Social Sector Leadership and Succession Planning

Waldron and the UW Evans School of Public Affairs, both Global Washington members, recently released their second annual Social Sector CEO Trends report after surveying senior executives at U.S. NGOs, nonprofits and charitable foundations.

As the number of organizations in the social sector grows and leaders reach retirement age, the sector is expected to face a scarcity of leadership. The survey examines if and how organizations are planning for these changes and how CEOs’ perceptions compare to Leadership Team perceptions.

Some of the top survey findings include:

  • 90% of CEOs perceive their organizations provide next generation leaders with access to development opportunities compared to only 52% of Leadership Team members.
  • 87% of CEOs state that succession planning is very important, yet less than 30% have a planned transition policy in place.
  • 62% of Leadership Team members aspire to become CEO, but only 27% report they feel ready to take that role today.

Click here to access the full report in Waldron’s Knowledge Center.