Developing a leadership succession plan for a children’s cancer nonprofit.

The Coalition Against Childhood Cancer (CAC2) increases collaboration, information exchange and education through initiatives in advocacy, awareness, family support, survivorship, research and treatment. To promote continuity for and success of incumbent Board members in their roles, as well as recruit optimal incoming leadership to succeed longtime volunteer leadership, CAC2 hired Grayscale to develop a strategy for Board recruitment. The organization relies heavily on volunteer engagement, and required an effective process to succession planning and recruitment strategy for its Board and executives.

The Grayscale team conducted a discovery process, reviewing membership reports, annual reports, studies and surveys, and interviewed all current Board members, as well as a number of the organization’s members and previous Board members. Grayscale led a strategy session with organizational leaders to review the organization’s mission and strategic plan and discuss opportunities and challenges.

Grayscale created a well-researched and curated plan of action for carrying out and funding succession planning for the organization’s leadership, including the CEO, treasurer and board members. The plan called for modification of the organization’s staff leadership roles, and outlined a succession planning strategy, as well as a plan for expanded fundraising.

The organization has reported that the plan created a successful succession strategy that enabled continuity of the CAC2 mission.