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Consulting | Executive Search & Transition

Nothing can be more critical to a nonprofit's future than finding the right chief executive. CompassPoint's Executive Transitions experts are exceptionally qualified to support a nonprofit in transition with a broad array of services developed by some of the leading authorities in the field of nonprofit leadership. For a full description of our services, download our program brochure and then contact one of our transitions experts for a free initial consultation at 415.541.9000 or et@compasspoint.org.

"Buckelew Programs developed fresh clarity on its goals and on fund raising. The board and staff are wonderfully reenergized with the new ED that CompassPoint recruited for us. We couldn't have done it without CompassPoint's expert help." --Rod Farrow, Board President, San Rafael, October 2008

Executive Search

A successful recruitment effort begins with clarifying the leadership skills and attributes your nonprofit needs for its future success. Having recruited executives for over 300 community agencies, CompassPoint's transition consultants are adept at searching out and screening candidates that meet your needs. View our current executive searches.

Interim Executive Director Placement

Many organizations find that an interim executive is a good option as they go through an executive transition. CompassPoint maintains a pool of seasoned executives that are ready to step in to provide stability in the face of change. Read Interim Executive Directors: The Power of the Middle to learn more about the benefits and basics of using an interim executive.

Succession Planning

Nonprofits that proactively prepare for a leadership transition, especially for long tenured or founding executives, pave the way for new leadership to step in and succeed. CompassPoint offers assistance with three types of succession planning:

Consultation and tools for assuring an agency’s sustainability beyond the tenure of a “long and strong” executive who will be leaving in a year or two,
Emergency succession planning as a risk management practice to prepare for an unplanned departure, and
“Strategic leader development” as an ongoing practice for building bench strength behind an agency’s top managers.

To learn more about all three forms of succession planning, read Building Leaderful Organizations: Succession Planning for Nonprofits, a new monograph authored by CompassPoint's Tim Wolfred. Some succession planning tools created by CompassPoint consultants and referenced in the monograph can be downloaded here:

A sample template to provide guidance on writing an Emergency Succession Plan
A self-reflection tool for executives who are questioning whether or not it's time to leave their positions
The Executive Director Legacy Statement--a tool with which an executive can clarify what he or she wants to accomplish before they exit their job
A Succession Readiness Checklist that can serve as the basis for the Sustainability Audit
A sample staff survey for input on capacity building and leadership needs (for conducting the recommended Sustainability Audit)
A sample board self-assessment survey for planning board development activities as part of the Sustainability Audit
A list of stakeholder interview questions for gathering input from funders and other external supporters and colleagues (for conducting the recommended Sustainability Audit)
A checklist of activities for planning and mining the learnings of an executive Sabbatical--a way of testing the bench strength of your organization.

CompassPoint offers a 2-day intensive seminar, Next Steps Workshop, for long-term executives pondering how to plan their departure. Click here for more information and future dates.

Training & Support

CompassPoint provides a broad range of training and support for executives. Offerings include Professional Development and Networking, Coaching, Articles, Research, and free practical Templates.

Executive Transitions Institute

CompassPoint has trained over 200 nonprofit consultants in the techniques of executive transitions management. This highly popular training is offered two times a year in different cities around the country.