Nonprofit founders and succession: how to ensure an effective leadership handover

Purpose – The aim of this article was to describe successor types of four nonprofit founders. Design/methodology/approach – This article uses the previous case study research and participant/nonparticipant observation to illustrate the different nonprofit founder types to prepare for successors. Findings – Four founder types included destroyer, conscientious, maverick, and controller. Each founder type had several unique characteristics. A common feature across all four types was autocratic control. Research limitations/implications – Limitations include the generalizability of the findings based on the sample. Recommendations include re-examination of the ways founders approach succession issues. Practical implications – Founders involved in succession issues can benefit by better understanding the succession process as well as the legacy they leave as a result of their approach to succession based on type. Originality/value – This article offers new insights into the approaches nonprofit founders take a...