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• Support for Oregon's Community Development Corporations
• Resident Services
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  Training Calendar

  Succession Planning/Planning for Transitions

  Community Development Training Series

  Technical Assistance

  Future Leaders Initiative
• Asset Building through IDAs

Succession Planning/Planning for Transitions Effort

In February 2004, NPF provided a daylong workshop on Succession Planning for Successful Transitions to over 30 people in non-profits, primarily CDCs. This workshop brought home to all of us the reality that many CDCs in Oregon are expecting a change in leadership in the coming years.  The response to the Succession Workshop, as well as the positive outcome of our related efforts, led us to propose utilizing a more systematic, long-term approach with individual CDCs to design plans for succession/transition..

Our intent was to lay the groundwork for an ambitious effort to reach all interested Oregon CDCs with a positive and straightforward way to incorporate succession planning into their current operations. Washington Mutual has generously funded Phase One of a three-phase project.

Phase One Included:

1. Gathering Data.  Our consultants used the Appreciative Inquiry process to interview all NPF grantees to gather data about their readiness for succession planning.  From these appreciative interviews we developed a list of “indicators of readiness” to be further tested on a larger audience in phase two.  The data gathered gave us crucial information about the interest and readiness of Oregon CDCs to undertake succession planning. 
2. Completing Two Succession Plans.  Based on results of interviews which indicated organizational readiness two groups were selected to develop a succession plan using an appreciative inquiry approach involving board and staff members.
3. Distributing Results. The results will be distributed in summary form to all participants; and if the two test groups are willing, their succession plans will be shared with all CDCs.  This summary should be completed in March 2006.
4. Developing Phase Two. (We are on track to complete this by the end of 2005.) Using key findings and data gathered from our succession planning work, we will develop a plan for  creating a combination of succession planning workshops, a tool kit and/or workbook on succession planning, and ways to deliver TA. Phase Two will also involve further research and development of materials to support non-profits in proactive succession planning. NPF will distribute these materials through a combination of workshops, TA and consultation.

Read the Succession Planning Project report.

Read the Executive Summary of our report.