What’s Next: Leading a
Thriving Transition
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Planning a Transition with Clarity, Confidence, and Care
Leadership transitions are a normal part of any organization’s life cycle—but they can also be one of the most vulnerable and challenging moments a nonprofit will face. When a leader prepares to leave, questions about direction, culture, and continuity often surface—even in the healthiest organizations. For executive leaders, this season of change is not only strategic—it’s deeply personal. It’s a time of reflection, reimagining, and deciding what kind of legacy you want to leave behind.
About the Program
What’s Next: Leading a Thriving Transition is TSNE’s cohort-based executive transition program designed to support nonprofit leaders as they plan for this pivotal moment in their leadership journey. Since 2014, we have supported over 200 leaders in planning for their transitions through What’s Next.
Through two off-site retreats, a supportive peer cohort, and ongoing coaching, What’s Next helps leaders thoughtfully plan for succession and navigate transition with clarity, confidence, and care—so both the leader and the organization don’t just endure change, but emerge stronger from it. In addition to strengthening the organization, the program creates intentional space for leaders to explore who they are beyond their current role, clarify what they want their next chapter to look like, and name the legacy they hope to leave.
At TSNE, we believe that leadership transitions are more than a moment to manage; they are an opportunity for the leader to reflect on their own journey, while also providing opportunity to strengthen organizational infrastructure, reinforce core values, and invest in long-term sustainability. We recognize that this inner work—making sense of grief, pride, relief, and possibility—is just as critical as any technical plan or checklist. Thoughtful, strategic succession planning allows nonprofits to honor and celebrate a leader’s contributions while ensuring continuity and stability for the mission, staff, and communities they serve.
Program Goals
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Connection: To strengthen peer relationships and community among leaders so they feel less isolated and more supported while navigating organizational transition.
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Learning: To deepen leaders’ understanding of their leadership experiences and this major life transition through reflection and peer learning, provide leaders with tools to understand and plan for their next steps (including financial planning tools), and to increase their knowledge of succession planning tools and approaches within the current political and nonprofit/social sector context.
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Action: To equip leaders with the time, guidance, and support needed to develop and refine a concrete, values-aligned organizational succession plan and their personal plan.
Program Highlights
When you join What’s Next, you become part of a network to lean on during a pivotal point in your career.
Together, we will:
- Learn the foundations of succession planning and craft succession plans that include leadership development, stakeholder engagement, and communication
- Clarify personal and organizational goals during this transition period
- Reflect on your individual history, financial goals, and next steps in transition
- Center organizational experience, sustainability, and wellbeing in planning processes
- Conduct an organizational health assessment and resource mapping
- Explore leadership models and leadership search processes
- Get away from the office and build a community with other EDs and CEOs planning and preparing for transition
Meet the Program Alumni
“The program got me out of the mindset that my leaving would upset the apple cart. Once the agency is sustainable, once that is secured, I would have a much easier time because I am ready and my agency is ready.”
— Margie Martinez, Chief Executive Officer, Community Health Alliance of Pasadena
“This program helped me gain the confidence I needed to navigate my transition after nearly 17 years as a founding executive director. I also gained practical tools and tips to coach nine other long-term EDs, all of whom have both successfully transitioned from their agencies, and consistently voiced strong appreciation for the benefits they, too, gained from the What’s Next program. I could not recommend it (or this fellowship) more highly.”
— Cynthia Chavez
Program Cost
The What’s Next program sliding scale is an intentional effort towards financial equity and access, made possible with generous support from the Barr Foundation.
| Small Organizations | Cost | Medium and Large Organizations | Cost | |
| Under $200,000 | $750 | $1,000,000-$2,999,999 | $4,000 | |
| $200,000-$299,999 | $1,000 | $3,000,000-$4,999,999 | $5,000 | |
| $300,000-$449,999 | $1,500 | $5,000,000-$7,999,999 | $7,000 | |
| $450,000-$749,999 | $2,250 | $8,000,000-$9,999,999 | $10,000 | |
| $750,000-$999,999 | $3,000 | $10,000,000-$19,999,999 | $12,500 | |
| $20,000,000+ | $15,000 |
Program Format and Dates
This year, the program consists of two in-person overnight retreats held at the Warren Conference Center and Inn located in Ashland, Massachusetts, three miles from the Ashland MBTA Commuter Rail station. At the retreat center, participant lodging and all meals will be provided. Participants are responsible for their own transportation coverage, but TSNE can help arrange pooled rides as needed. In addition to full day programming, there will also be evening gatherings as we build connections and community. Participants will also be supported through coaching during the cohort process (both before and after the retreat).
| Retreat | Day | Schedule |
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Retreat 1 May 12th – 15th |
Tuesday, May 12th | Check in after 4pm EST followed by a welcome dinner |
| Wednesday, May 13th | Full day of programming 9am – 5pm EST | |
| Thursday, May 14th | Full day of programming 9am – 5pm EST | |
| Friday, May 15th | Half day of programming 9am – 1pm EST | |
|
Retreat 2 November 3rd– 6th |
Tuesday, November 3rd | Check in after 4pm EST followed by a welcome dinner |
| Wednesday, November 4th | Full day of programming 9am – 5pm EST | |
| Thursday, November 5th |
Full day of programming 9am – 5pm EST |
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| Friday, November 6th | Half day of programming 9am – 1pm EST | |
Participant Qualifications
This program is designed for outgoing executive directors and CEOs in the nonprofit sector who:
- Intend to transition out of their organization within 1-3 years*;
- Have served as an executive director or CEO for a minimum of 5 years;
- Are retiring or transitioning into other roles;
- Are excited to join and actively participate in a diverse cohort of 12-18 leaders;
- Are open to learning and ready to commit to a dedicated process learning about, and planning for, transition;
- Are committed to attending both overnight retreats and participating in follow-up coaching.
*Those looking to transition in 4+ years are welcome to join with the understanding that the focus of the program is to actively plan for succession together and to draft transition plans.
Shared Values
This program honors the following shared values:
- Commitment to collective wellbeing and creating a community of care
- Thinking, exploring, and problem solving together
- Self-accountability and responsibility to the group
- Practicing a learning and growth mindset
Meet the Program Facilitators
Elaine Ng, TSNE’s President and CEO
Gloria Ramón, TSNE’s Chief Strategy Officer