Interim Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector
Growing, Distinct Role of Interim Executives in Successful Nonprofit Leadership Transitions
The “Interim Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector” report, commissioned by Third Sector Company and released at the “National Nonprofit Interim Executives Forum” in January 2026, highlights the critical role interim leaders play in stabilizing operations, guiding organizations through transitions and preparing them for long-term success.
Our Purpose to Serve the Nonprofit Sector
The report was commissioned to further validate the emergence of a new management science and a leadership profession while outlining the impacts of strategic transitional leadership on nonprofit stability, funder confidence and long-term mission effectiveness.
Developed from practitioner contributions across the interim leadership community, portions of this report may be shared with attribution; reproduction of substantial content requires permission.
For more information, contact: info@thirdsectorcompany.com.
Voices From the Report and Interim Forum
“Interim leaders are change experts who play a crucial role in helping nonprofits navigate transitions,” said Nancy Bacon, the nonprofit educator and strategist who authored the report.
“This report captures the voices of over 100 practitioners from the United States and Canada and provides actionable recommendations to strengthen the profession and support organizations to understand the value of interim leadership during times of change.”
Nancy Bacon
Researcher and Adult Learning Expert
“With the high rates of attrition taking place in the nonprofit sector, this is no longer a discussion about hiring temps,” said Dr. Sara Hudson, interim CEO and Editor in Chief of Nonprofit Quarterly, who served as a guest commentator at the Forum.
“Nonprofit boards and community leaders need a battalion of skilled people able to stop the revolving door of leadership occurring in their organizations. Skilled interims facilitate processes that drive tough decisions about their futures and center people on mission, sustainability, and service to eventually make the right long-term hire."
Dr. Sara Hudson
Interim CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Nonprofit Quarterly
Interim Executive Leadership for Nonprofits
In their role, nonprofit interim executives oversee operations and staff, finances and budget, board governance, communication, culture and human resources, create systems and set priorities.
It’s not unusual for their work to help heal an organization that may be suffering from the loss of a founder, a leader who was forced out or a previous leader who failed.
The study revealed that interim nonprofit leaders generally serve organizations for an average of 10 months, with typical engagements lasting six to 14 months.
“Every day we hear of people taking on vacated leadership roles on an interim basis in many types of organizations that impact community life, including nonprofits,” said Third Sector Company President and CEO, Jeffrey Wilcox.
“The number of people who have held these positions and have experienced what it is like to be an interim executive has led to a body of shared knowledge, a set of principles, and a national community of trained people now able to offer a methodical management process that facilitates intentional evolution to prepare organizations to hire a successful long-term leader.”
