Succession Planning in Organizations: Understanding Organizational Survival Patterns in Nonprofit Organizations

Succession Planning in Organizations: Understanding Organizational Survival Patterns in Nonprofit Organizations

Antony Elisha Daley | 2020

Abstract

Organizational succession planning plays a critical role in the survival of nonprofit and faith-based nonprofit organizations. Seventy-three percent of nonprofit organizations report having no documented succession plan in place (Succession Planning for Nonprofits – Managing Leadership Transition, 2019). This finding is alarming as 60% to 75% of the nonprofit executives plan to leave their organization in the next five years (Moyers, 2011). Within faith-based nonprofit organizations, the baby boomer generation is facing a crisis where its founding leaders are now retiring and having difficulties transitioning responsibilities to the next generation (Dingman, Gyertson, & Kidd, 2014). If nonprofit organizations are to survive beyond the current generation, an understanding of the survival patterns that helps to enhance the succession planning process needs development and deployment in these organizations. This study explores the survival patterns that help nonprofit organizations achieve a successful succession process. The results of this study indicate foundational elements of talent management, strategic planning, and a culture of knowledge sharing help to enhance the succession process. Organizational assessments, board involvement, and the use of consultants were also found to aid in positively affecting the succession process.