Leadership

Empowering Nonprofit Leadership to Drive Results

Strong nonprofit leadership is essential to every organization’s success — yet executive turnover is at an all-time high. In the face of these challenges, Orr Group helps you maintain stability, strengthen your team, and build the capacity to thrive.

Our nonprofit leadership development services provide hands-on, customized support for executives, boards, and staff. Whether you need interim development leadership, board assessment and training, or individualized nonprofit coaching, we integrate seamlessly with your team to deliver practical solutions. We ensure continuity through leadership transitions and equip you with the tools and training to scale sustainably.

Our Leadership Services

Interim Leadership

Orr Group provides interim nonprofit leadership to ensure your organization has the strategic direction and partnership needed to succeed. Our senior leaders step into executive-level or gift officer roles, managing development teams and operations while maintaining stability and focus.

We embed with your team, delivering tailored strategies and hands-on leadership that keep fundraising efforts moving forward. When it is time to hire your next permanent leader, we support a smooth transition by helping recruit and onboard the right person.

  • Individual Giving (Annual, Major Gifts, Principal Gifts, Planned Giving)
  • Corporate and Foundation Giving
  • Pipeline Development and Moves Management
  • Transition Support and Onboarding

Training and Coaching

Strong leaders are built through intentional nonprofit leadership development, not just natural ability. Orr Group’s nonprofit leadership training and nonprofit coaching strengthen the skills of executives, staff, and board members, aligning them around a shared approach to leadership and fundraising.

We provide executive and strategic counsel along with customized training and coaching experiences that deliver practical tools and actionable strategies. This support helps leaders gain confidence, make stronger decisions, and guide your organization toward lasting success.

  • Leadership Workshops
  • Executive 1:1 Coaching
  • Strategic Counsel
  • Customized Training Programs

Board Assessment, Training, and Transformation

Your board members are vital ambassadors for your mission, and equipping them with the right skills strengthens both their decision making and their long term engagement.

Orr Group’s nonprofit leadership training for boards combines assessment, education, and strategic counsel to ensure members are prepared to lead, govern, and champion your organization. Our work often includes managing a board pipeline, revising bylaws, establishing committees, and supporting special projects that elevate board performance. The result is a stronger, more engaged board that works in true partnership with your staff.

  • Board Assessment
  • Governance Training
  • Committee Design and Optimization
  • Board Engagement Strategies

Board Recruitment

A strong board starts with the right people. Orr Group partners with nonprofit leadership to design and manage a thoughtful recruitment process that builds a diverse, skilled, and engaged board.

Our work includes identifying and cultivating prospective members, managing the board candidate pipeline, and facilitating onboarding. We collaborate closely with your executive team to ensure every new board member strengthens governance, expands networks, and advances your mission.

  • Prospect Identification
  • Pipeline Management
  • Candidate Cultivation
  • Onboarding Support

Watch video: "The Power of Effective Leadership"

Nonprofit Leadership Success Stories

Girl Scouts happily handing out cookies

Girl Scouts of USA (GSUSA)

GSUSA has an over 100-year history of excellence serving millions of community members—so when the team’s Chief Development Officer went on maternity leave, Orr Group stepped in to help operations continue with minimal interruption. 

Throughout our partnership, we directed a 25-person staff to take on a goal 44% larger than the last campaign. Also, we trained board members and executive leaders and refined the case for support to make the campaign more compelling to potential donors.

The impact speaks for itself: GSUSA raised 54% more than the previous year, outperforming its already ambitious goal. Plus, GSUSA built critical capacity to support nonprofit leadership growth going forward so they can handle transition periods more effectively.

Guide Dogs for the Blind

Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB)

GDB, the largest guide dog school in the U.S. and Canada, was determined to achieve its greatest goal yet—increasing total fundraising revenue by 400% over 10 years. To reach this impressive benchmark, GDB partnered with Orr Group. 

Our approach involved making process changes to maintain relationships with over 100,000 annual supporters, training the fundraising team to supercharge growth, and connecting fundraising and marketing functions.

To expedite results, Orr Group took over as Interim Chief Philanthropy Officer. Through our partnership, GDB achieved a 153% year-over-year revenue increase, with contributed revenue rising 35% from FY20 to FY21 and an additional 33% from FY21 to FY22.

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