The percentage of employees that exceed expectations in performance reviews is often surprisingly small. In many organizations, only 10–30% of staff are rated as going above and beyond each year. For nonprofits, where every role is mission-critical, understanding this percentage — and what it says about leadership and recruitment — is essential.

At first glance, this may sound like a troubling statistic. Shouldn’t we want most of our employees to be high performers? But the real story is more complex — and more important for boards, executive leaders, and hiring committees to understand.

In this article, we’ll explore why the percentage of employees who “exceed expectations” matters, what it reveals about leadership and recruitment, and how nonprofit organizations can improve performance outcomes by hiring the right leaders.

Many performance management systems were designed decades ago for corporate environments, not mission-driven nonprofits. They often:

• Cap the number of top ratings: Some organizations limit “exceeds expectations” ratings to a fixed percentage (a practice known as forced distribution).

• Fail to measure impact accurately: Traditional reviews may emphasize task completion over qualities like innovation, relationship-building, or fundraising effectiveness — all critical in nonprofit environments.

• Reflect inconsistent standards: One manager’s “meets expectations” may be another’s “exceeds.” Without clear benchmarks, ratings often say more about the reviewer than the employee.

This means the percentage of employees rated as “exceeding expectations” may be less about actual performance and more about the organization’s structures, leadership, and culture.

Why It Matters in Nonprofits

In a nonprofit, the stakes are higher. Every hire affects:

• Fundraising outcomes: A development officer who exceeds expectations can bring in millions more in annual revenue.

• Donor trust: Staff who go above and beyond with stewardship and transparency create relationships that sustain organizations for decades.

• Board engagement: Exceptional executives inspire boards to invest, connect, and advocate.

When only a small fraction of employees consistently exceed expectations, it raises critical questions:

• Are we hiring the right leaders in the first place?

• Do our managers know how to develop and retain top talent?

• Are we unintentionally rewarding “safe” performance over transformational leadership?

At The Batten Group, we’ve placed over 650 mission-driven leaders in nonprofits nationwide. The executives who consistently exceed expectations share some common traits:

1. Strategic Vision + Execution
   They don’t just talk about strategy — they operationalize it, aligning people, programs, and fundraising.

2. Resilience and Adaptability
   Mission-driven leaders handle crises, budget shortfalls, and shifting donor landscapes without losing focus.

3. Relationship Builders
   They create trust with staff, donors, boards, and partners — and that trust multiplies impact.

4. Fundraising Savvy
   They understand that development is not just a department — it’s the lifeblood of the mission.

5. Commitment to Culture
   They foster inclusivity, equity, and collaboration, creating environments where others can also exceed expectations.

These aren’t just nice-to-have qualities. They are essential markers of nonprofit leaders who move the needle and change lives.

If your nonprofit struggles to see more than a small fraction of employees “exceeding expectations,” the issue often traces back to recruitment. Consider these strategies:

1. Hire for Potential, Not Just Credentials

Resumes tell part of the story, but they don’t reveal resilience, vision, or cultural fit. Recruitment must dig deeper into behavioral traits and leadership styles.

2. Prioritize Mission Alignment

A candidate who is passionate about your mission will invest the energy and creativity it takes to go beyond expectations.

3. Seek Transformational Leaders

Transactional leaders keep the lights on. Transformational leaders ignite passion, inspire giving, and scale impact. At The Batten Group, this distinction is at the heart of our process.

4. Build in DEI from the Start

Diverse, equitable, and inclusive teams consistently outperform homogeneous ones. Recruitment through a DEI lens ensures more innovation and stronger long-term performance.

5. Invest in Onboarding and Retention

Even the most talented leader can underperform without support. A structured onboarding process, coaching, and ongoing development increase the likelihood of exceeding expectations.

Ultimately, if only 10–30% of your employees are exceeding expectations, the problem may not be the people — it may be the expectations. Nonprofits must ask:

• Are our standards too rigid or outdated?

• Do our managers have the tools to coach employees effectively?

• Are we measuring what truly matters — impact, innovation, and leadership — or just activity?

When organizations shift from measuring “outputs” to measuring outcomes, the percentage of employees who exceed expectations naturally rises.

The percentage of employees who exceed expectations is not just a performance metric. It’s a mirror. It reflects leadership quality, recruitment strategy, and organizational culture.

At The Batten Group, we believe nonprofits can’t afford to settle for “meets expectations.” Every mission deserves leaders who will elevate, inspire, and transform. That’s why our work goes beyond resumes to find executives who embody trust, resilience, and vision.

Because in the end, the percentage of employees who exceed expectations depends on the leaders you put at the top.

✅ Ready to raise the bar for your nonprofit’s leadership? Connect with The Batten Group to begin your next executive search. Together, we’ll find the transformational leaders who don’t just meet expectations — they exceed them.

The Batten Group’s commitment to finding mission-driven leaders is not just a recruitment strategy—it’s a dedication to the long-term success of nonprofit organizations and their missions. The true art of executive search lies in identifying authentic passion, aligning it with the right expertise, and matching it to the unique purpose of each organization. By doing so, The Batten Group helps nonprofits thrive and drive meaningful, lasting change.

In the nonprofit world, values-driven leadership isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. And The Batten Group is at the forefront of making that essential leadership a reality.

We are a premier national executive search and consultancy firm with more than 75 years of collective experience in nonprofit, philanthropy, and executive recruitment. We specialize in placing transformational leaders in nonprofit, healthcare, higher education, and mission-based organizations across the country.

As experts in recruiting and talent acquisition, our mission is to connect exceptional individuals with purpose-driven organizations—helping our partners achieve their boldest strategic goals.

We believe the most impactful teams are built by welcoming varied perspectives, lived experiences, and leadership styles. That belief is at the core of every search we conduct. By fostering environments where people feel seen, supported, and empowered, we help build stronger, more resilient leadership for the future.

We’d love to learn more about your organization’s goals and how we can support your search for the next transformational leader. Visit thebattengroup.com to learn more, or click here to explore our proven hiring methodology.

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