New Report Profiles Nonprofit Leaders In New England, Points To Challenges With Many Seasoned Leaders Planning To Leave In The Next Five Years.
BOSTON, June 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leadership New England, a new study of nonprofit executives and board members in the region, reports that two-thirds (64%) of executives plan to leave their jobs within the next five years, 60% of organizations do not have succession plans, and just one-third of leaders believe they have staff in their organizations who can step up into leadership positions.
The study, conducted by Boston-based Third Sector New England, a nonprofit, capacity-building organization, surveyed more than 1,200 leaders and board members to investigate their upcoming challenges in the next decade. In response, 877 leaders and 330 board members completed the survey.
"Many of the leaders and board members we surveyed reported their organizations are not ready for the anticipated challenges associated with such a large exodus of seasoned leaders," says Hez Norton, co-author of the report for Third Sector New England. "Many organizations have no succession plans, no resources to develop leaders within organizations, are financially frail, and are faced with struggling boards. These challenges will likely intensify during any type of leadership transition."
Despite the challenges nonprofits face, leaders reported being happy in their jobs, they are passionate about their organization's mission, and their work has increased their sense of purpose and accomplishment. The report illustrates the resiliency and optimism of nonprofit leaders in the region.
"The report clearly underscores the challenges that have plagued nonprofits for decades, but with seasoned leaders leaving, we can no longer rely on their commitment to their work to sustain the sector," says Jonathan Spack executive director of Third Sector New England. "It is time to make critical investments to ready nonprofits, help them meet their missions and to be prepared for whatever the future brings."
Other significant findings:
- Six in ten leaders (58%) and board members (62%) said their organizations do not have succession plans.
- Fundraising is reported as the number one challenge in organizations.
- Half of leaders (49%) who plan to leave their organizations within two years report that better performing boards would make them more likely to stay.
About Leadership New England Study
Third Sector New England partnered with more than 40 foundations and nonprofits that distributed the survey to leaders and board members in the six New England states.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150609/221980-INFO
SOURCE Third Sector New England
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