Nonprofit Resources
Does Your Nonprofit Need a Chief of Staff?
As nonprofit organizations grow, leaders and board members face a complex challenge: maintaining the right balance between upper-level leadership and program staff so everyone can thrive. Too many leaders can result in micromanagement and staff frustration. Too few can lead to unclear direction and decreased productivity.
Nonprofit Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Executive Directors often feel pulled in many directions as they try to be everywhere, weigh in on every decision needing their input, and keep the organization moving forward. Even with a Chief Operating Officer (COO) or Operations Director and a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or Finance Director, demands can continue to pile up.
Nonprofit leaders need a way to serve effectively without sacrificing work-life balance or burning out. Asking the executive team to take on more or delegating to an assistant can help. However, sometimes the complexity of the organization necessitates bringing in another high-level strategic leader. That’s where a Chief of Staff can help. An effective Chief of Staff serves as a strategic partner, helping to align priorities and freeing up your chief executive to focus on what matters most.
What Does a Chief of Staff Do at a Nonprofit?
Much like in government and for-profit sectors, the primary objective of a nonprofit Chief of Staff is to amplify the CEO or Executive Director’s effectiveness and impact. This individual should have high-level strategic insight from their previous work experience and a thorough understanding of the organization.
A Chief of Staff typically works behind the scenes on special projects and initiatives that require coordination across multiple departments or executives. They often don’t have direct reports but work closely with department heads and maintain visibility into workflows.
Nonprofit Chief of Staff vs. COO: What’s the Difference?
A COO focuses on operations: overseeing day-to-day functions, mitigating risks, and ensuring programs run smoothly. They think tactically and collaborate with staff at all levels to manage various departments and keep teams on track.
A Chief of Staff, on the other hand, focuses on strategy and executive alignment. While the COO is a member of the executive team, the Chief of Staff serves as the executive’s “right hand,” helping prioritize initiatives and manage executive-level decisions.
How Do We Know if Our Nonprofit Needs a Chief of Staff?
There is no exact formula for knowing when it might be time to consider adding a Chief of Staff. But if your CEO or Executive Director often says things like this, it may be time for a discussion:
- “My calendar is packed with back-to-back meetings.”
- “New initiatives and projects keep getting pushed down the list because I don’t have the capacity for them right now.”
- “Crises frequently pull me away from scheduled work and meetings.”
- “The executive team struggles to agree on next steps, and I often feel like the mediator or tiebreaker.”
- “Travel for important events and donor meetings feels impossible because I can’t step away from the office.”
Hiring a Chief of Staff who aligns with your organization’s mission and values and fits your needs could help you reduce executive burnout. It could also help your organization achieve the next level of growth, enabling you to serve more people and provide greater impact.
If you would like to explore this or other organizational design and development topics, please contact us to discuss how CapinCrouse can help.
Authors:
Stan Reiff, Professional Practice Leader – Consulting | Partner, CRI Advisors, LLC† | Partner, CRI Capin Crouse Advisors, LLC†
Kelsey Helmick, Executive Compensation Program Consultant