Erin Hall, Spelman Johnson’s nonprofit practice leader, attended the spring meeting of the National Organization of State Associations for Children (NOSAC) last week and spoke with association leaders from around the country. NOSAC is a national organization made up of state associations who represent children and children’s services.
A trend that Spelman Johnson is seeing across various industries holds true for NOSAC’s membership as well: smaller pools of candidates in the last few years. A smaller number of applications means nonprofits have to cast a wider net for interested candidates for any open position, which can be challenging for a CEO or leadership team who is already stretched thin. With a large network of contacts nationally, this is where a search firm can be helpful.
A number of NOSAC leaders talked about the retirements that are coming in the human services field in the next few years. CEOs and executive directors, who have been in their positions for 20 to 40 years, are nearing retirement age and NOSAC leaders worry about the loss of institutional knowledge.
They also shared their concerns that the next generation of leaders may not be ready. These state leaders discussed the need for professional development for mid-level managers and those interested in a leadership path. There is a need for developing strategic thinking skills and helping emerging leaders develop their capacities to lead in difficult and complex situations. While upcoming leaders have the administrative skills to be a director, they may not yet have the skills to understand the complexity of larger human service agencies. The bigger question is – how do you train upcoming leaders on vision and strategy?
The changes in the healthcare system have also presented new challenges for human services nonprofits. Given the options for private practice and virtual therapy positions, it is much more difficult to make the role the direct client contact in the field as attractive. It is no longer simply about salary – it is about organizational culture, hybrid work options, and professional development.
“We have smart, bright young people coming into the field and we need to hold on to them,” said one state association leader.
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