Regardless of the challenge facing the organization, someone who has been through it before can tell you what to expect. Someone outside the organization can also provide a fresh point of view, and raise issues that may not occur to those directly involved or that boards may be reluctant to raise on their own. Resources include:

• board members and/or executive directors from organizations that have faced a similar transition,
• leaders of umbrella organizations in your field,
• funders and/or nonprofit consultants.

Consultants who specialize in nonprofit management are particularly useful when it comes to identifying and shaping your approach to a particular situation, and can guide the board through a process toward a successful conclusion or resolution. Specifically, an experienced consultant can:

• Assess the situation and help the board understand what's going on.
• Contribute expertise specific to the situation.
• Design a process to help the board identify external opportunities and changes.
• Help the board identify potential risks and make plans for mitigating potential outcomes.
• Facilitate problem solving within the group, helping to ease tensions and refocus people on what needs to be done to move forward.
• Keep the decision making and implementation process focused and on track.

For Lessons from Exemplary Organizations, click here.