Nonprofit ED Appreciation Post

Dear Nonprofit Executive Directors,

How are you doing? Are you ok?

Within the New York City nonprofit sector, I have (anecdotally) observed a mass exodus of nonprofit executive directors over the past five years, with many occurring in the past eighteen months specifically. This makes perfect sense to me. We have baby boomers retiring left and right. We have nonprofit leaders who worked literally around-the-clock to navigate the global pandemic from 2020 to 2023 now craving a change, a break, or simply sleep. The latest report in the Race to Lead series, The Push and Pull: Declining Interest in Nonprofit Leadership, just revealed not only less interest in these positions, but also a problematic trend in which new leaders—particularly leaders of color—are being “pushed” into these roles to fix their organization and correct the negative experiences that they or their colleagues have endured (check out the report in full here).

This also resonates with me on a personal level as someone who, back in 2018-2019, considered themselves on the track to becoming an executive director. Today, there isn’t a mission or salary or team that could convince me to take on this role in a fulltime, permanent capacity. My priorities have since shifted around my time and my health in such a profound way that I know, without question, that this role will never be for me. And that’s ok. However, this shift in my own perspective has only amplified the awe, respect, and—I’ll be honest—loving concern I have for these nonprofit leaders.

So, to all the nonprofit executive directors out there, first and foremost: thank you.

Thank you for shouldering such a breadth of responsibility.

Thank you for fielding every problem that arises, both internal and external.

Thank you for answering all the calls, emails, messages, and questions at meetings.

Thank you for leading wherever leadership has been needed.

Thank you for simultaneously being the frontline fundraiser, the entire human resources department, the press agent, the finance director, the program manager, the board liaison, the idea-generator, and so on.

Thank you for listening to your community and field.

Thank you for fixing things on the endless list of things that need to be fixed.

Thank you for changing systems, practices, and culture to work towards diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Thank you for embracing the reality that in mission-driven work, the work is never done (unless, of course, you set a boundary—which we love to see).

Thank you for pouring your time, effort, and energy into your organization.

Thank you for showing up day after day for yourself, your team, and your mission.

Thank you for doing your best.

Let’s also acknowledge that you’ve done all of this, and more, in less than ideal circumstances. You’ve done all this, and more, without the salary, staff, or resources that leaders in other fields have the privilege to lean on. You’ve done all this, and more, in a sector in which saying ‘no’ feels taboo, like you’re turning your back on a mission so worthy that we should never be inspired to sleep or watch tv or enjoy time with family or friends. You’ve done all this, and more, while being forced to make decisions you never thought you’d have to make in the light of global crises, unforeseen circumstances, or the poor choices made by those before you. You’ve done all this, and more, while carrying the expectation that you must be an expert in e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g and that you can and should absorb any vacant role at your organization. You’ve done all this, and more, without your staff and board understanding the half of what you do and what you sacrifice. You’ve done all this, and more, while being you—a person who loves, cares, and fears, a person who has ambitions, hobbies, people, and a life outside of your nonprofit.

So, to all the nonprofit executive directors out there: thank you for doing everything you do in spite of the nonprofit sector’s failings.

My wish is that your roles continue to evolve and become, at the very least, more sustainable. We may see you, yes, but we also need to hear you and support you much, much better. This is something I’m committed to doing in my own consulting practice. I feel hopeful knowing that there are organizations out there, including a few of my clients, who are piloting new leadership models that work for their business, share the executive-level workload, and build collectives instead of hierarchy. I think we will see more of these “alternative” models in the coming years. It’s long overdue for our sector to scrap traditional hierarchical leadership and the one-size-fits-all leadership model for a more team-driven approach that varies among organizations to best suit their unique needs. This evolution will by no means be easy or happen overnight, but it feels promising to witness organizations out there currently taking action to try and break the pattern.

In the meantime, to all the nonprofit executive directors out there: remember that you are amazing, your contributions are important, and you are also only human.

Xo,
Jenny