Introduction The Boston Foundation’s recent announcement that a key element of their new grant making strategy will be to improve the sector by “building the leadership and management capacity of … nonprofits”  is welcome news to those who’ve observed a growing national interest by other funders in organizational capacity-building.
“Dream jobs” can be a lot of trouble. Imagine that, after years of doing excellent program work for a nonprofit you deeply respect, the board gives you the executive director (ED) position. You are finally able to lead your organization in truly fulfilling its mission. But now it’s two years later, and you are miserable and exhausted.  The board is angry, the staff is demoralized, and the finances are a mess. You are ready to quit and vow to never serve as an ED for anyone ever again."