Bridgestar - An Initiative of the Bridgespan Group

Become a Nonprofit Chief Operating Officer

This page is dedicated to those who would like to become a nonprofit chief operating officer (COO) (or similar role). Articles and tools have been selected for this area to help you through this transition. Whether you are moving within the nonprofit sector, growing into a senior management role, or transitioning into the nonprofit sector for the first time, you will find helpful resources here. 

Discovering the Role that Is the Right Fit
Finding the right nonprofit role can be challenging. Learn how one bridger used online resources to refocus her job search efforts and find a COO position that was the best fit.

Finding the Right COO Position
The key to success in a job search is finding the right fit between your skills, interests, and disposition on the one hand, and the characteristics of the potential organization, role, and leadership team on the other. Because of the tremendous variety in role definition across COO positions, finding the right fit can be particularly challenging and important for COO candidates.

Frequently Asked Questions: Becoming a Nonprofit COO 
Answers to some common questions from people considering and seeking COO positions.

Leveraging Social Media in Your Nonprofit Job Search: Q&A with Beth Kanter, Author of Beth’s Blog
Social media expert Beth Kanter discusses the role that new media tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter should play in a nonprofit job search.

Social Networking Resources for Nonprofit Job Seekers
Links to websites, blogs, articles, and other resources to help nonprofit job seekers use social networking in their job search.

COO Career Paths

Emily McCann: Navigating an Organization's Decision to Create the COO Position 
Emily McCann was a self-proclaimed “outside-the-box” candidate when Citizen Schools hired her as chief financial officer. Less than two years later, she became the organization’s first chief operating officer. While this was a relatively quick transition for McCann, the organization’s decision to create a COO position took some time and consideration.

Marshall Chapin and Envision Schools: Reflections on Hiring a Bridger as a COO/CFO
A bridger and the nonprofit CEO who hired him share their perspectives on the process of hiring and transitioning a bridger.