Things can change at the drop of a hat in the nonprofit industry. As challenges arise and new technology emerges, many organizations are able to keep up, overcome hurdles and level up through the strong guidance of leaders.
While it’s a given that certain leadership positions in the organization will immediately be effective in navigating an uncertain business landscape, hiring for other less common roles can help nonprofits remain focused on their missions. Below, 13 Forbes Nonprofit Council members each share one unique and uncommon leadership position more nonprofits would benefit from having and why that role is so impactful.
1. Strategy Leader
Nonprofits of all sizes would benefit from a dedicated strategy leader who focuses on maximizing organizational effectiveness, impact and positioning. This role ensures that all leaders have the information, understanding and support to make data-based decisions. They can also enhance preparation for and adaptation to uncertainties while ensuring alignment with the mission, vision and culture of the organization. – Erica Schoder, R Street Institute
2. Director Of Impact
Nonprofits should identify, collect, measure and report relevant metrics. This helps to show donors and the public how each organization’s activities impact the world we live in. Too often, the director of impact role is hidden in another position or wedged into the spare time of the executive director. A designated person to align metrics and measurements to strategic plans and impact drivers will benefit fundraising and be worth the cost. – Victoria Burkhart, The More Than Giving Company
Forbes Nonprofit Council is an invitation-only organization for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. Do I qualify?
3. Financial Or Accounting Officer
This role may not seem innovative, however, so many small nonprofits are financially unstable, leading to their eventual closure. Having a sound financial and accounting architecture is foundational in order to support an organization’s critical mission. Nonprofits should invest in this position early on, whether it be through a part-time position or outsourcing. – Jono Anzalone, The Climate Initiative
4. Data Scientist
We all believe that our work is successful and worthy of support, but nowadays, we need to prove it. Having a data scientist in-house allows us to assess programs, better reach our audiences and better understand ourselves. Data, both qualitative and quantitative, is king. We could all benefit from someone who is focused on the data, not someone who has it added to a list of other duties. – Patrick Riccards, Driving Force Institute
5. Chief Growth Officer
More commonly seen in the for-profit sector, the role of a chief growth officer blends revenue, business planning, marketing and operations to help nonprofits expand the reach of their programs and mission impact. These officers embrace and drive change, have a longer-term strategic outlook focused on enterprise-level alignment and growth initiatives and can even include people, culture and change management. – Jennifer Sirangelo, Points of Light
6. Outreach And Engagement Officer
An outreach and engagement officer could play a crucial role in helping an organization connect more regularly and effectively with their stakeholders. This position could secure resources like additional volunteers, establish unique partnerships and actively promote its programs in a way that nurtures a sense of community around the organization’s cause with new stakeholders. – Christopher Washington, Franklin University
7. Well-Being Officer
Our industry exists to satisfy societal needs that would otherwise go unmet. When you’re working on something as important as housing the unhoused, feeding the hungry or supporting youth in crisis, it’s easy to lose sight of your own need for rest, nourishment and human connection. Hiring a well-being officer whose job it is to support staff in being well while doing good would be huge! – Josephine Faass, Robert Schalkenbach Foundation
8. Chief Culture Officer
I believe a chief culture officer is a necessary role in any organization. Great employees become bad employees when the organizational culture is not good. Employee benefits should go beyond physical health to include mental and cultural health. Creating a positive office and team culture starts from leadership down, and it should be modeled at all times. – Jamee Rodgers, Urban Neighborhood Initiative
9. Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Manager
More than ever, nonprofits need a diversity, equity and inclusion role. This role is more than ensuring that people are treated fairly, which is usually where the focus is when it’s a part of a human resources job description. This role is about helping leaders develop cultural competence so that the organization serves the entire community and fosters a sense of belonging for staff and clients. – Kimberly Lewis, Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc.
10. Chief Collaboration Officer
One underutilized leadership position that can benefit nonprofits is a chief collaboration officer. Fostering partnerships and collaboration is key in addressing complex challenges. This unique position can help break down silos, drive innovation and amplify the collective efforts of organizations working towards common goals, leading to more effective and sustainable solutions. – Michael Horowitz, TCS Education System
11. Head Of Community
Many successful for-profit companies are scaling a head of community role. This role typically builds content, networks online and in person and creates opportunities for synergistic people, teams and organizations to come together to generate momentum around ideas and concepts in an industry or vertical. A head of community would fit nicely in a nonprofit organization to support development and marketing. – Nick Lynch, Collidescope IO, Inc.
12. Chief Energy Officer
While the head of the organization should carry the responsibility, every organization needs a “CEO.” This is not a CEO in the traditional sense but a chief energy officer in the words of author Jon Gordon. A chief energy officer is someone who brings the energy to build relationships, inspire others, empathize when needed and do visionary planning for great organizational success. – Aaron Alejandro, Texas FFA Foundation
13. Chief Entrepreneurship Officer
Every organization needs somebody looking for innovation and creativity to help the team to not get complacent. So, maybe another acronym for CEO is chief entrepreneurship officer. Each and every organization needs to be relevant to its stakeholders, and nonprofits also have this responsibility. Sometimes, it’s not about the “why” all the time but it may be about the “how.” How we bring the mission to life matters and makes a difference. – Magdalena Nowicka Mook, ICF (International Coaching Federation)
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