Brian Quail’s Ultimate Guide for New Nonprofit CEOs
Dick Aft explores a United Way alum’s gift to new and experienced leaders.
​April, 2024

​Typical of so many United Way alumni, Brian Quail has followed a path that led to heading nonprofit organizations engaged in direct service.  United Way NEXT Board Chair Ed Rivera introduced me to his recent publication with these words, “Brian’s Ultimate Guide will be valuable to nonprofit leaders including board members, current CEOs, senior executive staff, nonprofit investors, and his target audience of prospective and new nonprofit CEOs.” With a recommendation like that, I couldn’t wait to get a copy and read it.

Here’s what I found.
In his newly published Ultimate Guide for New Nonprofit CEOs, Brian Quail shares lessons learned as a CEO, civic leader and person called to a career of serving others. Beyond calling on his experience as CEO, it reflects his desire to support all nonprofit CEOs whether new or experienced.

“Five Frameworks” form the foundation on which Quail builds a guide to CEO success.

1. Ninety Days – the importance of face-to-face meetings in your first ninety days.
2. Your Team – working with direct reports, executive assistants, and board members.
3. The Financials – analyzing the numbers and financial history of the organization.
4. Donor Relationships – distinguishing between revenue sources and donor development.
5. The Who – the most important question to ask yourself every day.

Interesting case studies and narratives based on personal experiences and research illuminate pathways to successful navigation of new experiences, challenges, and relationships.

Theoretical? No. Practical and down to earth? Yes. Instead of immersing readers in theory, Quail shares the things he learned as a new nonprofit CEO several times and as a consultant who has helped nonprofit CEOs and boards of directors achieve exceptional results.  For instance, he writes: “As a CEO, if you cannot express specific and clear examples of your nonprofit’s impact in plain English that nearly anyone in your community understands, then you’re not doing your job effectively.  In the end, your legacy is not about buying an expensive and sophisticated software package whose advanced features you can speak at length about or the stunning new building that makes a bold statement to everyone who sees it. Rather, your duty is to show how these resources improve the lives of those your nonprofit serves —community members who are the most vulnerable and in need of help.”
Quail’s bibliography alone serves the reader a wealth of references for new CEOs and the volunteers who hire them. It lists a score of publications on subjects ranging from managing turnover to resolving conflict.

Whether a gift to help a new CEO onboard him/herself, a board member in search of the best ways to support a new nonprofit CEO, or a guide to refreshing your personal leadership, The Ultimate Guide for New Nonprofit CEOs is a book likely to become dogeared before it becomes dusty.

Past President & CEO of the Heart of Florida United Way, American Red Cross Louisville Area Chapter, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, Brian Quail is CEO and Founder of Quail Consulting. Combined, his fundraising, leadership, analysis, and development efforts throughout his professional life have resulted in over one billion dollars in human-services funding. His book is available on Amazon or at >www.BrianQuail.com