How to Get Hired As A Nonprofit Executive Director In 2025

An Action Plan For Getting The Coolest Job In The World

I grew up thinking that becoming a nonprofit Executive Director was the coolest job in the world.

My dad did it, and the idea of rallying a team to create change felt like the ultimate career goal.

But later on, I saw how frustrating he found it. And today, I know plenty of talented nonprofit leaders — in development, programs, or operations — who aren’t interested in the top job.

After talking to Mariya Yurukova, MBA & CFRE, on our LinkedIn Live series, I became hopeful about what’s finally changing. The conversation revealed how boards’ hiring priorities are shifting — and how you can position yourself for the wave of opportunities ahead.

This post lays out how to become an executive director in 2025 using a clear, 6-step action plan built from Mariya’s insider perspective and current sector research.

What Boards Are Looking For Now (and Why It’s Different)

Growth mindset & measurable deltas 

Boards now want candidates who can point to specific strategies that drove growth — whether in fundraising, service delivery, or operational efficiency. A 10–15% improvement story backed by data is far more compelling than a vague “I helped us expand.”

Operational “wizards” 

Today’s sector demands leaders who can design and scale systems, optimize programs, and continuously improve processes. Boards are looking for people who can amplify impact, not just maintain the status quo.

Nuanced fundraising 

It’s no longer enough to say you’ve raised big gifts. Boards want to know you can cultivate values-aligned donors who won’t jeopardize the organization’s reputation or mission.

Context 

These shifts are emerging because boards themselves are evolving. The latest BoardSource Leading With Intent and Urban Institute Nonprofit Trends and Impact 2025 Brief point to increased pressures from funding volatility, talent shortages, and demands for more sustainable models.

Why Now: Nonprofit Executive Director Transitions Are Accelerating

Two-thirds of nonprofit executives plan to leave within five years, according to data covered by Philanthropy News Digest. This is partly due to long-predicted baby boomer retirements — delayed by the pandemic but now arriving at full speed.

Yet only about 29% of nonprofits report having a written succession plan (National Council of Nonprofits, BoardSource). That gap represents an enormous opportunity for leaders inside organizations to prepare themselves and step into the role.

With so many roles opening up and boards rethinking their priorities, now is the time to prepare. This 6-step action plan combines Mariya’s hiring insights with the latest nonprofit leadership data to help you land — or level up to — your first ED role.

Your 6-Step Action Plan to Land (or Level Up to) the ED Role

Step 1 — Know Your Edge (80/20)

Audit your strengths vs. growth areas, and align with the kind of ED you are:

• Fundraising-forward

• Services/ops-forward

• Team-builder

Mariya’s 80/20 rule says you should spend 80% of your time leveraging strengths and 20% improving weaknesses — not the other way around.

Quick win: Create a one-page strengths/weaknesses map to guide your applications and interviews.

Step 2 — Build Growth Proof

Craft 3–5 quantified “wins” where you deployed a strategy and achieved measurable growth. This could be:

• Increasing recurring donations by 18% in 12 months

• Reducing program delivery costs by 12% while serving more clients

Quick win: Assemble a “growth portfolio” — a concise, metrics-backed document you can hand to a search committee.

Step 3 — Broaden Your Portfolio (Lateral > Ladder)

Don’t just climb upward — expand sideways. Volunteer to oversee another department during a vacancy. If you’re a CDO and the finance director leaves, take on finance for 60–90 days.

Quick win: By covering another function, you can speak credibly to multiple aspects of ED leadership.

Step 4 — Map the Market

Research organizations by funding model, size, and lifecycle stage. A grants-heavy org may want an operational master; a corporate-sponsorship-driven org may want a sales-oriented fundraiser.

Use sector data (Urban Institute Nonprofit Trends and Impact 2025 Brief) to identify subsectors with growth potential and stability.

Quick win: Build a shortlist of 10 organizations where your ED “type” is the best match.

Step 5 — Signal Your Intent (and Why That Helps)

At a happy hour years ago, a more senior coworker of mine chided me for telling my co-workers I wanted to be an ED one day. “We don’t do that in the nonprofit sector.” Well I disagreed then, and I disagree even more today. 

Telling trusted peers and mentors your goal can:

• Attract advocates who open doors

• Get you stretch projects that broaden your readiness

• Put you in line for internal succession opportunities — crucial since most orgs lack formal succession plans (National Council of Nonprofits).

Quick win: Identify three people to tell — and ask them to suggest one concrete step you could take toward readiness.

Step 6 — Prep for Board Dynamics

Most boards hire an ED only once every 5–10 years. Many search committee members have never done it before.

Mariya tells boards, “You can have anything you want, but not everything you want.” That same thinking applies to candidates: be ready to highlight your priorities and trade-offs.

Quick win: Prepare a 90-day plan showing exactly what you’ll tackle first if hired.

To Grad Program or Not to Grad Program?

When I decided I wanted to be an ED, I asked my boss if I should enroll in a top nonprofit management grad program two blocks from our office.

He said: “Honestly, I wouldn’t. Take that time and go do things — paid and unpaid — that will give you real experience.”

I followed his advice: starting a small consultancy, joining a board, and launching a nonprofit project.

Here’s the balanced view:

Great Online Nonprofit Grad Programs

Here are three highly regarded online graduate programs in nonprofit management—each offering distinctive strengths for current and aspiring nonprofit leaders:

1. Indiana University – MPA with Nonprofit Management Concentration (Online) Offered through the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, this program brings the same faculty and top-ranked curriculum as IU’s in-person option into a flexible online format. Students gain a rigorous foundation in policy, management, and finance with the ability to specialize in nonprofit leadership
   

2. Arizona State University – Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management (Online) ASU’s program is designed for working professionals and emphasizes applied learning, innovation, and leadership in diverse nonprofit contexts. Coursework covers fundraising, governance, program evaluation, and social entrepreneurship—all within a school recognized for its commitment to accessible, high-quality online education.
   

3. Johns Hopkins University – M.A. in Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Management (Online) Part of Hopkins’ Advanced Academic Programs, this degree offers a global perspective on nonprofit and NGO leadership. Students develop skills in strategic planning, international project management, and organizational sustainability, with access to Hopkins’ extensive research and practitioner networks.About JHU’s Online Nonprofit Management Programs

Great Options for “Doing Stuff”

If you’re looking for real-world experience instead of—or alongside—a degree, here are three powerful paths to build your skills, credibility, and impact:

1. Join a nonprofit board via Idealist or BoardStrong  These platforms connect you to organizations seeking board members where you can learn governance, fundraising, and strategic oversight up close.
   

2. Start your own project—and donate the proceeds  Launch a creative fundraiser (e.g. virtual run, art auction, community challenge) and give away the funds you raise to local causes. This builds leadership, event-management, and fundraising experience that resonates with boards.
   

3. Offer services—paid or pro bono—to nonprofits in areas you want to grow  Help organizations with skills you’re developing—like marketing strategy, donor communications, or data analysis. It’s real-world experience that gives you both learning and proof of impact.
   

Your 6–12 Month Checklist

• Audit your strengths/weaknesses (Step 1)

• Document 3–5 growth wins with metrics (Step 2)

• Volunteer for a cross-functional project (Step 3)

• Shortlist target organizations (Step 4)

• Tell 3 trusted peers your ED goal (Step 5)

• Draft a 90-day new-leader plan (Step 6)

  
  

Common Myths & Mistakes

Myth: “Don’t say you want to be an ED.”

• Fix: Tell trusted peers and ask for stretch assignments.

Myth: “Boards only care about major-gifts totals.”

• Fix: Frame wins in terms of both revenue and mission alignment.

Mistake: Chasing roles misaligned with your ED “type.”

• Fix: Apply only where your strengths match the org’s current needs.

Mistake: No quantified wins.

• Fix: Keep an “impact log” of results throughout your career.

Resources

• Read: Mariya Yurukova, Leadership: A Roadmap for Success (AFP’s Advancing Philanthropy, Apr 2025)

• Data to watch:

  • BoardSource – Leading with Intent (latest)

  • Urban Institute – Nonprofit Trends and Impact 2025 Brief

  • LinkedIn for Nonprofits – Nonprofit Talent Report 2025

Next steps

The nonprofit ED role is changing — fast. Boards are looking for growth-focused, operationally savvy leaders who can navigate complexity without losing sight of mission. With a wave of transitions coming and a shortage of succession plans, there’s never been a better moment to prepare.

Follow the 6 steps above, combine them with either education or hands-on experience (or both), and you’ll be well-positioned for the top job.

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