Leaving the president’s role up to a fresh vote every year or two brings uncertainty, and sometimes politics into things. And we all want less of that, right?
One client I work with built stability right into their structure.
They use a three-part presidency model: President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President. Each person serves one year in each role — learning, leading, then mentoring largely speaking.
It means every president stays connected for three years, and transitions happen naturally. The board gains continuity, shared context, and far less friction. I thought this was a stroke of genius to put this right into their bylaws.
Here’s the deal:
New people bring new ideas. But melding those with what came before you is the responsible choice.
When leadership succession is built into your nonprofit, you avoid unnecessary disruption and create a greater sense of teamwork and mentorship. Less “I” and more “us”.