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Writer's pictureCricket Island Foundation

Supporting Nonprofit Leadership Transitions: A Foundation's Journey

Updated: Jul 23

Nonprofit Leadership Transition Report Cover by Cricket Island Foundation

Our new report, Supporting Nonprofit Leadership Transitions: A Foundation's Journey, examines how funders can best support nonprofits before, during, and after leadership transitions—offering suggestions for how philanthropy can support the people, planning, and processes involved in all aspects of transitions.


Our recommendations are shaped by the experiences of Cricket Island Foundation grantee partners who have gone through a leadership transition (or are currently in transition) and by feedback from our peers. We share the story of our Leadership Transition Fund: its origins, its principles, and how it has evolved in response to grantee feedback. Twenty organizations have now participated in our multi-year program of grantmaking, technical assistance, and peer support. 

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...the philanthropic sector must change the way we engage with leadership transitions...That means collectively improving [transition] support for nonprofits, becoming more flexible and creative about how we approach transitions, and normalizing conversations around leadership changes...”
Group shot of BIPOC nonprofit leaders smiling in front of a large tree
Several Leadership Transition Fund grantees at a cross-cohort leadership retreat

Recommendations for Funders:

1. Initiate regular conversations with your grantees about leadership transitions and planning.
2. Share leadership transition resources with your grantees.
3. Recognize and resource the full life cycle of transitions.
4. Invest in both incoming and outgoing leaders’ well-being and leadership before, during, and after the transition process.
5. Grantees should lead the way in determining the transition model that’s best for them.
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Who should read this report?

  • Funders interested in how to better support their grantee partners

  • Funders seeking to operationalize trust-based philanthropy in supporting leadership transitions

  • Philanthropy-serving organizations who want to foster discussion among their members about the importance of supporting healthy leadership transitions

  • Nonprofits who want to open a dialogue with their funders about leadership transitions

  • Anyone curious to learn more about how to support leadership transitions


"We believe that the philanthropic sector needs to change the way we engage with leadership transitions, so that grantee partners have the critical support to navigate these vulnerable times."
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How can we learn more about nonprofit leadership transition?

If you or your organization has questions or reflections and would like to learn more about supporting nonprofit leadership transitions, please reach out to us:


Liz Sak, Executive Director, Cricket Island Foundation

 

Leading Forward logo

If you are a funder interested in connecting with a community of peers who are also exploring this work, please contact:

Leading Forward, a funder-driven community of practice and resource hub focused on promoting equitable nonprofit leadership transitions.



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