In 1993 Wendy Lazarus and Laurie Lipper co-founded The Children’s Partnership nonprofit organization, and they served as co-presidents until 2015, when they turned the leadership over to Mayra E. Alvarez (Koenig). The process of transitioning between leaders in a nonprofit is neither easy nor simple, and in their article ‘Six Strategies For Nonprofit Leadership Transition’, Lazarus and Lipper reflect on the process and the ways to see it through successfully.

For a good transition, it is key that the desires of the individual do not take precedence over the mission of the organization. Lazarus and Lipper had to ask themselves not: “How do we replace ourselves?”, but rather “Who would be an ideal leader for our organization over the next decade?” (Lazarus and Lipper). This attitude likewise applied to the tone and attitude that Lazarus and Lipper held about the process, the tone they expected of their colleagues within the organization. The priority had to be for the future and mission of the organization, not on Lazarus and Lipper themselves. Considering the impact on stakeholders and board members, and the impact on the day-to-day management of the organization was essential.

Lazarus and Lipper also write about engaging with their staff in the process to ensure a smooth transition, conducting meetings and adjusting responsibilities as needed for the greater benefit of the organization. Their final tip to ensure success was to keep a guiding hand on the company for a period, serving as Senior Advisors to Alvarez with the cooperation of the new president and the board. By following these strategies, Wendy Lazarus and Laurie Lipper were able to transition smoothly from one kind of leadership to another, without detracting from the organization’s mission and priorities.

Read more about how ExecSearches can help nonprofit organizations with managerial turnover.

Rebecca Koenig. ‘People in Philanthropy: HHS Official to Lead Children’s Charity’. The Chronicle of Philanthropy. 19 June 2017. Web. 14 August 2015.

Wendy Lazarus and Laurie Lipper. ‘Six Strategies For Nonprofit Leadership Transition’. Stanford Social Innovation Review. 19 June 2017. Web. 30 May 2017.

Last updated on August 1st, 2017 at 02:19 pm