"Every Executive Director has key responsibilities that relate to being a visionary, change agent, relationship builder, community builder, and resource wizard."

Being an executive director is a demanding career that requires the person to adapt to many roles and develop strategic relationships within and outside the organization. Above all, as the authors Carlson and Donohoe assert, the executive director must display strong leadership in guiding the organization to fulfilling its mission. In this straightforward yet comprehensive guide, the authors clarify from the start that the primary responsibility for the executive director is to act as caretaker of the organization. To be able to succeed in this objective, the executive director must be able to balance a variety of demands.

Written in a question-and-answer format, the guide is intended for both experienced and new executive directors. Board members, consultants and other nonprofit professionals, as well as individuals who are considering becoming executive directors will benefit from the wisdom shared by the two authors. However, the book is not intended to serve as a "how-to" manual for specific tasks like fundraising or for creating financial reports. Instead it is intended to help executive directors think broadly about the their role within the organization and how their tenure impacts the agency. Furthermore, it pinpoints many aspects of the executive director's position that have caused confusion and frustration and offers practical solutions for resolving those issues.

Other relevant topics discussed include the need for the executive director to be attuned to trends within the nonprofit sector, the changing nature of agencies as they move through their life cycles and significant skills needed for each stage. A particularly constructive section highlights the relationship between the executive director and the board, and clarifies the responsibilities of each entity. Executive directors must dedicate a sizable amount of time to building and maintaining a variety of relationships, both internal and outside the organization, to create partnerships to further the agency's mission. The authors offer some valuable insights in this area and emphasize that good executive directors provide support to those involved in their agencies in addition to leading and managing. Other chapters cover the executive director's role in fundraising and financial control. Lastly, the authors deal with the often overlooked topic of transitioning from being an executive director to pursuing a subsequent career and preparing the organization for that transition.

Mim Carlson and Margaret Donohoe have served as executive directors and board members and are consultants in the area of organizational leadership. It is apparent from reading the guide that they have garnered a great deal of wisdom during their careers. Executive directors will benefit from consulting The Executive Director's Survival Guide for the first time, in addition to revisiting it throughout their tenures.

For citations to additional materials on this topic, refer to Literature of the Nonprofit Sector Online, using the subject heading "Nonprofit organizations-management."