For nonprofits, the next era of leadership is not individual—it is intentional, aligned, and shared. 

This session explores the “Leadership by Two” approach, a model for developing complementary leadership partnerships (e.g., CEO–Board Chair, CEO–Deputy, or co-executive structures) that strengthen alignment, accountability, and organizational resilience. Participants will learn how shared leadership enhances governance, builds stronger succession pipelines, and sustains mission impact during times of transition. Walk away with practical strategies to build leadership capacity, implement effective succession planning, and ensure continuity in an increasingly complex nonprofit environment. 

Learning Objectives 

• Contemporary Insights into Nonprofit Leadership Challenges – Gain early insights from CMP’s seventh annual national nonprofit leadership pulse check. 

• Understand the “Leadership by Two” Model – Learn how structured leadership partnerships improve decision-making, strengthen governance, and support long-term sustainability. 

• Advance Succession Planning – Explore practical, board-aligned strategies to ensure leadership continuity and mitigate organizational risk. 

• Capacity-Building Framework – Identify key capabilities and systems needed to support leadership transitions and sustain mission-driven growth.