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September 29, 2025
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Leadership transitions are a natural part of an organization's lifecycle. However, without the right support, they can disrupt momentum and strain teams.
At Schusterman Family Philanthropies, our Gender and Reproductive Equity team has seen firsthand how thoughtful funder practices can make a difference. In this blog post for Leading Forward, Jessica Williams-Szenes, Director of Gender and Reproductive Equity Grantmaking at Schusterman, identified four actionable ways her team shows up as partners before, during and after leadership transitions. Some of the specific practices they use to support grantees include:
- Building relationships beyond the executive director to ensure continuity and shared understanding;
- Communicating proactively and transparently, creating space for trust and clarity;
- Asking thoughtful questions early to surface needs and offer support before challenges escalate;
- Providing flexible funding to resource the transition, whether coaching, search firms or staff development.
These practices aren’t just about managing change—they are about investing in the long-term health and sustainability of organizations, especially those led by women of color. When funders lead with trust and care, executive transitions become opportunities for growth.
For more insights into leaders’ experiences with executive transitions and recommendations on how funders can best partner with grantees in transition, read our Funding Through Change report.
