What does “succession planning” mean in your organization?

Succession planning and leadership development are continuing and potentially growing challenges for nonprofits. The nonprofit sector is experiencing growing rates of employee and volunteer transitions. Many issues faced by nonprofits can be linked to high employee and board turnover, a lack of talent planning and development, and an unrealized commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, access, and belonging.

A significant portion of nonprofits lack written plans or policies to guide executive transitions, board succession, or employee retention, nor do they include talent development and leadership continuity in strategic planning. Nonprofit executives and their boards often react nervously, even negatively, to the idea of leadership succession discussions. Those organizations face significant risk should they experience a sudden vacancy in a key position.

Intentional and systematic planning can minimize disruptions to operations and programs during times of transition, ensuring an organization’s mission can continue.

Third Sector Company is pleased to offer this workshop to help your organization build such a culture. Starting with the belief that an organization's people are its most valuable resource, this session will demonstrate that succession planning is more than just preparing for a vacancy in the executive director's position - it's about creating and sustaining leadership continuity throughout the organization.

Join us on December 3, 2026, to explore the principles of nonprofit succession planning and the contents of a succession plan, and prepare for emergency vacancies in key positions before they happen.

Succession Planning for Nonprofit Organizations will:

- Position succession planning as essential to your organization’s long-term sustainability
- Outline and discuss the essential components of a comprehensive succession planning framework
- Provide specific tools and resources to help implement that framework
- Empower you to become a champion for intentional succession planning and leadership continuity in your organization

Please reach out to Erick Seelbach at erick@thirdsectorcompany.com if you have questions or need special consideration in registering.

Third Sector Company is committed to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion as foundational to its programs.

We acknowledge and honor the fundamental value and dignity of all people; and we pledge our individual and organizational efforts to build respect, dignity, caring, and equitable treatment for all. As an organization, we are committed to transforming the world into one that promotes social justice and freedom from oppression, including but not limited to, racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, and ableism.

Thus, we aim to be adaptable, actively anti-racist, embracing cultural differences, and to be accessible for people who are differently resourced and differently abled. Since we do not want financial hardship to be a barrier to participation, there are several seats reserved in each of our fee-based programs for confidentially awarded scholarships. We encourage those from historically underserved communities to apply.

Succession Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: Leadership Continuity to Sustain Your Mission

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