Many nonprofit organizations are small enough that they do not require an executive director, but once you have more than one or two offices, it might be time to hire an executive director. Since organization and structure are essential to a well-run nonprofit organization, an executive director can assume the role of coordinator and liaison for the board, the staff and the volunteers.
Once you’ve decided that you require the services of an executive director, the board is no longer in charge of overseeing day-to-day activities. Instead, the executive director assumes this role, and while the board plans and organizes programs and events, it is the executive director’s job to implement them.
The Executive Director’s Role in a Start-Up Nonprofit
If you have just started your nonprofit organization, the executive director’s role will be very simple. It is his or her job to begin the hiring process for permanent staff and the recruiting process for volunteers. He or she will oversee the implementation of fledgling programs and to keep track of all the paperwork.
Some start-up nonprofit organizations do not require an executive director immediately. In the beginning, the board can take care of those duties, while volunteers and staff members can organize themselves. However, if you think that your nonprofit will begin growing immediately, it might be best to go ahead and hire an executive director.
The Executive Director’s Role in a Year-Old Nonprofit
Based on the rate at which a typical nonprofit organization grows, the executive director will take on a more complex role at the one-year mark. At this point, there will usually be between ten and fifteen regular events and programs, and the executive director will be in charge of organizing and overseeing those events. He or she will also be responsible for appointing committee chairs and evaluating the success of new ideas and promotions.
The executive director will report directly to the board, and will work as a liaison between the board and the staff. He or she will take the concerns and questions from staff and employees directly to the board and will have a key role in the success of the nonprofit organization.
The Executive Director’s Role in a Five-Year-Old Nonprofit
At the five-year mark, most successful nonprofit organizations have grown exponentially from their start-up days and the executive director will have a much more complex role. He or she will be responsible for managing several different departments, though it will be less of a hands-on role. Other staff members will have taken over the managerial duties regarding specific day-to-day activities, and the executive director will step in only as needed.
The important thing about the role of the executive director in a nonprofit organization is that he or she should be flexible and willing to change with the times. It is the board’s responsibility to govern the duties of the executive director and to continue changing the job description as the nonprofit grows.
