As Baby Boomers Retire, Some of Minnesota's Largest Nonprofits Are Searching for New Leaders

Some of Minnesota's biggest nonprofits and foundations are seeking next-generation leaders to replace retiring baby boomers, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune . For example, the Blandin Foundation recently launched a national search for a new CEO ahead of Kathy Annette's 2020 retirement, while the Food Group is looking to install a new executive director by next month. Also in the market for a new CEO is Volunteers of America Minnesota and Wisconsin. An explosion of nonprofit retirees will encompass many "legacy leaders" who have spent more than a decade on the job. Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Executive Director Jon Pratt said the state's leadership turnover is proceeding at a normal frequency with about 20 executive director searches out of 1,600 jobs posted on the organization's jobs board. He added that "a ready supply" of leaders is available as the nonprofit sector expands and salaries match government wages for the first time. Many local nonprofits have hired headhunters to direct searches, with women, people of color, and millennials prioritized as desirable candidates. With nonprofits facing growing competition for funding, boards are seeking tech-savvy leaders practiced in multi-generational engagement.