Columbus

A Peer Group for Leaders in Not-For-Profit Organizations

Do you lead a not-for-profit organization?

During 2011, I began forming peer groups for CEOs. Among the 100+ members across the first groups, several not-for-profit CEOs enjoyed — and substantially contributed to — the experience and peer influence.

And yet, they said, “We are different. Our organizations are truly mission oriented. We are building communal assets, rather than personal ownership equity. And we are assessed by a board…

“We might be founders and builders, but we are stewards rather than owners.”
                                 
Beth Paul

Beth said, “Let’s assemble a new peer group, one for leaders with executive authority in not-for-profit organizations.

We launched the group in January 2018.

Introducing Super Group

  • Meetings:
    • Monthly, usually on second Tuesdays
    • One monthly meeting is our annual overnight retreat (in Yellow Springs, Ohio) — when gatherings resume
  • Invitations to speakers visiting other Birdhouse groups (“Birdhouse” is the community of members in my practice.) See the current offerings at Birdfeeders.info.
  • Monthly meetings of Triads (groups of three members) for accountability and small-group issue processing.
  • Members: CEOs and Executive Directors of not-for-profit organizations — no competitors, no conflicts.
  • The Columbus Foundation generously offers support for this group.

  Members:

A kind-hearted, but candid statement of intention

Qualitatively, we will admit people who are firing on all cylinders:

  • are smart, ambitious, and successful
  • are trusting and trustworthy
  • are earnest, but don’t take themselves too seriously
  • are kind-hearted (no jerks)
  • play the big game — are willing to bring their biggest challenges
  • can engage — show up on time, focus (no cell phones), lean in
  • will confront their peers kindly
  • are experienced enough to know they need to change — and energetic enough to do it.

This group is for “A” Players. If you are an “A” Player, here is a message for you.