Insights
25 Ways To Spot A Leader You Can Trust
Why Trust is the Cornerstone of Nonprofit Leadership In a nonprofit, where mission-driven leadership guides every decision, one quality stands above all others: trustworthiness. Whether you’re searching for your next nonprofit CEO, a [...]
The Silent Crisis in Nonprofit Leadership: Why Top Talent Is Leaving (and How to Retain Them)
If you're a nonprofit CEO, board chair, or senior executive, chances are you’ve felt it lately: the leadership revolving door. Executive turnover in nonprofits is no longer just a trend—it’s a full-blown crisis. And [...]
The Best Leadership Advice for Nonprofit Executives: Great People Make All the Difference
Leadership Lessons That Stand the Test of Time Over decades of leading nonprofits — and nearly a decade helping organizations with nonprofit executive recruitment — one truth stands above the rest: 👉 Great [...]
The Best Executive Recruiters Don’t Just Know How to Fish — They Know Where the Fish Are
Most organizations approach executive hiring the same way an inexperienced angler approaches a fishing trip: they grab whatever gear is handy, find the nearest body of water, cast a line, and hope something bites. [...]
Nonprofit Leadership Hiring Delays: Why Waiting Could Be Costing You More Than You Think
We’ve seen it again and again: a nonprofit loses a key leader and waits. They wait for budget discussions. They wait for board alignment. They wait for the “perfect” time. And during all that [...]
What Nonprofits Are Telling Us About Hiring Right Now
We’ve been having a lot of conversations lately—with CEOs, board members, development directors, and HR leaders—and if there’s one thing we can say with confidence, it’s this: nonprofit hiring has changed. It’s not just [...]
3 Technology Platforms Nonprofits Need For The Future
The Future of Nonprofits is Digital Let’s be real: if your nonprofit isn’t leveraging the right technology, you’re already behind. Donors expect mobile-first giving. Boards demand seamless access to information. Staff want feedback [...]
How to Conduct Better Interviews in Nonprofit Executive Recruitment (The Data-Backed Guide)
Here's a stat that should alarm every nonprofit board member: 92% of candidates say the interview experience influenced their decision to accept or reject a job offer (Talent Board). Yet most nonprofit organizations wing [...]
How to Hire the Right Nonprofit CEO for Long-Term Success
Hiring a new CEO is one of the most important decisions your board will ever make. The right hire can energize your team, build trust with your donors, and help your organization reach new [...]
Employer Value Proposition for Nonprofits: Why It Matters More Than Ever
Let’s face it—recruiting great talent in the nonprofit world isn’t getting any easier. Gone are the days when a compelling mission alone was enough to attract top candidates. Today’s workforce wants more: more clarity, [...]
SERVE: The 5-Letter Secret Behind Every Great Leader
What separates a good leader from a truly transformational one? It's not their title. It's not their compensation package. It's not even their track record of results — though that matters. The real differentiator [...]
Hidden Leadership Skills for Nonprofit Executives: What Separates Good Leaders from Great Ones
Hidden leadership skills for nonprofit executives are often what distinguish good leaders from truly great ones. While technical expertise and sector experience might open doors, it's the soft skills—like emotional intelligence, clear communication, and [...]
The True Cost of a Bad Hire (And How to Make Sure It Never Happens to You)
What's the most expensive mistake your organization can make? Most executives think about failed initiatives, missed fundraising targets, or poorly timed expansions. But there's a hiring mistake that quietly bleeds organizations dry — one [...]
Leading Remote Nonprofit Teams: 8 Tips for Executives
Remote Work is Here to Stay The pandemic may have accelerated the shift to remote work, but in 2025 it’s still part of everyday nonprofit leadership. Many executives now manage hybrid teams spread [...]
Top Strategies for a Successful Nonprofit Executive Job Search
Embarking on a nonprofit executive job search requires more than experience—it demands clarity of purpose, strategic planning, and a strong connection to mission-driven work. As a seasoned leader, you understand that your next role [...]
Top Tips for Nonprofit Leaders During Times of Crisis
Crisis as the Ultimate Test of Leadership Change is constant—but for nonprofit leaders, today’s change feels faster and more complex than ever. Whether it’s economic downturns, shifts in philanthropy, staff turnover, or global [...]
Leadership Lessons From Championship Coaches: What March Madness Teaches Us About Building Elite Teams
Every year, millions of people watch college basketball's biggest tournament and see the same thing: upsets, buzzer-beaters, and Cinderella stories. What most people miss is the leadership masterclass playing out on the sidelines. The [...]
Nonprofit Executive Leadership Strategies for Career Growth
Navigating a leadership career in the nonprofit sector requires strategic thinking, adaptability, and strong nonprofit executive leadership strategies to drive mission-driven impact. Whether seeking your next executive role or preparing for new challenges in [...]
A Strategic Guide to Building a High-Performing Fundraising Team
Fundraising is the lifeblood of any nonprofit organization. A strong fundraising strategy ensures financial sustainability, fuels program growth, and amplifies mission impact. However, successful fundraising doesn’t happen by chance—it’s built by a high-performing team [...]
5 Hiring Lessons From March Madness Every Nonprofit Executive Should Know
Why March Madness and Hiring Aren’t That Different March Madness is unpredictable, high-stakes, and full of surprises. Sound familiar? Hiring nonprofit leaders isn’t that different. You’re evaluating talent, making tough calls, and betting [...]
Best Nonprofit Executive Search Firms for Women of Color: The Batten Group Earns Top Recognition
As one of the best nonprofit executive search firms for diversity, The Batten Group is honored to be recognized for its commitment to inclusive leadership. In nonprofit leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are [...]
Nonprofit Leadership in Times of Uncertainty: How to Navigate Change & Stay Resilient
Nonprofit leadership in times of uncertainty requires adaptability, resilience, and strategic thinking. The nonprofit sector faced a rollercoaster of uncertainty in late January 2025 when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a [...]
4 Critical Compensation Principles Every Nonprofit Leader Should Master
Let’s be honest — compensation is one of the trickiest parts of nonprofit leadership. Pay too little, and you’ll lose great people.Pay too much, and you’ll raise eyebrows (or worse, red flags with the [...]
Making the Right Hire: How to Assess a Candidate’s Fit With Your Nonprofit
Why Candidate Fit is the Hidden Key to Nonprofit Success Let’s be honest: hiring the wrong nonprofit leader is expensive. Not just financially — although the U.S. Department of Labor says a bad [...]
How Nonprofits Can Adapt Corporate Leadership Strategies
Nonprofit organizations face increased challenges in funding, engagement, and sustainability. To remain resilient and impactful, nonprofit executives can look to the corporate world for proven leadership strategies that drive efficiency, innovation, and financial growth. [...]