When nonprofit organizations think about interim leadership roles and how to navigate planned and unplanned leadership changes, it’s usually for an Executive Director. And yet, an Interim Development Director (DD) role can be just as important to utilize during a leadership transition, particularly for EDs who are faced with leading an organization and also acting as the DD when there is a vacancy.
Executive Directors are already juggling roles and strategy, which means fundraising is often the task that stays on the “to do” list, impacting the ability for nonprofits to grow and meet their missions. And, too often, there is a misconception that development leaders are basically “plug-and-play” — that any professional with senior-level fundraising experience can step into any development role and succeed.
As a result, organizations are more likely to rush to hire when they’ve lost their fundraising leader instead of taking the time to find the right match for their specific needs and goals, using this transition time to increase capacity and organizational resilience.
Unfortunately, nonprofits typically see turnover in their Development Director role every 6-18 months even when well matched, which compromises fundraising and thwarts their ability to achieve their mission.
Instead of rushing to fill the role, utilizing an Interim DD sets your organization up for future fundraising success — buying your organization time while it looks for the right fit and getting the right development systems in place to allow the new DD to thrive in the role.
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of using an Interim Development Director by answering your most common questions!
Q: When do you need an Interim Development Director?
A: Any time there is turnover in your Development Director role (either planned or unplanned) you should consider an Interim DD to keep fundraising goals on track with a leader who can actually do direct fundraising and team management as well as support strategy, capacity building, and systems creation.
In the development space, turnover is not often planned. Fundraising can’t pause because your development leader has left. Using an Interim DD provides the level of leadership needed to support the team while your organization searches for the right person for the role.
Q: What does an Interim Development Director do exactly?
A: The Interim Development Director is not simply filling a vacancy. The role is to strengthen fundraising systems, maintain momentum, reduce organizational stress, and prepare the next development leader for success. In the conversation around what an Interim DD does in their day-to-day role, it’s just as important to discuss what they don’t do.
Unlike a permanent Development Director whose role is focused on long-term fundraising growth and relationship ownership, the Interim Development Director focuses on:
- Assessing the current fundraising system to identify challenges and opportunities.
- Strengthening existing systems and setting up new operations for greater efficiency.
- Directly managing the fundraising team and day-to-day operations.
- Overseeing planned fundraising activities and campaigns with continuity.
- Nurturing donor confidence by cultivating existing donor relationships or helping get them back on track.
- Leading development-related strategic planning.
- Preparing the organization for sustainable long-term development success.
- Helping onboard a permanent DD with thoughtful, timely overlap and hand off.
The Interim Development Director serves as a strategic bridge during fundraising and leadership transitions. They create the kind of stabilization that’s key for donors to remain engaged so future fundraising activities will flourish.
A good Interim DD can restore the joy to fundraising — reducing future turnover in the role and better positioning the new leader for success.
Q: What kind of impact can an Interim Development Director have on an organization?
A: In Interim DD’s impact will be seen in:
- Increased fundraising dollars
- Improved stewardship practices
- Strengthened systems and efficient operations
- Clarified priorities
- Maintained organizational confidence among donors
- A well-supported team who thrives and sees the joy in fundraising
Simply put, they will leave the organization better than they found it.
Their influence will be evident across fundraising systems like donor engagement and organizational infrastructures, CRMs, and grant management systems. An Interim DD will also work with the team around them to provide education and resources to strengthen both individuals and the overall organization. The result is an organization that is in lockstep with the strategic plan across all levels.
Q: Does an Interim Development Director’s role look different if the transition is unplanned versus planned?
A: When an Interim DD comes in, they will meet an organization where they are and align everyone around shared goals. However, when the transition is unplanned versus planned, their priorities may shift.
A planned transition provides more time for a handoff of relationship or emergent needs, whereas an unplanned transition is more about stabilization — handling messaging and communications, increasing donor confidence, and keeping the momentum moving forward.
One way to think about it is like this: In a planned transition, an Interim DD is building a bridge ahead of time for the traffic that’s coming later. In an unplanned transition, an Interim DD is building the bridge while the traffic is already on it. In either case, the Interim DDs role is to ensure that the cars make it across safely.
Q: How does an Interim Development Director help find and onboard a permanent Development Director?
A: An Interim DD is the perfect person to be involved in finding their successor because they have unique experience that positions them well to advise on what a permanent leader will need in the role and what type of leader the nonprofit needs to meet their unique goas and teams. They have thoroughly assessed the department, so they truly understand the organization’s strengths and gaps. And they have worked with the team in a unique way that allows them to best convey team atmosphere. As such, they can edit a job description, help to screen resumes, and might even participate in interviews to play an active role in the hiring process.
Then, after a hire is made, they’re the perfect person to transfer the institutional knowledge needed to ensure a seamless hand-off. They can provide critical initiative updates, ensure dashboards and performance metrics are easy to find and navigate, introduce the new DD to key contacts and supporters, and offer immediate recommendations so the next person is set up for success from day one.
When you lose your Development Director, give us a call or send us a message! Our team of interim nonprofit leaders has the experience needed to ensure your development efforts are maintained and strengthened during a transition, so your organization doesn’t lose momentum. We’ll oversee your existing fundraising efforts, assess current systems to identify areas for improvement, and manage the search for your next Development Director.
