Nonprofit organizations, particularly smaller organizations, operate with a limited budget, a skeleton staff and exist on donations. Although, these organizations rely on fundraising, grant funding, individual donations and volunteers to survive; the majority of these organizations do not have full-time grant writers or development personnel on staff. Unfortunately, the fundraising responsibilities then fall to the Executive Director, whose plate, most often, has passed the point of full to arrive at obligation overflow.
A depressed economy, declining monetary support and
increased anxiety have led to an increase in the.....
MASS DEPARTURE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
When an Executive Director leaves a nonprofit
organization, they often take with them vital information and partnership
contacts. The affected organization may experience
a decrease in donations, as well as, resignations by both board members and
staff.
Typically, a nonprofit Executive Director is responsible
for the overall operation of the organization, serves as a liaison between
staff and board members and is responsible for promotions, fundraising and the
financial health of the organization.
While responsibilities may vary, depending on the size of the
organization, ultimately the Executive Director receives accolades for success
and assumes the consequences for failure.
According to a nonprofit survey conducted by the United
Way of King County in Seattle, Washington, the average tenure for an Executive
Director, within the nonprofit sector, averages 6.1 years. In addition, a July 2011 article, http://www.philanthropyjournal.org/news/top-stories/exodus-executive-directors-expected,
entitled Exodus of Executive Directors expected, highlights a Meyer
Foundation study citing “Sixty-Seven percent of executives plan to leave their
jobs within five years.”
Stress, burn-out, low wages, lack of benefits and board
member conflicts are just a few reasons attributed to this staggering, high
turnover rate. Although these statistics
are alarming, the departure effect on the nonprofit organization is, often underestimated,
unsettling and sometimes tragic.
The relevance, of whether the Executive Director
chooses to leave by his/her own volition or the decision is mandated by a Board
of Directors, is moot; either way, the organization suffers as a direct result
of an Executive Director departure unless a transition plan is in place.
Outsourcing
grant- writing services can be an essential part
of a successful transition plan. An
independent grant writer can help provide stability during this pivotal transition
time by allowing the Board of Directors the freedom to search and identify a qualified
candidate to fulfill this vital role without worrying about the financial
health of the organization.
Listed below are a few of the benefits of outsourcing
grant-writing services:
1) Copy retention of valuable organization documentation including:
1) Copy retention of valuable organization documentation including:
- 501 (c) 3 IRS Determination Letter
- Mission and Vision Statements
- Non-Discriminatory Policy
- Organization Operating Budget
- Form 990
- Staff Qualification Descriptions
- Project and Program Budgets
- Organization’s Target Audience, Demographics and Statistics
3) Grant
monies requested, received and required reporting
4) Campaign
and grant application deadlines
5) Funding
resource strategies
Outsourcing
grant- writing services can also be an asset once
a new Executive Director is hired. Grant
writing involves hours of research to identify funding opportunities that match
the funder and the organization mission, areas of interest (support),
geographic location and monetary requirements.
An independent grant writer affords a nonprofit leader the ability to
concentrate on implementing the programs and projects that benefit their
respective communities. This freedom can increase the likelihood that the Executive
Director will remain in the position longer, as well as, foster a sense of organization stability.
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