Lessons From a Retiring Nonprofit CEO

Earlier this year, I announced my retirement from Community Youth Services effective July 31. I have learned a lot about child welfare and, most importantly, how to effectively operate a nonprofit organization. Today, I will share some important revelations and lessons learned.

Nonprofit organizations are often referred to as the Third Sector, as they work alongside government or on behalf of government to attack pressing education, social and health problems. With the exception of health care, human service nonprofits do not play by the same supply-demand rules as private enterprise. Social services consumers customarily do not...