I frequently state that one of the seven indicators that a nonprofit is at risk of significant failure is when the media writes about it and not in a good way. And so goes the story of the Insight Center which, like a country song, has lost its exec, its staff, likely a portion of its money and effectively, its way. Or at least this is what one of my takeaways is from this Chronicle article about an Exec who is no longer with the Insight Center and in the process, taken all of her staff (who resigned upon the Exec's dismissal) and has now started her own nonprofit with tentatively enough funding for a do-over.
This story does raise a number of questions about who "owns" a nonprofit; when a board and exec have significantly differing opinions about what is the appropriate way to achieve mission or if the mission is even correct; and how to honorably treat differences. I think treating employees with respect should go without saying and not even be a question for a board but we really don't know quite enough to judge objectively (although appearance would suggest there to have been a significant fail on the part of the board).
But if indeed a board does not agree with the direction of an exec, is it not it's right if not obligation to either not accept the recommendation or suggested path or at the extreme, remove that Director? And indeed, don't the grants provide some guidance?
No this is not a simple story nor are the answers simple but clearly, the resolve for now is a board that must effectively start over and an exec and staff that have a path which they want (and will presumably build a board that concurs). Although, what is someday, the next board does not agree?