Resource Corner
What is Agency Succession Planning?
Succession planning is a process to prepare for a smooth transition in planned or unplanned/emergency leadership changes, whether long-term or temporary. This practice of strategic readiness is especially important for volunteer-founded/-led agencies.
Why is Succession Planning So Important?
- Best serve clients:If only one person is equipped to run the agency -with the knowledge or physical components (i.e.keys) to do the job -clients will be negatively impacted if/when that person is unavailable for any reason and food cannot be distributed.
- Communication with the food bank: You may need to communicate time-sensitive messages to agencies, for example if a truck is delayed or delivery items have changed. This chain of communication is more effective when multiple people have a relationship and contact with food bank staff.
- Long-term viability:Bringing more people into an agency and its processes only serves to grow capacity and create natural leaders to sustain the agency’s mission into the future if/when a permanent change is necessary. A shared allocation of tasks can also ease the administrative burden that is often carried by one person.
- Sound nonprofit business practice:When readiness is a core organizational system, rather than an ad hoc process, the agency is better prepared to meet the legal requirements of its nonprofit charter.
