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The recent killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, combined with the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, have once again placed racial disparities front and center in our nation’s consciousness.   Many of our clients are on the frontline working to dismantle structural racism or…

By Peter C. Chatel BoardWalk Consulting co-sponsors an annual Nonprofit Leadership Conference in Atlanta each fall, attended by nonprofit Board chairs, CEOs and foundation, corporate and nonprofit executives. This year’s event, held at Atlanta Botanical Garden, attracted 200 leaders for the 8th annual conference, themed Strengthen Your Story, Strengthen Your…

Career Pathways, a terrific “talent pipeline expansion program” of the Council on Foundations, is now in its sixth year of bolstering inclusive practices and diversity in philanthropic decision-making. (BoardWalk has been pleased to be a supporter from the beginning.) A number of early participants (primarily women and people of color)…

David Dodson, President of MDC in Durham, NC, has announced his plans to retire at the end of June, 2020.  In a statement sent via email, Dodson praised “the powerful work underway in support of our mission to advance equity and opportunity across the South.”  Dodson joined MDC in 1987…

On September 6, the long-time CEO of New Mexico’s largest private foundation announced his impending retirement after 25 years of service.  Announcement text here; more info on the foundation and its impact across Lea County and beyond here. BoardWalk Consulting is honored to lead the search for Mr. Reid’s successor.…

By Crystal Stephens and Ayanna Grady-Hunt  In our work with nonprofit organizations, many board leaders express a desire to diversify their leadership team. At BoardWalk, we know that a commitment to diversity is never as simple as one key hire. It requires a willingness to listen and adopt new approaches,…

By Sam Pettway I admit it. We’re walking around the BoardWalk office feeling a bit like proud parents these days. Instead of balloons, however, we’re passing out links to our newly updated website. Digital communications are not our specialty. We’d far rather be helping our nonprofit clients find the perfect…

Last month in this space, we offered five questions every search committee should ask (of itself)1, an exercise we recommend every search committee undertake at the very outset of any major executive search. This month, we focus on the more traditional issue of questions addressed to candidates. A quick scan…

You’ve just wrapped an intensive search process. A dynamic new CEO, with the right assets for the challenges and aspirations of your organization, will start in a few weeks. Congratulations! Now what? Everyone exhales and thanks the committee for its fine work. There is a collective sigh of relief. That’s…

The arrival of a new CEO is a chance to welcome new ideas, possibilities and energy. But when the new leader follows a beloved, long-serving predecessor, successful transitioning is a challenge. BoardWalk recently invited a group of nonprofit CEO’s and board leaders to discuss their experiences with such challenging leadership…