Start Interim Nonprofit Executive Placement Today
When a nonprofit organization faces a leadership transition, we match the organization with an interim executive director to provide operational excellence and people management expertise until the permanent executive begins.
We believe interim leadership, at its best, is methodical, purposeful, profound and transformational.
Why an Interim Executive from Third Sector Company?
Third Sector Company serves nonprofit organizations and their boards in the search for an interim executive director (CEO, COO, Development), placing the right person to lead through the unique challenges and disruptions of a leadership transition.
Founded in 2002, we have supported over 900 nonprofits, associations, unions and congregations in finding leadership continuity solutions through interim executive placement, succession planning and board governance education.
Our Interim Executives Academy is the national standard for training aspiring and experienced nonprofit professionals in a methodical and purposeful interim management science. We’ve trained 800 nonprofit leaders across the U.S. and Canada. Academy graduates advance a standard in quality interim leadership, guiding organizations through 6 defined phases and 13 protocols.
We recruit interim executive candidates for placement from the graduates of the Academy, who represent our proven models and principles. Additionally, the Academy hosts National Forums and publishes research reports on interim leadership in the nonprofit sector as a resource for board members, funders and regional/national organizations.
Benefits of Our Interim Executive Placement Service
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Experienced nonprofit leadership to manage daily operations and guide staff with confidence
- Support for your board and search committee during the executive transition process
- Complimentary consultation with a specialist nonprofit accounting firm for strategic planning
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A thorough organizational assessment with clear benchmarks and action plans
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A nonprofit dashboard to monitor performance during the transition
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Succession planning guidance to support long-term sustainability
- A Peer Advisor for the interim leader, providing a supportive relationship to meet challenges and deliver impact
- Collaborative and aligned ED job description that reflects current and future needs
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Onboarding support to help the next permanent leader succeed from Day One
Start Your Interim Executive Director Placement
Learn about placement fees and the full range of our customer benefits by contacting our Leadership Specialists. Our response time for interim engagement inquiries is between 2 hours and the next business day. We look forward to hearing from you!
206-799-1942
Interim Candidates are Located in 46 States, D.C. & 3 Provinces
Our Process for Interim Executive Recruitment
"I was very skeptical about hiring an interim executive director but they were a fantastic leader and exactly what we needed. I also appreciated the engagement and support from Third Sector Company."
Jeremy Pepper, Board Chair of United Way of Amarillo & Canyon Counties, Texas
"TOP INTERIM PLACEMENT PROVIDER IN THE NATION 2026"
The recognition by Manage HR Magazine reflects over two decades of dedicated community leadership helping interim executives from a variety of backgrounds create intersectionality between the business models of nonprofit organizations with a methodical process for strategic transitional leadership.
Trusted By Nonprofit Boards During a Critical Transition
"Our interim executive director was exactly what our community preschool needed. She brought humor and humility along with a frank style of leadership and a fierce loyalty to the health of our organization. She held us together and helped create foundational stability. One of her greatest strengths was dealing with ambiguity and making a plan out of the chaos. We can't thank you enough. What Third Sector Company provided us was so much more than we expected, not only interim leadership, but an opportunity to evaluate our organization and align around our values. The entire experience has made me a real cheerleader for Third Sector Company.”
Vanessa Longacre-Wilcox
Former Board Chair at Community School of West Seattle - Seattle, Washington
"Our interim executive was a terrific partner in finding our next leader! The Long Beach Public Library Foundation was celebrating its 25th Anniversary of service and all the while searching for the next Executive Director/CEO leader with business acumen, relevant talents, an enthusiastic disposition, extensive and notable non-profit leadership experience and successful accomplishments. Our interim helped us navigate the search process with professionalism. We are most grateful for his service as he led us successfully and gracefully through the transition season."
M. Lissette Flores
Former Board President of Long Beach Public Library Foundation - Long Beach, California
Interim Executive Values from the Words of Our Customers
Interim Management is Purposeful
The entire goal of a transition leader is to advance an organization’s community purpose.
"Our interim cared deeply about the organization and its success and handled a lot for us."
Arun Baheti, Board Member of Program for Torture Victims, Los Angeles, CA
Interim Leadership is Transformational
Interim CEOs foster processes and structures that support people to build new capacities to make their own best decisions to further evolve the cause.
"Our interim was just what FishWise needed at its moment of crisis. She brought strong Executive Director skills to the board, the leadership team, and the organization as a whole. But more than her 'hard skills', she brought the 'soft skills' that were even more important. She has a unique combination of sincere empathy, a commitment to listen deeply, and a willingness to collaborate with strong personalities to find a path forward."
George Leonard, PhD, Board Chair of FishWise, Santa Cruz, CA
Interim Management is Methodical
Demonstrating well-defined leadership processes that are evidence-based and measurement-oriented is a core principle of an interim leader.
"We walked them through creating a new budget, outsourcing their financial management and developing financial transparency. Finally, we set them up to apply for state and federal grants! And we raised money while we were in process."
Arthur Padilla, Interim Executive of Peace Community Center, Tacoma, WA
Interim Leadership is Profound
Interim executives can build authentic diversity, inclusion, equity and access by identifying and addressing preconceptions that exist in an organization’s culture through shared learning and awareness.
"I feel truly blessed to have been connected with our Interim ED, and this connection wouldn't have been possible without Third Sector Company. I also learned so much from their Board Chairs Academy service."
Victoria Gazulis, Board Member of Challenge Day, Concord, CA
