The under-resourcing of leadership transitions is harming nonprofits and leaders of color.
Organizations in transition–especially those led by Black leaders, leaders of color, and other leaders who come from community–are critically under-funded and under-resourced. They often face a trust gap and a “wait and see” approach from funders at the very moment when greater funding for operational growth and capacity building are needed most.
Our vision is grounded both in supporting the immediate and urgent need to support leadership transitions happening now, and in amplifying long-standing/long-term needs named by nonprofits to center and support leaders from community, to reimagine what leadership looks like for social justice nonprofits, to build nonprofit capacity for change, and to create cultures that embody healthy workplaces.
Healthy leadership transitions are vital for thriving organizations and movements.
These principles guide our work:
Leadership Transitions
are Healthy for
Thriving Organizations
Leadership transitions are necessary and can be valuable opportunities for transformational growth when fully funded and supported.
Funders can improve their practice by supporting organizations before, during, and after transitions and increase multi-year support as well as provide specific resources and support to organizations in transition and their incoming leaders.
Center & Support
Leaders From
Community
Executives of color are often recruited to lead organizations that have faced challenges around equity, but are less likely to receive funding and face greater structural barriers that hinder their organizational change efforts.
Funders can double down on their support for BIPOC leadership by supporting tools like coaching, retreats, and facilitated meetings with board and staff.
Reimagine
Leadership for
Justice Movements
Transitions are an opportunity to reimagine organizational leadership and explore new models, like co-leadership.
By supporting strong leadership pipelines and normalizing non-traditional leadership models, funders can help create workplaces that support incoming leaders with more liberatory leadership styles.
Build Capacity for Holding Change
Operational capacity is broadly underfunded, and since transitions take time, organizations in transition face compounded struggles around capacity and infrastructure.
Funders can increase multi-year unrestricted grants to help build organizational capacity in key areas like change management and knowledge transfer.
Create Cultures of Belonging and Wholeness
Burnout and overwork are endemic in the sector, particularly for executive leaders, and even more so for leaders of color. Operating in this kind of environment can exacerbate conflict around leadership, culture, or organizational change.
Funders can direct funding to increase staff capacity and retention strategies, and support coaching, facilitation, and training for board, staff, and leadership to help organizations weather transitions.