HOW ARE YOU CARING FOR YOUR CEO?

by Neal Joseph

The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has just introduced a new standard for its members, and it’s a good one. The standard states, “Every organization’s board and senior leader shall work together to develop a care plan for the senior leader. The plan shall be approved annually by the board to demonstrate the organization’s commitment to caring proactively for the leader’s well-being and integrity.” And according to the ECFA, it needs to be implemented by January 1, 2027.

Nonprofit leaders often pour themselves into serving others, leaving little time to care for their own well-being. A wise board recognizes that rest and renewal for the CEO are not luxuries but necessities for long-term effectiveness. Care must be treated as a must-have, not a nice-to-have. Because one size never fits all, the board should take into account the CEO’s unique personality, interests, and rhythms of life when helping them develop a plan for personal rest. Include the CEO’s spouse or close family members in the process to ensure it’s both realistic and supportive of home life.

Encourage a mix of ongoing habits of rest—such as regular days off or professional or pastoral coaching—and more concentrated times away, such as a well-timed mini-sabbatical. The plan should be driven by the CEO, with the board ensuring certain minimums are met so that care doesn’t slip off the radar. Be mindful, too, that “rest” doesn’t simply mean trading one form of busyness for another. Many nonprofit leaders are high achievers who find it hard to disconnect, so the board can gently reinforce that recovery and reflection are productive in their own right. Finally, build in light accountability by checking in at key points to see how the CEO is doing—providing support, not surveillance—as a genuine expression of care for the person who is leading your mission.