Executive Transitions Program FAQ

The answers to your essential questions

Q. What is the Executive Transitions Program?

A. The Executive Transitions Program of Third Sector New England focuses on helping nonprofits who are undergoing leadership changes at the executive level. 

Q. Which services do you offer?

A. Quite a lengthy list, from before the first executive director leaves until after the new one arrives. Services usually include an organizational assessment, the executive search and working closely with the transition team of board and staff. The components are more fully discussed in Philosophy. ETP will also find the nonprofit an interim executive director, if one is needed.

Q. How does the process start?

A. Your organization has a free consultation with ETP staff to identify your exact needs. If you choose, we will then recommend a qualified transition consultant and/or interim executive director who will, upon approval, work with you one-on-one throughout the transition.

Q. How does ETP decide whom to recommend?

A. We have a rigorous set of qualifications and an interviewing process for all our transition consultants and interim executive directors. Listening very carefully to your needs, we send you the most appropriate candidate from our pool to interview. If she or he is a fit, you’re all set. If not, we’ll send you another to interview.

Q. How quickly can you get someone in here?

A. Within 2 weeks, as soon as you’re ready to interview our candidates.

Q. Once we have the transition consultant or interim ED, what is TSNE’s role?

A. We stay in close contact with the consultant providing any support or information he or she may need to help you have an effective, productive executive transition. We manage the monthly billing and invoicing. We also do a midpoint check-in with you to see how the consultancy is progressing, but you can contact us at any time.

Q. How much does an executive search really cost?

A. It depends. ETP believes in a whole process (see Philosophy) that includes the search, an organizational assessment, establishing a transition team, developing the job profile and designing a recruitment/marketing/advertising strategy for the position (but not including the cost of advertising). Expect a cost of $25,000 to $45,000. You can reduce those costs if your non-profit organization already has a relevant strategic plan, your transition team is in place, you choose to do the first round of interviews with applicants, etc. (See Expected Costs and Length of Service.)

Q. Will you ever conduct only the search component?

A. Sorry, no. Recruiting new executive leadership is a critical time in most nonprofits’ lives, and we believe strongly in doing it right the first time. Ultimately you’ll save your organization money and heartache.

Q. Do you help us get funding?

A. No, although many funders are happy to see us involved in the process. You should talk to your favorite foundation, which generally understands executive transitions are a critical time. So do individual donors. (Third Sector New England already underwrites most of ETP’s administrative costs and most of our consultants are accepting lower fees to work with you at a reasonable cost.)

Q. How long does the process take?

A. Depends on how ready you are. Expect an average of 6 months. (See Expected Costs and Length of Service.)

Q. What is the cost for placing interim executive directors?

A. We charge a placement fee of $1,500 to $3,000 to place and provide support to an interim executive leader. If you also work with us for the executive search/transition, the interim placement fee is reduced. You then negotiate directly with the interim executive director for his or her time. (See Expected Costs and Length of Service.)

Q. How long will an interim ED be in place?

A. That’s up to you and your organization’s needs, but we generally find 4 to 10 months, with the average being 6. 

Q. Can the interim executive director conduct the search as well?

A. No, for lots of reasons. For one, he or she is working limited hours. For another, the training and roles are very different. Read our Philosophy to find out how.

Q. What if there’s a problem with the placement?

A. ETP will do whatever is necessary to resolve the issue.

Q. What if I have additional questions?

A. We’d be happy to answer them! Contact:

Hez Norton, Manager
Executive Transitions Program
617.523.6565 or executivetransitions@tsne.org