Bridgestar - An Initiative of the Bridgespan Group

• Transition to the Nonprofit Sector
• Serve as a Board Member
• Work in Key Positions
• Recruit Nonprofit Leaders

About the Nonprofit Chief Operating Officer

These articles have been specially selected to give an overview of the role of the nonprofit chief operating officer and all its complexities. As you contemplate becoming a COO yourself or hiring one for your organization we hope these tools and resources are a useful guide.

COO Roles and Structures: Stories from the Field 
The most salient characteristic of the COO job seems to be its variety. COO roles, and the organizational structures in which COOs operate, are highly varied across organizations and even within a single organization over time.

Frequently Asked Questions: About the COO Role
Answers to some common questions about the COO position.

The Nonprofit Chief Operating Officer
Nonprofit organizations’ need for strong senior management teams to complement the chief executive has led to a renewed focus on the chief operating officer, but the COO role means different things to different people.

COO Career Paths

Chrystal Kornegay and Mossik Hacobian: Leaders and Partners at Urban Edge
Mossik Hacobian and Chrystal Kornegay have blurred the traditional ED and COO roles to forge a unique partnership at Urban Edge.

David Williams: Reflections on the COO Position
David Williams worked at Habitat for Humanity International for more than ten years, five of them as executive vice president and COO. In that position he ran the internal side of a very large, complex organization, working under its high-profile founder.