Executive Transitions: Grantmakers and Nonprofit Leadership Change

Even for seasoned funders, supporting leadership transitions can be a tricky business. Where is the fine line between helping and intruding? What interventions work? And how can a grantmaker play a constructive role? Learn how grantmakers take up the transition challenge, engage with boards, support new CEOs, and help grantees use the moment to go in promising new directions.HighlightsSupporting exiting and incoming CEOsWhen a board member callsNurturing the next generation of leadersWhat's in the Guide?The Grantmaker's Role in Leadership Transitions:Grantmakers care deeply about the quality of leadership in the organizations they support. But what can they do to help their own grantees, and perhaps even other organizations, manage executive transitions successfully?Assisting Organizations in Transition: Money and More: Nonprofits need funding during transitions as much as they ever do - maybe more. Foundations can help with that, of course, but they can also offer other types of support, such as information, encouragement, and specialized services.Making Common Cause with the Board: Replacing an executive director is a serious responsibility for a nonprofit board. Grantmakers can assist by being responsive, even proactive, during what often turns into a challenging process.Supporting Exiting and Incoming CEOs: Executive transitions have a personal side. Grantmakers can ease the departure of an exiting CEO or help a newcomer get off to a strong start with a few simple gestures and practical steps.Opening the Way for New Leaders: A wide range of strategies are available to expand, strengthen, and diversify the base from which future executive directors will come

Prevention of Peritendinous Adhesions Using an Electrospun DegraPol Polymer Tube: A Histological, Ultrasonographic, and Biomechanical Study in Rabbits

PURPOSE: One of the great challenges in surgical tendon rupture repair is to minimize peritendinous adhesions. In order to reduce adhesion formation, a physical barrier was applied to a sutured rabbit Achilles tendon, with two different immobilization protocols used postoperatively. METHODS: Thirty New Zealand white rabbits received a laceration on the Achilles tendon, sutured with a 4-strand Becker suture, and half of the rabbits got a DegraPol tube at the repair site. While fifteen rabbits had their treated hind leg in a 180° stretched position during 6 weeks (adhesion provoking immobilization), the other fifteen rabbits were recasted with a 150° position after 3 weeks (adhesion inhibiting immobilization). Adhesion extent was analysed macroscopically, via ultrasound and histology. Inflammation was determined histologically. Biomechanical properties were analysed. RESULTS: Application of a DegraPol tube reduced adhesion formation by approximately 20%--independently of the immobilization protocol. Biomechanical properties of extracted specimen were not affected by the tube application. There was no serious inflammatory reaction towards the implant material. CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of a DegraPol tube tightly set around a sutured tendon acts as a beneficial physical barrier and prevents adhesion formation significantly--without affecting the tendon healing process