Spokes | Resources for Nonprofits

Find Us On Social Media:

FacebookLinkedIn
  • About Spokes
    • About Spokes
    • Annual Report
    • Meet Our Expert Volunteer Faculty
    • Staff & Board of Directors
    • News
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Organizational Membership FAQs
    • Spokes’ Privacy Policy
    • Support Spokes
      • Our Generous Donors
  • Membership
    • Membership Benefits
    • Our List of Members
    • What Members Are Saying
    • Member Success Stories
  • Services
    • Consulting
    • Nonprofit Resource Library
    • Nonprofit Board Service
    • Starting a Nonprofit
    • Major Nonprofit Fundraising Events
    • SLO County Nonprofits Get it Done
    • Meeting Spaces
    • Special Resources for Uncertain Times
  • Login
  • Contact Us
  • Volunteer
  • Classes/Workshops
  • Job Board
    • Job Board

How Long Should an Executive Director Stay?

September 4, 2026 by Jordan Jerkovich

For longtime nonprofit leaders, the thought of stepping away can raise some uncomfortable questions: Who will care about the mission as much as I do? Who knows what I know? And who is truly equipped to take the reins?

One exercise worth considering: Look at the three biggest things you worked on this year and label each one “defending” or “building.” How much of your energy is going toward protecting what already exists, and how much is focused on preparing your organization for what comes next?

It’s a simple exercise from a recent Applied Wisdom for Nonprofits article, “How Long Should an Executive Stay in the Job?” The author explores how longtime leaders can naturally become more focused on protecting what they’ve built and raises some thought-provoking questions about leadership longevity and preparing an organization for its next chapter.

Read the article here.

Article Categories

  • Financial and Legal
  • Fundraising
  • Governance
    • Board Development
  • Human Resources
  • Marketing & Communication
  • For Board Members
  • For Executive Directors
  • For Staff and Volunteers

DISCLAIMER: Spokes offers informed advice and recommendations, not professional counsel. Blog content is current as of the date shown. Individual posts are not necessarily updated, so please confirm the accuracy of the information, especially of older posts.

Popular Topics

board Board governance board of directors California nonprofits charity communication compensation donations donors employees financial fundraising Governance grants leadership marketing nonprofit nonprofit governance nonprofit management nonprofits nonprofit symposium philanthropy policy productivity recruitment reserve spokes succession planning taxes volunteers

Member Testimonial

“Spokes provides such valuable information for those of us working for nonprofits. The staff at Spokes genuinely values each of their members and they take the time to make sure that assistance is relevant to the individual and organizational needs. Much of the growth in our organization, during the past year, can be attributed to information learned through Spokes workshops and consulting services.”

Suzanne Russel
Executive Director
Tolosa Children's Dental Center
Paso Robles, CA

What Else Are Members Saying?

Learn about Spokes membership

Guiding nonprofits to achieve their goals through support and expert resources.

How Can We Make A Difference Together?

Spokes welcomes local professionals who would like to share their expertise in support of the nonprofit sector.

Get Started Contributing

Recent Articles

  • How Long Should an Executive Director Stay?
  • Fundraisers and Tax Reporting
  • Does Your Nonprofit Have the Right Policies in Place?

Copyright © 2026 Spokes | Resources for Nonprofits. All Rights Reserved.
PO Box 5122, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
Hosting by NDIC.
Photography by Nicole Boughton.