The responsibility for hiring the next executive director or CEO of a nonprofit typically falls on the organization’s board of directors. Because the board of directors is responsible for overseeing the overall governance and strategic direction of the nonprofit, this includes the hiring of key leadership positions such as the executive director/CEO.
Hiring Committees and Nonprofit Leadership Searches
The board of a nonprofit frequently delegates the task of the executive search to a hiring committee. This committee is usually composed of board members, along with other stakeholders such as staff members, volunteers, or community representatives, depending on the organization’s structure and practices.
Hiring committees, comprised of diverse stakeholders, can bring valuable objectiveness to the process but it can also make it challenging to conduct and evaluate candidates during an interview.
To help simplify your interview preparation, we’ve assembled some interview questions to ask along with some key phrases to listen for in the candidate’s responses. We hope this information helps your nonprofit hiring committee conduct an effective search.
Develop Good Interview Questions and Know What to Listen For
Each nonprofit organization will have unique needs but, in general, when searching for an Executive Director or a CEO, there are some standard qualities to evaluate during an interview. The interview questions below focus on seven areas that we feel are key qualities to look for in your next leader.
It’s also worth noting that clients of Centennial have the option to have interview questions prepared that are tailored to their organization’s specific needs. We want to ensure your next hire meets your character, culture, chemistry and competency needs and having good interview questions helps us all achieve that goal.
Leadership Qualities and Vision
Interview Questions:
- Can you share a situation where you had to lead your team through a major change or challenge? How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?
- How do you inspire and motivate your team to achieve a common vision?
- Can you describe a time when you had to make a tough decision that required strong leadership? How did you ensure buy-in from your team?
What to listen for:
- Responses demonstrating the ability to inspire and motivate teams toward a shared mission.
- Keywords: empowerment, vision, delegation, inspiration, motivation, team-building, strategic direction.
Cultural Fit
Interview questions:
- How do you ensure that your leadership style aligns with the culture of the organization?
- Can you provide an example of how you’ve promoted diversity and inclusion within your previous teams or organizations?
- What values do you prioritize in a company culture, and how do you uphold them as a leader?
What to listen for:
- Demonstrates alignment with the values and mission of the nonprofit organization.
- Expresses a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Keywords: alignment, values, mission-driven, diversity, equity, inclusion, community engagement.
Track Record of Success
Interview Questions:
- What are some notable achievements or milestones you’ve accomplished in your previous roles as an executive leader?
- How do you measure success in your current position, and what metrics do you use to track progress?
- Can you share a specific example of how you’ve driven growth or increased funding in previous organizations?
What to listen for:
- Pay attention to concrete examples of successful initiatives or programs implemented by the candidate in previous roles.
- Key words: measurable outcomes, impact, effectiveness, efficiency, stakeholder satisfaction.
Adaptability and Resilience
Interview Questions:
- Describe a time when you faced unexpected challenges or setbacks as a CEO. How did you adapt and overcome them?
- How do you stay informed about industry trends and changes, and how do you incorporate that knowledge into your strategic planning?
- Can you provide an example of a situation where you had to pivot your business strategy due to changing market conditions?
What to listen for:
- Demonstrates flexibility and the ability to pivot strategies in response to unforeseen circumstances.
- Keywords: adaptability, resilience, flexibility, agility, change management, problem-solving.
Communication and Relationship Building
Interview questions:
- How do you foster open communication and collaboration within your leadership team and across the organization?
- Can you share an example of a successful partnership or collaboration you’ve initiated as CEO?
- How do you handle conflicts or disagreements within your team or with external stakeholders?
What to listen for:
- Provides examples of building and maintaining positive relationships with donors, volunteers, staff, and the community.
- Keywords: communication, relationship-building, stakeholder engagement, collaboration, networking, active listening.
Ethical and Transparent Leadership
Interview questions:
- What steps do you take to ensure transparency and integrity within your organization?
- Can you describe a time when you had to make a decision that required balancing ethical considerations with business objectives?
- How do you build and maintain trust with your employees, customers, and other stakeholders?
What to listen for:
- Emphasizes the importance of integrity, transparency, and accountability in leadership.
- Provides examples of ethical decision-making and maintaining trust with stakeholders.
- Keywords: integrity, transparency, accountability, ethical leadership, trustworthiness, honesty.
Strategic Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
Interview Questions:
- How do you approach strategic planning and decision-making?
- Can you provide an example of a complex problem or challenge you’ve faced and how you addressed it with a strategic solution?
- How do you encourage innovation and creativity within your organization to solve problems and drive growth?
What to listen for:
- Demonstrates the ability to analyze complex issues and develop strategic solutions.
- Provides examples of strategic planning initiatives that resulted in positive outcomes.
- Keywords: strategic thinking, problem-solving, analytical skills, innovation, forward-thinking, decision-making.
If your hiring committee is prepped with good questions and alert for key phrases, you will gain a much better assessment of your candidate. Listening for these responses and keywords will help each member of the hiring committee assess the candidate’s fit for the role of an executive leader. Ultimately, you want to ensure the person you hire possesses the necessary qualities to lead effectively and drive the organization’s mission forward.
By focusing on these key areas and asking targeted interview questions, hiring committees can identify the candidate who not only possesses the requisite skills and experience but also embodies the values and vision necessary to lead the organization towards future success.
Remember, the interview process serves as a crucial opportunity to not only evaluate candidates but also to showcase the organization’s culture and values to potential leaders. We hope this information has been helpful as you prepare for interviews. If you decide to partner with an executive search firm to help manage the search, we would be honored to introduce you to some incredible people.