Watching my CEO run our non-profit into the ground - what can I do?
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Anonymous
| Our CEO has been on board for nearly 2 years now. I feel I am watching the CEO run the place into the ground. He is an ineffectual leader. Our finances are a mess. I know for a fact that the Board knows there are problems. Our staff is down by 40%. It pains me to watch this. I've tried approaching this from a variety of angles to no avail. There's nothing left for me to do except find another job, right? |
Anonymous
| Right. |
Anonymous
|
So sorry, but unless the board is willing to intervene (and most non-profit boards are too lazy, insufficiently invested, or incompetent to intervene unless there's a severe crisis or scandal), you have no options.
Try to keep things with your current CEO cordial, but definitely get out. |
Anonymous
|
This makes me sad to write. Many nonprofit Boards do not have financial acumen or a deep legal understanding of their fiduciary responsibilities of "care, loyalty and obedience." This means they tend to defer to their hired help. This ignorance tends to be less true when Boards come from business, as at many trade associations. This ignorance is a widespread problem with most charities, educational nonprofits, etc. Compounding ignorance, many Boards are conflict averse. Even if the Board members "see" financial problems, they may not actually feel they are important enough to override their fear of conflict. It sounds ridiculous, to be sure: what did they think their fiduciary responsibilities would entail? Boards like this (that are ignorant and/or conflict avoidant) are highly unlikely to act unless 1) there is a fear they will be personally liable and 2) there is horrifically embarrassing media/publicity event to pierce their paralysis.
The duties of care, loyalty and obedience mean that members of boards are personally liable if they were not being diligent or had a conflict of interest: showing up to Board meetings, reading minutes, rubberstamping financials that clearly evidence (for instance) grotesque losses or overpayments, personally benefitting from information gleaned a member of a board. Media coverage that stains a nonprofit's reputation is very damaging and usually horrifying to Boards. If you feel either of these situations is likely, your group may take action and be "rescued." However, sad to say, the majority of cases these situations are not likely and you would be wise to locate a new, better run nonprofit. |
Anonymous
Anonymous letters? whistleblower protections? Not sure the level of mismanagement you reference... |
Anonymous
| Get thee to another job -- forthwith! |
Anonymous
|
Hey, do you work with me?!?
If you have reached the end of your patience with the situation, your best bet is to find a new position. Honestly though, I think most non-profits (and businesses in general) are rather dysfunctional. A well run organization seems to be the exception. Ask a lot of questions when you interview and try to get a clear idea of what you're getting into when you look at new positions. It might be worse! |
Anonymous
| What you can do is look for another job. |
Anonymous
| I'm sorry OP. That is just a drag, and can be heartbreaking if your heart is really in the mission of the organization. Yep, look for work. |
Anonymous
Right. I was in your shoes over a decade ago, and I was so horrified I ended up not only in another job but another field. And now I wish I'd stayed in the field, just not at that depressing sinking ship I was in. So that's my advice to you -- run, but not TOO far. Good luck. It's truly depressing to watch, and it completely disillusioned me about management and boards of directors. |
Anonymous
| Look for a new job,now! Good luck. |
Anonymous
| A lot of nonprofits have a whistleblower clause to show employees to report mismanagement to the board. Not sure how well it plays out in practice. |
Anonymous
| OP here. It isn't egregious enough (or illegal/unethical) to "blow the whistle." But I have had several Board members tell me privately (without solicitation) that they are aware that the situation is concerning. The CEO just has no leadership skills. None. I have been in this sector for 20 years and have never seen anything so poorly managed. A real disappointment because I like my job. A lot. |
Anonymous
|
I ALMOST thought I wrote this. In very similar boat here. Am starting to look. I just can't hang on any longer. I know I could run the organization better. I hired all of the staff and one by one he is chasing them away and then I have to rebuild the team. He's so negative and anxious.I wish he'd get on drugs or a higher dose if he's already drugged.
and he needs to stop napping in the office. |
Anonymous
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No advice, just here to commiserate. I'm not in a non-profit, but the CEO of my company is awful and our board is completely ineffectual.
I've been watching them run the company into the ground and it is really hard. Hang in there. |