AAW HOW TO: Find a Charity CEO from Charity Recruiters
The cost of a bad hire is estimated to be at least 30% of the employee's salary.
Even as recruiters sift through countless stacks of CVs looking for the perfect hire, recruiting quality candidates is never easy. And charity recruitment isn't just about filling a vacancy; it's about finding a person who shares your organisation’s mission and values.
It's not the sort of decision you can afford to get wrong.
Read on to learn what makes great leadership in charity, and how to find quality charity CEOs - straight from the mouth of charity recruiters.
The Charity CEO: Not Just Another Executive
Leadership in charity is a complex affair.
While it's common in for-profit companies for CEOs to take home hundreds of times the salary of regular employees, the thinking isn't the same with a charity. How charities spend their money is looked at with a far more critical eye than private companies - whether it's the public, the donors, or the politicians doing the scrutinising.
Yet there lies the problem: Attracting top talent demands top pay.
The charity CEO is no figurehead; they're the driving force behind its mission. The CEO sets the tone for the entire organisation, influencing everything from its culture to its strategy.
They must make crucial decisions that can make or break a charity.
In short: It's a role that blends passion with pragmatism and purpose. The CEO of a charity is a strategist, a relationship builder and a visionary, all in one.
As a strategist, the CEO shapes the charity's strategic direction. They charter a course through the changing landscapes of their sectors. They're the ones who steer the charity toward its desired goals.
As a relationship builder, the CEO cultivates fruitful relationships and networks with stakeholders, governing bodies, and politicians.
As a visionary, the CEO inspires and motivates the team, fostering a culture of passion and dedication, and ensuring that everyone is committed to the cause.
Defining the Perfect CEO Profile
What sets the perfect CEO of a charity apart from any "other" leadership role?
There's no simple answer to that question. Every charity has a different mission and culture, and the ideal CEO will vary from charity to charity.
But there are a handful of traits that are universally desirable: passion, strategic thinking, and communication. These three traits should be underpinned by a strong track record of leadership.
Why passion?
Passion will motivate them to make a real impact. This is what will drive them to face challenges head-on.
The CEO must be a strategic thinker because they need to be able to see the bigger picture. Charities often advocate for the underprivileged and for minorities without a voice. They may also find themselves in opposition to the status quo, governing bodies, or public opinion. So, the CEO must stay adaptable, able to pivot - and find new ways to achieve the charity's goals.
The CEO must be a strong communicator to articulate the charity's mission and vision and help them rally support. They must also be good listeners, able to understand the needs and perspectives of different stakeholders - which will often be at odds.
Finally, the CEO must have a track record of leadership. They must have proven their ability to lead a team, manage resources, and deliver results.
Finding the Right CEO
The first rule of hiring top talent is that it doesn't happen overnight. A great CEO will have a significant impact - and so will a bad one (in all the wrong ways).
How do you proceed? Here's a breakdown:
Start with a clear understanding of your needs
Explore every avenue
Network as much as possible
Work with recruiters
Look beyond the resume
Take as much time as you need
Above and beyond the core traits we outlined above, you will need to define the key competencies of your ideal CEO - will they need to speak multiple languages? Will they require first-hand experience of another culture?
To cast the widest net, you should network, network, network. This includes reaching out to potential candidates who aren't actively job-seeking.
And as we'll discuss below, this is where charity recruiters come in.
Finally, never forget that it will take time to attract the perfect candidate for the role - but it's worth the investment.
How Charity Recruiters Navigate the Candidate Search
Finding a CEO who fits the profile to the letter isn't easy, but this is where recruiters can be helpful.
As recruitment experts, charity recruiters know the sector well. They know what's demanded of charity leaders and they know how to find the right people.
Crucially, their wide-ranging networks give them access to candidates who aren't actively job hunting - because the best candidates are already working for the competition.
That's where the work truly starts: Finding ways to bring top talent over to your side. The job description and requirements are a mere roadmap that guides the process.
The final test is the interview - because in a charity, culture is everything.
The interview is about more than past experiences - instead, it's an opportunity to delve deep and discover where the candidate's values lie.
The Path To Excellent Leadership
Charity recruiters play an invaluable role in the process of filling executive roles in the not-for-profit sector. They bring expertise and objectivity - and a wide network of potential candidates.
And with the right CEO at the helm, your not-for-profit will make a meaningful impact.
The AAW Group is a global fundraising and recruitment practice that specialises in not-for-profits. Book a consultation here.
