This worksheet is a practical tool designed to help nonprofit boards determine whether their organization requires an Acting Executive Director (ED) or an Interim Executive Director (ED) during a leadership vacancy or temporary absence. It guides boards through assessing organizational stability, degree of change required, internal capacity, and governance risks so they can match the right type of temporary leadership to their specific situation.
The worksheet explains the difference between the two roles:
- An Acting ED is typically an internal staff member who maintains continuity and day‑to‑day operations and operates with limited authority.
- An Interim ED is usually an external leader brought in when the organization needs transition management, cultural or governance repair, assessment work, or neutrality.
Boards are then guided through key decision areas, including:
- Time horizon (short-term gaps vs. multi‑month transitions)
- Stability vs. change needs (steady operations vs. transition, cultural reset, or organizational repair)
- Internal culture and staffing implications, such as risks of promoting internal staff, peer‑to‑supervisor tensions, and the inability to backfill roles.
- Recruitment integrity and conflict‑of‑interest concerns that can arise when appointing internal candidates.