Ask a Nonprofit Expert

Real Questions. Practical Solutions.
NPQ Logo


** How to Handle Founder’s Syndrome with Grace
------------------------------------------------------------

October 23, 2025

Welcome back to Ask a Nonprofit Expert, the nonprofit sector’s go-to advice column where seasoned nonprofit leaders offer advice and answers about how to build thriving, equitable organizations.

In today’s issue, executive coach Marian Urquilla answers a reader’s question about how an outgoing board president can best approach succession planning when it’s not supported from the inside.

Got a question of your own? Submit it here ([link removed]) .

How to Handle Founder’s Syndrome with Grace

By Marian Urquilla

Dear Ask a Nonprofit Expert,

I am soon to end my tenure as president and board member of a nonprofit. The ED has been there for 40 years and does not believe in succession planning or strategic planning. Do I tell the new incoming president my concerns? It feels like founder’s syndrome.

Sincerely,

Exit-Bound Board Member

Dear Exit-Bound Board Member,

First, thank you for the care embedded in your question. The fact that you’re wondering how to exit with integrity, while also protecting the organization’s future speaks to your leadership.

You’re naming something many nonprofit leaders have experienced but struggle to articulate, which is the tensions that arise when long-tenured founders hesitate or outright resist transition. When a long-serving executive avoids strategic or succession-related planning, their actions (or nonaction) signal an identity entanglement: The organization is me, and if I step aside, it might not survive. Such hesitation can produce a risk-filled organizational freeze, thereby stalling healthy evolution. Left unaddressed, the freeze grows beyond a leadership dilemma. It becomes systemic—an ailment woven into the fabric of the organization. So what now?

You’re not asking whether to confront the ED. You’re asking whether to equip the next board president with a clearer understanding of what they’re stepping into. In my view, the answer is yes. But how you do it matters.

Continue Reading ([link removed])

Sponsored Content

Plan Training That Saves Time ([link removed])

Good training helps you avoid wasted time and can improve productivity. Get this free workbook to plan training that supports your nonprofit’s mission and budget.

Get Free Workbook ([link removed])


** Latest Articles
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]

Building a Collective Future: A Conversation with Niloufar Khonsari

by Steve Dubb and Niloufar Khonsari

Collective management can and does work in nonprofits, but there are some tricks of the trade to make worker self-managed nonprofits effective in practice.
Read Article ([link removed])
[link removed]

Digital Transformation, A Nonprofit Primer

by James A. Lomastro

Technology and data systems have the potential to transform nonprofit service delivery. Successful integration requires security, transparency, and maintaining the human touch.
Read Article ([link removed])
[link removed]

At “No Kings” Rally During Government Shutdown, Federal Workers Speak Out

by Steve Dubb

Millions turned out for massive “No Kings” protests nationwide. In Boston, amid the speeches, federal workers shared with NPQ their struggles to protect public services.
Read Article ([link removed])
[link removed]

Bank Worker Organizing Gains Ground

by Jill Webb

The US banking sector has been almost entirely nonunion. But now that may be changing as worker organizing efforts gain ground at two of the nation’s largest banks.
Read Article ([link removed])


** Check out our upcoming webinars.
------------------------------------------------------------


**
------------------------------------------------------------

As a Leading Edge member, you get exclusive access to all our upcoming webinars—deep dives into the issues that matter, led by movement leaders and experts.
[link removed]
[link removed]
Become a Member ([link removed])
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

Sponsored Content

Nonprofit Regional Meetup: Registration is Free ([link removed])

Join Esri’s in-person nonprofit meetup on November 13, in Atlanta! Explore geospatial tools, discover solutions, and connect with other organizations driving impact in their communities.

Register Now ([link removed])

Ask a Nonprofit Expert is the sector’s go-to advice column by civic leaders, for nonprofit readers. In this new series, NPQ Leading Edge members can submit pressing questions about navigating nonprofit challenges. Our cohort of seasoned nonprofit leaders will publish thoughtful, actionable answers to pressing organizational challenges and leadership dilemmas. Ready to get unstuck? Submit your question anonymously here ([link removed]) !

Copyright (C) 2025. All rights reserved.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe ([link removed])