job description
First 30 Days for a New Non-Profit Executive Director
Whether it’s a first job as an executive director or a first day at a new non-profit, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. That’s because the 4 key areas of a non-profit executive director’s job are massive. Those 4 areas are: governance/board support and policy management; making sure...
Why an Executive Director Shouldn't be a Jack of All Trades
There is an expectation, real or perceived, that the executive director of a non-profit needs to be a jack of all trades – someone who picks up all the left-over little tasks and handles them as part of regular work duties. The executive director is often expected to handle all the accounting,...
How to Write a Job Description
A clear job description is an important part of every position. Potential employees want a clear picture of the position before applying, to be sure the job is the right fit for them. Current employees want a clear picture of the work they’ve been hired to complete. Employers need a place...
What do you do when a board member goes rogue?
Has there been a time when a board member didn’t follow policy and no one, you or other board members, said anything? Has a board member reported tasks that they’ve handled when they were neither asked, nor given the authority, to handle those tasks? Has a board member been making decisions...
Succession Plan
When an executive director leaves their position, it doesn't really matter how much notice is given if there isn't a written plan in place for the hiring committee or board of directors to find someone new. Hiring can be a hot mess. You can avoid that chaos by writing out a succession plan for...
From No Employees to a Paid Team
When a non-profit first starts there will be a team of volunteers who handle all the work. They might also double as board members. Those early days are usually pretty lean, but everyone pitches in and the work gets done. When a non-profit grows a little more and the work that's required is...
Planning for a New Member of the Team
I'm Hiring Again [groan] Today I learned that one of my direct reports will be going on maternity leave. In Canada, that means they can be away for up to 18 months. So..., I'll be hiring again. It is a lot of work and I don't love it, but that's the job. It got me thinking I should update the...