISTANDENSURETHATATRAINED "OARDLEADERSSOUGHTNEWMEMBERSWITHFUND #!3!VOLUNTEERWASIMMEDIATELYAVAILABLEFOREVERY DEVELOPMENTSKILLSANDSOUGHTSIMILARTALENTINTHE CHILDWHONEEDEDONE&ULFILLINGTHISCOMMITMENT PERMANENT%$4HEBOARDTHENFORMEDAFUNDRAISING REQUIREDMORETHANSTEPPEDnUPVOLUNTEERRECRUIT COMMITTEEANDDEVELOPEDANINTERIMFUNDDEVELOP MENT4HEORGANIZATIONHADTOMAKEASUBSTANTIAL MENTPLAN)N!UGUST ITHIREDANEWEXECUTIVE INVESTMENTINVOLUNTEERTRAINING WHICHINTURN WHOWITHTHEREJUVENATEDBOARD RAISEDOFTHE REQUIREDMOREPROGRAMFUNDS4OMEETTHESENEEDS FULLYEARSINCOMEBUDGETWITHINTHEFIRSTSIXMONTHS #!3!LAUNCHEDACAPACITY BUILDINGhPROFESSIONALIZA OFTHENEWEXECUTIVESTENUREANDPUTTHEPROFES TIONvINITIATIVE SIONALIZATIONINITIATIVEONASOLIDFINANCIALFOUNDATION 0RIORTOTHEEXECUTIVETRANSITION THEORGANIZATIONHAD MADESUBSTANTIALPROGRESSTOWARDITSPROFESSIONAL
&AIRFAX#!3!
)NTERIMSIN!CTION
3PECIAL4ASKSINTHE)NTERIM0ERIODEG /VERSEE
4YPICALTENURE WORKHOURS COMPENSATION !NINTERIMTENURETYPICALLYRUNSFROMFOURTOEIGHT MONTHS)TMAYBESHORTERIFTHEPRIMARYTASKISTO COVERTHEFINALMONTHORTWOBETWEENTHEPREDECESSORS DEPARTUREANDCOMPLETIONOFANEXECUTIVESEARCH! LONGERTENURECANBECONTRACTEDFORINANAGENCYNEED INGSIGNIFICANThTURNAROUNDvWORK WHEREPROGRAMS 3OURCESOFCANDIDATES BESIDEANONPROFITTECHNICAL ASSISTANCEAGENCY COULDBETHELOCALCOMMUNITYFOUN ANDSYSTEMSHAVEBEENSERIOUSLYMISMANAGED(ERE AN DATION OTHERNONPROFITFOUNDATIONS ANDPEERAGENCIES INTERIMWITHSTRONGREPAIRSKILLSISHIREDTORIGHTTHE AGENCYBEFORETHEBOARDSEARCHESFORAPERMANENT%$ THECITYSNETWORKOFHUMANSERVICEAGENCIES !N INCREASINGNUMBEROFREGIONSHAVEONLINESITESFORJOB #OMPASS0OINT FOREXAMPLE RECENTLYPLACEDANINTERIM INA EMPLOYEESOCIALSERVICESAGENCYONATWO YEAR POSTINGSWHEREANINTERIMPOSITIONCOULDBELISTED CONTRACTTHEFOUNDEROFTHEAGENCYHADDIEDSUDDENLY AFTERA YEARTENURE ANDITSGOVERNMENTANDFOUN 'OINGOUTSIDEFORANINTERIM 4OTAKEFULLADVANTAGEOFTHETRANSITIONPERIODSOPPOR DATIONFUNDERSWEREDEMANDINGAMAJOROVERHAULOF TUNITIES MOSTBOARDSSHOULDHIREINTERIMLEADERSFROM MANAGEMENTSYSTEMS PERSONNEL ANDCULTURE OUTSIDETHEAGENCY7HILEEXISTINGBOARDMEMBERS ANDAGENCYMANAGERSMAYWELLHAVESOLIDADMINISTRA /UTSIDETHETURNAROUNDSCENARIO INTERIMPERIODSOF LONGERTHANSIXMONTHSCANBECOMEUNHEALTHYFORA TIVESKILLS THEYARENOTWELL POSITIONEDTOTAKEFULL NONPROFIT4HEAGENCYMAYAPPEARSTALLEDINTHENEU ADVANTAGEOFTHERENEWALOPPORTUNITIESPRESENTEDBY TRALZONEASFUNDERSANDOTHERSTAKEHOLDERSBECOME ALEADERSHIPTRANSITION4HEYARESTEEPEDINTHEEXIST INGCULTURE!NOUTSIDERWILLLIKELYBEMOREOBJECTIVE ANXIOUSTOMOVEFORWARDWITHANEWPERMANENTLEADER ABOUTWHATSFUNCTIONALANDWHATCHANGESMIGHTBET %XCEPTWHENONASSIGNMENTSINTHELARGESTAGENCIESOR TERADVANCETHEAGENCYSMISSION!NDTHEEXTERNAL INTHOSENEEDINGMAJORTURNAROUNDWORK THEINTERIM CANDIDATEHASGREATERINDEPENDENCEINCONFRONTING %$WILLUSUALLYWORKLESSTHANFULL TIME/NAVERAGE DISARRAYANDDYSFUNCTION4HEINTERIM%$CANTAKEON ANINTERIM%$CONTRACTSFORTOHOURSPERWEEK ACRITICALCHANGEEFFORTFORTHEAGENCYSWELFAREWITH 4HEVETERANEXECUTIVECANMANAGEADMINISTRATIVETASKS OUTHAVINGTOPAYASCLOSEATTENTIONTOHISORHEROWN INATIME EFFICIENTMANNER(EORSHEWILLSTAYFOCUSED PERSONALRELATIONSWITHAGENCYPLAYERS ONTRANSITIONDUTIES ANDGIVENHISORHERTEMPORARY STATUS SPENDLITTLETIMEBUILDINGRELATIONSHIPSOUTSIDE &ORSIMILARREASONS ITISIMPORTANTTHATTHETEMPO THEAGENCY RARYLEADERNOTBEACANDIDATEFORPERMANENTHIRE 4HEINTERIM%$SEEKINGTOSELLHISORHERCANDIDACY )NTHE#OMPASS0OINTEXPERIENCE TEMPORARYEXECUTIVES FORREGULAR%$WILLBETEMPTEDTOAVOIDCONFRONTING AREPAIDBETWEENANDPERHOUR4HISISALMOST ANYISSUESTHATMIGHTALIENATETHOSEWHOWILLMAKEOR ALWAYSHIGHERTHANWHATTHEEXECUTIVESALARYWOULDBE INFLUENCETHEHIRINGDECISION!NAGENCYLOOKINGTO INTHEHIRINGAGENCYONANHOURLYBASIS4HEHIGHER TAKEFULLADVANTAGEOFTHEPOWEROFATRANSITIONISBEST PAYISJUSTIFIEDBYTHEDEMANDSOFTHEROLEABROAD SERVEDBYHIRINGACOMPASSIONATEhTRUTHTELLERvAND RANGEOFREADYADMINISTRATIVESKILLSTHATALLOWFORA CHANGEAGENT UNENCUMBEREDBYAPERSONALAGENDA QUICKASSUMPTIONOFDUTIES THELEADERSHIPATTRIBUTES ANDCHANGEMANAGEMENTSKILLSREQUIREDBYANORGANI ZATIONINTRANSITION THEPROFILEOFWHATTHENONPROFITNEEDSCANQUICKLYBE FORWARDEDTOTHEBOARD4HEBOARDINTERVIEWSTHEM ANDMAKESACHOICE4HEREADYPOOLMEANSANAGENCY CANHAVEITSINTERIM%$OPENINGFILLEDINASLITTLEAS TWOWEEKS
)TSHOULDBENOTEDTHATTHETYPICALHOURLYRATEISQUITE ABITLESSTHANWHATTHEINTERIMEXECUTIVEWOULD CHARGEFORACONSULTINGCONTRACT-OSTVETERANEXECU TIVESOFFERINGTHEMSELVESASINTERIM%$CANDIDATESALSO HAVECONSULTINGPRACTICESINWHICHTHEIRFEEISUPTO PERHOUR
!NGEL)SLAND)MMIGRATION3TATION&OUNDATION
)NTERIMSIN!CTION
3INCEITSINCORPORATIONIN !NGEL)SLAND )MMIGRATION3TATION&OUNDATIONWWWAIISFORG HAS CONDUCTEDEDUCATIONABOUTTHEROLEOF0ACIFIC2IM IMMIGRATIONIN53HISTORY)TSPRIMARYMISSIONHAS BEENTHEPRESERVATIONOFAFORMERMILITARYFACILITY ON!NGEL)SLANDIN3AN&RANCISCO"AYTHATHADBEEN MOSTLYUSEDTODETAIN!SIANIMMIGRANTSINTHEEARLY DECADESOFTHETHCENTURY &ORMOSTOFTWODECADES THE&OUNDATIONHADBEEN OPERATEDBYITSBOARDOFDIRECTORS"Y THE &OUNDATIONSFUNDINGANDACTIVITIESHADGROWNTO THEPOINTTHATTHEBOARDREALIZEDITNEEDEDTOHIRE PROFESSIONALSTAFF"OTHTOCOVERPRESSING&OUNDATION BUSINESSANDTOHELPINTHETRANSITIONTOPAIDSTAFF THEBOARDHIREDANINTERIM%$ WHOSERVEDANEIGHT MONTHTENURE
!SECONDFUNCTIONWASTOLEADTHESEARCHFORAPER MANENT%$3HEHELPEDTHEBOARDDETERMINETHE SKILLSNEEDEDFORTHEPOSITIONANDTHEN ALONGWITH BOARDMEMBERS PURSUEDCANDIDATES3HEFACILITATED THEBOARDSCANDIDATESCREENINGPROCESS/NCETHE%$ HADBEENHIRED THEINTERIMSTAYEDONFORAFEWWEEKS INACONSULTINGCAPACITYTOMENTORTHENEWEXECUTIVE WHOHADNOTPREVIOUSLYHELDANONPROFITEXECUTIVE STAFFLEADERSHIPPOSITION
3TARTINGUPWITHAVETERANNONPROFITMANAGERIN THEINTERIMROLEPROVIDEDMAJORBENEFITSTOTHE &OUNDATION4HESKILLSNEEDEDTOPUTSYSTEMSIN PLACEWEREUNLIKELYTOBEFOUNDINAFIRST TIMEEXECU TIVEATASALARYTHEAGENCYCOULDSUPPORT4HENEUTRAL ZONESTRUGGLESINVOLVEDINTHEBOARDMOVINGOUTOF HANDS ONMANAGEMENTCOULDBEMORESUCCESSFULLY HANDLEDBYSOMEONEWITHPRIOREXPERIENCEWORKING FORABOARD!NDHAVINGTHISSOMETIMESTENSEGIVE /NEOFTHEINTERIMSFIRSTDUTIESWASTOPUTAGENCY AND TAKEHANDLEDBYTHEINTERIM%$REDUCEDTHERISK SYSTEMSINPLACE INCLUDINGFINANCIALMANAGEMENT OFSTRAINEDRELATIONSBETWEENTHEPERMANENTEXECU PERSONNELPOLICIESANDPROCEDURES BOARDGOVER NANCEPOLICIES ANDDONORTRACKING)NTHECOURSEOF TIVEANDTHEBOARD&INALLY THEINTERIMLEADERWAS ABLETOTRAINTHEFIRST TIMEEXECTOMAINTAINTHEMAN SETTINGUPANDRUNNINGTHESYSTEMS THEINTERIM%$ NEEDEDTOHELPTHEBOARDLETGOOFDAY TO DAYMAN AGEMENTSYSTEMSANDCOACHHERTHROUGHTHEEARLY AGEMENTDUTIES3HEHADAHEALTHYhTUG OF WARvWITH STAGESOFHERLEADERSHIPLEARNINGCURVE SOMEBOARDMEMBERSWHOHADGREATERDIFFICULTIESIN LEARNINGTHENEWBOUNDARIESBETWEENGOVERNANCE ANDMANAGEMENT
4HE)NTERIM%$/N4HE*OB &IRSTAND,AST3TEPS 4HEINTERIM%$SWORKENCOMPASSES OFCOURSE THE STANDARDEXECUTIVEARENAOVERSEEINGFINANCES KEEPING FUNDRAISINGGOALSONTRACK MONITORINGPROGRAMOPER ATIONS SUPPORTINGMANAGERS ANDATTENDINGTONORMAL BOARDNEEDS!SECONDSETOFINTERIM%$DUTIESSPEAKS TOTHESPECIALNEEDSOFANAGENCYINTRANSITION4HESE INCLUDEATTENDINGTOSTAFFANXIETIES EXTRACOMMUNICA TIONSWITHWARYFUNDERSANDOTHERSUPPORTERS HELP INGTHEBOARDKEEPUPWITHITSTRANSITIONANDSEARCH DUTIES MAKINGANYREPAIRSNEEDEDINAGENCYSYSTEMS ANDVERYIMPORTANTLY CREATINGEXCITEMENTABOUTFRESH POSSIBILITIESINTHEAGENCYSFUTURE 'ETTINGONTHESAMEPAGE /NCEONTHEJOB THEINTERIM%$STRANSITIONTASKS BEGINWITHSETTINGOUTCOMEGOALSFORHISORHERTEN URE#ANDIDATESCANEVENSTARTIDENTIFYINGTHEIRINTER IMGOALSINTHEIRINTERVIEWSWITHTHEBOARD)NTERIMS ASKBOARDSABOUTWHICHSYSTEMSNEEDATTENTION STAFF MORALE MAJORGRANTSTOBEWRITTEN ANDDONOREVENTS TOBEMANAGED"EYONDTHEGENERICDEVELOPMENTAL GOALSTHATMAKEFORGOODNEUTRAL ZONEMANAGEMENT THEINTERIM%$BEGINSHISORHERTENUREWITHAN AGREEMENTWITHTHEBOARDTHATOUTLINESASPECIFICSET OFOBJECTIVES!FTERAMONTHONTHEJOB THEINTERIM %$SHOULDHAVEGAINEDADDITIONALINFORMATIONON THEAGENCYSNEEDSANDTRANSITIONPRIORITIES ASWELLAS WHATISDOABLEINTHETIMEALLOTTED)NLIGHTOFTHESE REALITIES THEBOARDANDINTERIM%$MAYRECONSIDER THEIRINITIALOBJECTIVES 'ETTINGTHENUMBERSRIGHT 4HEINTERIM%$WILLGENERALLYGIVEAGENCYFINANCES IMMEDIATEANDTHOROUGHATTENTION)NTERIM%$SIN THE#OMPASS0OINTNETWORKHAVEREPORTEDTHATTHE MOSTCOMMONSTUMBLINGBLOCKINTHEIRWORKISUNEX PECTEDFINANCIALDIFFICULTIES#ASHFLOWPROJECTIONS PROVETOBEINACCURATE SOPAYROLLSHORTFALLSSUDDENLY CROPUP4HERESERVESLABELEDhUNRESTRICTEDvTURNOUT TOBEhRESTRICTEDv!NGRYCALLSFROMCREDITORSSTART COMINGINBECAUSECHECKSTOCOVERPAYABLESTHATHAD BEENSIGNEDBYTHEEXECUTIVEHADBEENhPLACEDIN THEDRAWERvBYTHEBOOKKEEPER WHOWASWAITINGFOR RECEIVABLESTOCOVERTHEM #OMPASS0OINTHASLEARNEDTOBOREINTOANAGENCYS FINANCESEARLYINDISCUSSIONSWITHABOARDTHATWANTS TOHIREANINTERIM7EREVIEWBALANCESHEETSANDASK QUESTIONSTOENSURETHEVALIDITYOFTHENUMBERS7E
LOOKATTHESKILLSANDTENUREOFFINANCESTAFF7EMAY REQUESTPERMISSIONTOTALKTOTHEAGENCYSEXTERNAL AUDITOR4HEGOALISTOKNOWTHEAGENCYSFINANCESAND TOLETTHEINTERIM%$KNOWIFANYFINANCIALISSUESNEED IMMEDIATEATTENTION 'ETTINGCONNECTED !FIRSTTASKFORTHEINTERIMISGETTINGCONNECTEDTO STAFF/NE ON ONEMEETINGSWITHMANAGERSAREACOM MONPRACTICE)NTERIM%$SASKABOUTTHEIRDEPART MENTS ACHIEVEMENTSTHEYREPROUDOF PROBLEMSTHEYD LIKEHELPWITH ANDHOWTHEYLIKEBEINGSUPERVISED)N LARGERORGANIZATIONS THEINTERIM%$USUALLYMEETSTHE RESTOFTHESTAFFINGROUPSANDASKSSIMILARQUESTIONS !SWITHANYEXECUTIVE THEINTERIMSSTAFFFOCUSISON THEMANAGEMENTTEAM4HEINTERIMSUPPORTSAND BUILDSTHEMANAGERS WHOINTURNDEVELOPTHEIRSTAFFS 4HEMOSTRECENTPERFORMANCEEVALUATIONSOFMANAGERS ARECHECKEDTOENSUREDEVELOPMENTGOALSAREINPLACE )FASERIOUSPERFORMANCEPROBLEMISENCOUNTERED THE INTERIMWILLADDRESSITIMMEDIATELY4HEINTERIMWILL ALSOGAUGEWHETHERTHEMANAGERSAREACTINGASATEAM ABLETOMAKEDECISIONSASAGROUP RESOLVEDIFFERENCES THATARISE ANDBACKONEANOTHERUPWHENNECESSARY )FNOT THEINTERIM%$WILLDEVOTETIMETODEVELOPING TEAMCAPACITY #HECKINGCONTRACTSANDCONTACTS !NOTHERFIRST ORDERTASKISAREVIEWOFCONTRACTUALOBLI GATIONS7HATARETHEDELIVERABLESFOREACHCONTRACT CURRENTLYINPLACE ANDISTHEAGENCYONTRACKTOMAKE THEMBYCONTRACTUALDUEDATES 7HERETHEAGENCYIS BEHINDSCHEDULEONASETOFDELIVERABLES THEINTERIM WILLASKFORMANAGEMENTSPLANTOCATCHUPWITHTHE SCHEDULEORWILLAPPROACHTHECONTRACTOFFICERWITH AREQUESTTORENEGOTIATETHECONTRACT4HEINTERIM %$SCREDIBILITY PARTICULARLYWITHFUNDERS ISOFTEN ESTABLISHEDTHROUGHTHISCANDIDANDSTRAIGHTFORWARD APPROACHTOCORRECTINGANYPROBLEMS (AVINGQUICKLYCOMPLETEDAREVIEWOFALLCONTRACTS THEINTERIMCONNECTSWITHEACHOFTHEAGENCYSGOVERN MENTANDFOUNDATIONSUPPORTERS&ACE TO FACEMEETINGS MAYBEINORDER THOUGHBUSYPROGRAMOFFICERSMAY PREFERAPHONEMEETING!RELATIONSHIPISESTABLISHED SUCHTHATEITHERPARTYWILLQUICKLYCONTACTTHEOTHER
0AULS0LACE
)NTERIMSIN!CTION
&OUNDEDINBYCHURCHVOLUNTEERSFROM "ALTIMORE#OUNTY 0AULS0LACEISANEIGHBORHOOD SERVICESCENTERSERVINGTHE7ASHINGTON6ILLAGE h0IGTOWNv NEIGHBORHOODOFSOUTHWEST"ALTIMORE !FEWYEARSBACK COMMITTEDVOLUNTEERSHADSUC CESSFULLYRAISEDMILLIONINACAPITALCAMPAIGN WHICHRESULTEDIN0AULS0LACEMOVINGINTOANEWLY RENOVATEDANDLARGERCOMMUNITYCENTER,IKEMANY VOLUNTEER DRIVENANDFOUNDEDORGANIZATIONS 0AULS 0LACEENCOUNTEREDCHALLENGESTORETAININGEXECUTIVE DIRECTORSINMAKINGTHEMOVEFROMASMALL VOLUNTEER EFFORTTOAPROFESSIONALLYSTAFFEDPROGRAMINITSNEW FACILITY$URINGAFOUR YEARPERIODFROMn THEORGANIZATIONHADTHREEEXECUTIVEDIRECTORS 4HE0AULS0LACEEXECUTIVECOMMITTEEREQUESTED ASSISTANCEFROMTHE-ARYLAND.ONPROFITS%XECUTIVE 4RANSITION)NITIATIVEWHENTHETHIRDEXECUTIVEDIREC TORRESIGNEDAFTERSIXMONTHSONTHEJOB4HETRANSI TIONASSESSMENTIDENTIFIEDTHENEEDTOCLARIFYBOARD ANDEXECUTIVEROLESANDTOBROADENCONSENSUSON STRATEGICDIRECTIONBEFOREANEWEXECUTIVECOULDBE RECRUITED4HEBOARDTHENAGREEDTOHIREANINTERIM %$$URINGTHISINTERIMPERIOD 0AULS0LACE
#ONDUCTEDANORGANIZATIONALASSESSMENTANDTWO BOARDPLANNINGRETREATS #LARIFIEDBOARD EXECUTIVE ANDSTAFFROLESANDPUT INPLACE MODELED ANDPRACTICEDNEWCOMMUNICA TIONANDMANAGEMENTSYSTEMS (IREDADIRECTOROFCHILDRENSPROGRAMSAND STRENGTHENEDSTAFFMANAGEMENT 3USTAINEDITSSTRONGVOLUNTEERBASEANDFUNDING SUPPORTAND #LARIFIEDITSSTRATEGICDIRECTIONANDTHECOMPETEN CIESNEEDEDINANEWEXECUTIVE
&OLLOWINGTHISINTERIMPROCESS 0AULS0LACEHIREDA NEWEXECUTIVEDIRECTOR ANDTHEBOARDBEGANTOBET TERUNDERSTANDITSNEWROLEASAGOVERNANCETEAM ASOPPOSEDTOITSOLDROLEASAMANAGINGBODY4HE BOARDCOMPLETEDITSINITIALSIX MONTHEVALUATION OFTHENEWEXECUTIVEDIRECTOR ANDBOTHBOARDAND EXECUTIVEREPORTEDTHAT0AULS0LACEISMAKINGGOOD PROGRESS)TISDIFFICULTTOIMAGINE0AULS0LACEMAKING THISTRANSFORMATIONINTOAPROFESSIONALLYMANAGED NONPROFITWITHOUTTHECOMBINATIONOFINTERIMEXECU TIVELEADERSHIPANDTRANSITIONCONSULTINGSERVICES )NTHEWORDSOFTHENBOARDPRESIDENT -ELANIE (EACOCK h4HEINTERIM%XECUTIVE$IRECTORIDENTIFIED AMAJORDISCONNECTBETWEENBOARDEXPECTATIONS ANDSTAFFSABILITYTODELIVER7ITHTHEINTERIMSHELP OURBOARDGAINEDABETTERUNDERSTANDINGOFCUR RENTSTAFFSLIMITATIONSANDTHENEEDTOIMPROVESTAFF CAPABILITY7ECREATEDTWONEWPOSITIONSANDHIRED GOODPEOPLEFORTHEM4HISTOOKPRESSUREOFFSTAFF MEMBERSWHOWERETRYINGTOWEARTOOMANYHATSv
IFPROBLEMSARISEORHELPISNEEDED)MPORTANTTOTHE AGENCY THEFUNDERCANBEENCOURAGEDTOKEEPTHE INTERIMABREASTOFNEWFUNDINGOPPORTUNITIESTHAT EMERGE0ARTICULARLYUSEFULMAYBELEADSFORADDRESS INGINFRASTRUCTURENEEDSIDENTIFIEDBYTHEINTERIM %$ FOREXAMPLE NEWACCOUNTINGSOFTWAREORSEED MONEYFORCREATINGASTAFFFUNDRAISINGPOSITION #OMMUNICATINGEARLYANDCANDIDLYWITHFUNDERSCAN MAKETHEMPARTNERSINTHETRANSITIONPROCESSAND ENGAGETHEIRHELPWITHCAPACITYBUILDING &ACILITATINGTHETRANSITION !CRITICALINTERIM%$DUTY OFCOURSE ISFACILITATING THEAGENCYTHROUGHTHEACTIVITIESTHATMAKEFORA HEALTHYLEADERSHIPTRANSITION-ANYSTAFFANDOTHERS NEEDOPPORTUNITIESTOhLETGOvOFTHEIRATTACHMENTSTO THEPREVIOUSEXECUTIVE4HEINTERIM%$HELPSTHEM MOVETOWARDCLOSUREBYENCOURAGINGTHEMTOEXPRESS THEMSELVESABOUTWHATTHEYAPPRECIATEDINTHEIRPRE VIOUSBOSS ANYRESENTMENTSTHEYREHOLDINGONTO AND WHATTHEYWOULDWANTTOSEEDONEDIFFERENTLYBYTHE NEXTPERMANENTDIRECTOR,OSSESAREACKNOWLEDGED ACHIEVEMENTSCELEBRATED ANDAFUTUREVISIONBEGINSTO EMERGE!HEALTHYENDINGWITHTHEPASTFREESAGENCY PLAYERSTOMOREFULLYEMBRACETHENEXTEXECUTIVE
4HECONSULTANTBEGINSBYHELPINGTHEBOARDMAPOUT ITSFOUR TO SIXMONTHEXECUTIVETRANSITIONWORKPLAN )FTHEIRDEPARTING%$HASALREADYLEFTORWILLDOSO SOON AFIRSTPIECEOFTHEPLANISTOFINDINTERIM%$ CANDIDATES4HECONSULTANTWILLDOAQUICKASSESSMENT WITHTHEBOARDTOGETAPROFILEOFWHATITNEEDSINA TEMPORARYLEADERANDTHENREFERCANDIDATESFROMA POOLOFPRE SCREENED VETERAN NONPROFITEXECUTIVES /NCETHEINTERIM%$ISHIRED THEBOARD INTERIM %$ ANDCONSULTANTMEETTODIVIDEUPTHETRANSITION RESPONSIBILITIES4HECONSULTANTSPRIMARYFOCUSTHEN BECOMESTHEEXECUTIVESEARCHANDTHECLARIFICATIONOF AGENCYCHALLENGESANDASPIRATIONSTHATWILLINDICATE THESKILLSNEEDEDINTHENEXTEXECUTIVE4HEINTERIM %$ WITHAHANDS ONPERSPECTIVEONAGENCYOPERA TIONS ISANIMPORTANTPARTNERINTHEASSESSMENTNEED EDTOMAKETHISWORKSUCCESSFUL
)FTHEYAREUNABLETOGETSPECIALGRANTSFROMTHEIR FUNDERSTOCOVERSEARCHEXPENSES BOARDSFREQUENTLY TAKEONSEARCHDUTIESTHEMSELVES ORTHEYBUILDCANDI DATERECRUITMENTINTOTHEJOBDESCRIPTIONOFTHEINTER IM%$!HIGH QUALITYCANDIDATESEARCH HOWEVER IS LABORINTENSIVE!VOLUNTEERBOARDMAYBESHORTON THEFOCUSEDATTENTIONANDFOLLOW THROUGHNEEDEDIN 4HEINTERIM%$HELPSSTAFFANDBOARDMEMBERSCLARIFY RECRUITING!NINTERIM%$MAYHAVETODIVERTTIME THEIRASPIRATIONSFORTHEAGENCYANDTHENTHINKABOUT FROMOTHERTRANSITIONANDEXECUTIVENEEDSTOADEQUATE WHATKINDOFEXECUTIVETHEYNEEDTOHELPTHEMREALIZE LYCOVERRECRUITINGDUTIES THATFRESHVISION)NMAKINGSURETHEAGENCYCRAFTSAN )N#OMPASS0OINTSEXPERIENCE THEAGENCIESTHATHAVE EXCITINGFUTUREPICTUREFORITSCLIENTSANDPROGRAMS THEINTERIM%$ENABLESTHEMTOTAKEADVANTAGEOFTHE HANDLEDTHEIRTRANSITIONSBESTANDHAVETHRIVEDMOST UNDERTHEIRNEWLEADERSARETHOSETHATHAVETAKEN OPPORTUNITIESINHERENTINLEADERSHIPTURNOVERS ADVANTAGEOFBOTHANINTERIM%$ANDATRANSITIONCON SULTANT)TISIMPORTANT ASARESULT TOURGENONPROFIT 4EAMINGUPWITHTHETRANSITIONAND FUNDERSTOMAKEAVAILABLEMODESThTRANSITIONGRANTSv SEARCHCONSULTANT ! ALLOCATIONTOAGRANTEEINTRANSITION FOR !NINTERIM%$ISOFTENTEAMEDUPWITHATRANSITION ANDSEARCHCONSULTANTINMEETINGTHETRANSITIONNEEDS EXAMPLE CANGOALONGWAYTOWARDENSURINGTHECON OFANONPROFIT4HEFIRSTCONTACTTHEBOARDOFANAGEN TINUEDSUCCESSOFTHATGRANTEE THUSPROTECTINGTHE MUCHLARGERDOLLARINVESTMENTTHEFOUNDATIONHASIN CYINTRANSITIONTYPICALLYMAKESISWITHACONSULTANT THEAGENCYSCLIENTSERVICES WHOSPECIALIZESINEXECUTIVETRANSITIONMANAGEMENT ANDEXECUTIVERECRUITING&ORITSPART THEBOARDIS GENERALLYSEEKINGSUPPORTINITSSEARCHFORTHENEXT PERMANENT%$
3OUTH"AY7ATER%DUCATION0ROJECT
)NTERIMSIN!CTION
$OUGISANENERGETICVISIONARYWHOFOUNDEDAND THENGREWTHE3OUTH"AY7ATER%DUCATION0ROJECT INTOANAGENCYWITHAN BUDGETANDA MEMBERSTAFFINSIXYEARS,OCALEDUCATORSGAVETHE 0ROJECTSSCHOOL BASED ENVIRONMENTALPROGRAMSHIGH MARKSANDEAGERLYSOUGHTTHEMFORTHEIRCLASSROOMS 3OUTH"AYSADMINISTRATIVESYSTEMSDIDNOT HOWEVER KEEPPACEWITHTHEAGENCYSGROWTH/NEOF$OUGS FRIENDSKEPTTHEBOOKS BUTATALOWLEVELOFSOPHISTI CATION&INANCIALREPORTSTOTHEBOARDANDTOFUNDERS WERECHRONICALLYLATE4HESTAFFGREWRESTLESSASTHEIR DUTIESGREWHAPHAZARDLY$OUGSTONEWALLEDTHEIRRE QUESTSFORMOREINPUTINTOPROGRAMDECISIONS WHICH WASCONSISTENTWITHHISACTIVE BUTCONTROLLING LEADER SHIPSTYLE3TAFFTURNOVERACCELERATED )NTHISTOUGHENVIRONMENT $OUGBEGANTOWEAR DOWN(EASKEDTHEBOARDFORASABBATICALLEAVE AND THEBOARDSOUGHTANINTERIM%$FROM#OMPASS0OINT TOCOVER$OUGSDUTIESFORSIXMONTHS!WAREOFTHE 0ROJECTSINADEQUATEFINANCESYSTEMS THEBOARD REQUESTEDCANDIDATESWHOWEREPARTICULARLYSTRONG WITHACCOUNTINGSYSTEMS
-AGGIEREALIZEDTHATIMPROVEMENTSTOAGENCYSYS TEMSANDSTRUCTUREWOULDNOThSTICKvIFTHEYWERENT SUPPORTEDBY$OUGUPONHISRETURN-AGGIEAP PROACHEDTHEBOARDCAUTIOUSLYWITHHEROBSERVA TIONSTHEYHADALLBEENRECRUITEDBY$OUGANDWERE UNDERSTANDABLYENTHRALLEDBYHISACHIEVEMENTSAS FOUNDER3HELEARNED HOWEVER THATTHEYALSOHADBE COMEFRUSTRATEDWITH$OUGSFAILURETOENGAGETHEM -AGGIEHELPEDTHEBOARDTOREACHADECISIONTOMEET WITH$OUGTOSEEKHISCOMMITMENTTODEVELOPBET TERWAYSOFLEADINGTHEORGANIZATION!FTERAPERIOD OFGIVEANDTAKE $OUGREACTEDBYRESIGNING ANDTHE BOARDNEGOTIATEDAGENEROUSSEVERANCEPACKAGE -AGGIEPROCEEDEDWITHHERADMINISTRATIVESYSTEMS UPGRADE3HEWASABLETOATTRACTBACKASKILLEDPRO GRAMDIRECTORWHOHADLEFTAYEAREARLIERINADISPUTE WITH$OUG4HEBOARDBROUGHTINASEARCHCONSULTANT FROM#OMPASS0OINT WHOPRODUCEDASTRONGPOOLOF CANDIDATESFORTHEPERMANENT%$POSITION4HENEW %$HASNOWBEENONTHEJOBFORTHREEYEARS ANDTHE 0ROJECTCONTINUESITSROLEASAVALUABLEENVIRONMEN TALEDUCATORANDADVOCATE
-AGGIE THEINTERIM%$HIRED IMMEDIATELYWORKEDAT GETTINGTHEFINANCIALACCOUNTINGUPTODATE!FTERRE VIEWINGOPTIONS SHERECOMMENDEDOUTSOURCINGTHE BOOKKEEPINGTOA#0!FIRMWITHASTRONGREPUTATION AMONGNONPROFITS-AGGIEALSOSPENTTIMELISTENING TOSTAFFANDSEEKINGTHEIRSUGGESTIONSFORIMPROVING THEIRMORALE
3OUTH"AY7ATER%DUCATION0ROJECTISTHEFICTITIOUSNAMEFORANACTUALCLIENTOF#OMPASS0OINT.ONPROFIT3ERVICES 4HENAMESOFALLPERSONSMENTIONEDHAVEALSOBEENCHANGED
4HEHAND OFF 4HEFINALDUTIESOFTHEINTERIM%$ARE OFCOURSE THE ORIENTATIONANDINSTALLATIONOFTHENEWPERMANENT EXECUTIVE4HEINTERIMMAYSTARTBYHELPINGTHEBOARD CHAIRSENDOFFALETTERTOFUNDERS DONORS CIVICLEADERS ANDPEERAGENCIESANNOUNCINGTHEBOARDSSUCCESSIN HIRINGAGREATNEWSTAFFLEADERANDMAYBEACKNOWL EDGINGTHEINVALUABLESERVICEOFTHEINTERIM%$4HE CHAIRANDINTERIM%$WILLTHENSUGGESTTOTHEPERMA NENTEXECUTIVEWHOONTHATMAILINGLISTSHOULDGETTHE FIRSTCALLSANDREQUESTSFORINTRODUCTORYMEETINGS !ONE WEEKOVERLAPINTHEJOBISUSUALLYSUFFICIENT TOSHOWTHEADMINISTRATIVEROPESTOTHENEWHIRE -EETINGSANDBRIEFINGSWITHDIRECTREPORTSAREIMPOR TANTFIRSTSTEPS!REVIEWOFAGENCYFINANCESAND BUDGETPROJECTIONSSHOULDOCCUR ALONGWITHASTATUS REPORTONALLPROGRAMCONTRACTSANDDELIVERABLES&OR THEFOLLOWINGTWOORTHREEWEEKS THEORGANIZATION MAYRETAINTHEINTERIMTODROPINONEORTWODAYSA WEEKTOANSWERQUESTIONSASTHEYEMERGEFORTHENEW EXECUTIVE(EORSHEMIGHTTHENBEAVAILABLEBYPHONE ONANAS NEEDEDBASIS /NEUSEFULPRACTICEISFORTHEDEPARTINGINTERIM%$TO DRAFTAREPORTONTHESTATUSOFTHEPERFORMANCEGOALS THATHADBEENESTABLISHEDATTHEBEGINNINGOFHISOR HERTENURE4HISCANINCLUDEWHATGOTDONE WHAT REMAINSFORTHENEW%$TOTAKEON ANDWHATNEW ISSUESANDCHALLENGESHAVEEMERGEDDURINGTHETRANSI TIONPERIOD4HISMIGHTBEPRESENTEDINAMEETING THATINCLUDESBOTHTHE%$ANDTHEBOARDSEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE)TBRINGSCLOSURETOTHETENUREOFTHE INTERIMANDSUPPORTSTHEDEVELOPMENTOFPERFORMANCE OBJECTIVESFORTHENEW%$ 4HELASTSTEPSINTHISLEADERSHIPTRANSITIONARETHE GOODBYESANDACKNOWLEDGEMENTSFORTHEINTERIM !GAIN AGOODENDINGFORTHEDEPARTINGINTERIM%$ MAKESROOMFORABETTERBEGINNINGFORTHENEW PERMANENTEXECUTIVE
2ELATED0UBLICATIONS
!DAMS 4OM#APTURINGTHE0OWEROF,EADERSHIP#HANGE 5SING%XECUTIVE4RANSITION-ANAGEMENTTO3TRENGTHEN /RGANIZATIONAL#APACITY%XECUTIVE4RANSITIONS -ONOGRAPH3ERIES 6OLUME"ALTIMORE4HE!NNIE %#ASEY&OUNDATION 4HISBRIEFMONOGRAPHPRESENTSTHE%4-MODELASASETOF POTENTANDCOST EFFECTIVETECHNIQUESFORUSEBYNONPROFITBOARDS INADDRESSINGEXECUTIVETURNOVERS&OUNDATIONSANDMANAGE MENTCONSULTANTSAREURGEDTOPROMOTETHEMODELASAMEANS OFSUPPORTINGTHEIRGRANTEESANDCLIENTSINTHEIRVULNERABLE TRANSITIONPERIODS WHICHCOMBINETHEELEMENTSOFBOTHCRISIS ANDOPPORTUNITY "RIDGES 7ILLIAM-ANAGING4RANSITIONS-AKINGTHE -OSTOF#HANGE"OSTON0ERSEUS0UBLISHING 7ILLIAM"RIDGESHASBEENALEADINGTHINKERANDPRACTITIONER INTHEFIELDOFCHANGEMANAGEMENTFOROVERTHREEDECADES 4HISVERYREADABLEANDRELATIVELYBRIEFBOOKPAGES PRESENTSANOVERVIEWOFHISMODEL WHICHHASBEENACORETEXT INTRAININGINTERIMMINISTERS INTERIMEXECUTIVEDIRECTORS ANDTRANSITIONMANAGEMENTCONSULTANTSALIKE
h,EADERSHIP4RANSITIONS#RITICAL4HRESHOLDSv 4HE.ONPROFIT1UARTERLY 7INTER 4HE.ONPROFIT1UARTERLY ALEADINGNATIONALJOURNALhFEA TURINGINNOVATIVETHINKINGINTHENONPROFITSECTOR vDEVOTEDA FULLISSUETOTHESUBJECTOFEXECUTIVETRANSITIONMANAGEMENT !MONGTOPICSADDRESSEDARETHENONPROFITBOARDSROLEIN ALEADERSHIPTRANSITIONANDTHEIMPORTANCEOFGROUNDING TRANSITIONSTRATEGIESINAHOLISTICAPPROACHTOORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENTINNONPROFITS -ANAGING%XECUTIVE4RANSITIONS!(ANDBOOKFOR .ONPROFIT/RGANIZATIONS7ASHINGTON $# .EIGHBORHOOD2EINVESTMENT#ORPORATION 4OM!DAMSISTHEPRIMARYAUTHOROFTHISHANDBOOK WHICH HEDEVELOPEDBASEDONHISPIONEERING%4-WORKFORTHE MEMBERORGANIZATIONSOFTHE.EIGHBORHOOD2EINVESTMENT #ORPORATION
0ETERS *EANNEAND7OLFRED 4IM$ARINGTO,EAD .ONPROFIT%XECUTIVE$IRECTORSAND4HEIR7ORK%XPERIENCE 3AN&RANCISCO#OMPASS0OINT.ONPROFIT3ERVICES 'ILMORE 4HOMAS-AKINGA,EADERSHIP#HANGE(OW 4HISMONOGRAPHPRESENTSTHEFINDINGSFROMASURVEYOFOVER /RGANIZATIONSAND,EADERS#AN(ANDLE,EADERSHIP EXECUTIVESINFIVECITIESACROSSTHECOUNTRY1UESTIONS 4RANSITION3UCCESSFULLY!UTHORS#HOICE0RESS FOCUSEDONCAREERPATHSLEADINGTOTAKINGANEXECUTIVEPOSI 4HISISAREPRINTOF4HOMAS'ILMORESBOOK ONEOFTHE TION THELEADINGSTRESSORSFORNONPROFITLEADERS ANDSTRATEGIES EARLIESTANDBESTTOAPPLYCHANGEMANAGEMENTTHEORYTOTHE ANDRESOURCESNEEDEDBYEXECUTIVESTOSUCCEEDINTHEIRJOBS PRACTICEOFHELPINGORGANIZATIONSTHOUGHTFULLYAPPROACHTHEIR #%/TURNOVERS 2EDINGTON % AND6ICKERS %h&OLLOWINGTHE,EADER 'RIPE !LAN'4HE)NTERIM0ASTORS-ANUAL,OUISVILLE !'UIDEFOR0LANNING&OUNDING$IRECTOR4RANSITIONv ,EADERSHIP2EPORT.O#OLUMBUS4HE!CADEMYFOR 'ENEVA0RESS ,EADERSHIPAND'OVERNANCE 4HISISTHEREVISEDEDITIONOF'RIPESMANUALTHAT COVERSALLASPECTSOFTHEINTERIMMINISTRY FROMQUALIFICATIONS 4HIS PAGEBOOKLETONSUCCESSIONPLANNINGINNONPROFITS PACKSTREMENDOUSWISDOMINTOSHORTCHAPTERSADDRESSEDTO ANDPREPARATIONTOSPECIALCONCERNSSUCHASFINANCIAL FOUNDERSANDLONG TIMEEXECUTIVES THEIRBOARDSOFDIRECTORS STABILITYANDOCCUPATIONALSTRESS ANDTHEIRSUCCESSORS
4HANK9OUS 'REATTHANKSAREDUETO -YLEADERSAT#OMPASS0OINT *AN -ASAOKAAND-IKE!LLISON WHOHAVE GIVENMEENCOURAGEMENTANDGENER OUSSUPPORTINALLASPECTSOFMYWORK FROMTHEPOINT)JOINEDTHE #OMPASS0OINTTEAMYEARSAGO 3YLVIA9EE%VELYN7ALTER(AAS *R &UND AND$ONNA3TARK!NNIE% #ASEY&OUNDATION WHOSEKEENINTER ESTINEXECUTIVETRANSITIONSANDLEADER SHIPDEVELOPMENTHASENCOURAGED MUCHOFMYWORKINTHOSEAREAS
4HEDOZENSOFINTERIMEXECUTIVE DIRECTORSINTHE3AN&RANCISCOAREA WHOHAVESHAREDTHEIRLEARNING WITHME ESPECIALLY*29EAGER WHO NOWMANAGESTHEINTERIMEXECUTIVE DIRECTORSERVICEAT#OMPASS0OINT AND .AN3NOW 2ICK3MITH #HUCK'REENE (OWARD-AULL #HIQUITA4UTTLE $AVE "RACKER -IM#ARLSON #ATHERINE $IREEN "ARB'EE ,INDA(ALLEN %ILEEN (ANSEN "OB+ARDON *OHN,IPP 3USAN -OONEY 3IDNEY0UCEK .ORM 2OBINSON #ONNIE3HAPIRO "*3TILES #LAUDIA6IEK AND,INDA7ILLIS
4OM!DAMSAND$ON4EBBEOF 4RANSITION'UIDESWHOHAVEBEENMY INVALUABLETHOUGHTPARTNERSFORBEST PRACTICESINLEADERSHIPTRANSITIONSAND INTERIMEXECUTIVEWORKAND
#REDITS 3TRATEGIC#OMMUNICATIONS0LANNING PROVIDEDEDITORIALSUPPORTONTHISPROJECT 7AJSKOL$ESIGNOF.EW9ORK#ITYPROVIDED THEGRAPHICDESIGNFORTHISPUBLICATION #ONTACT)NFORMATION &ORADDITIONALCOPIESOFTHISPUBLICATION PLEASECONTACT.ATASHA$g3ILVAAT NATASHAD COMPASSPOINTORG
%VELYN7ALTER(AAS *R&UND /NE-ARKET ,ANDMARK 3UITE 3AN&RANCISCO #!
FAX WWWHAASJRORG
EVELYNWALTER(!!3 *2FUND
4HE!NNIE%#ASEY&OUNDATION
