Interim Leadership in Practice

Leadership transitions come in all shapes and sizes. Some are carefully planned; others arrive unexpectedly. What they share is a need for steadiness — someone who can hold the center, keep the work moving, and prepare the ground for what’s next.

At ADH&A, interim work is never about simply “filling a seat.” It’s about bringing clarity, continuity, and momentum to a moment that could otherwise become a stall. Over the years, we’ve stepped into a range of transitional roles, each requiring its own blend of steadiness and strategy.

Here are a few of the profiles that most often guide our interim engagements:

The Executive Director

An interim Executive Director is, above all, a steward. This role supports staff and Board through reflection and realignment — stabilizing finances, clarifying priorities, and setting the stage for a strong and thoughtful search process. It’s leadership that provides calm and direction when both are urgently needed.

The Transitional Director of Development

When deadlines continue regardless of internal transitions, a short-term DoD steps in to keep everything moving: donor relationships, grant calendars, events, campaigns. This role is deeply collaborative, designed to support an existing team and ensure nothing slips through the cracks during a compressed or high-intensity period.

The Long-Term Advancement Cover

Some transitions require a longer, more strategic horizon. Long-term interim DoDs strengthen systems, deepen Board and donor engagement, refine fundraising strategies, and build relationships that set the incoming permanent leader up for success. It’s continuity with a view toward durable, long-term progress.

The Specialist

Certain roles are laser-focused — institutional giving, government funding, capital strategy, database systems, compliance. Specialist interim leadership ensures that core functions remain strong through any transition, and that expertise-intensive portfolios receive the rigor and attention they require.

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Previous ADH&A Interim Clients

92NY; American RepertoryTheater; ART/NY; Bushwick Starr; Classical Theatre of Harlem; Huron Station Playhouse; Hudson Valley Shakespeare; Long Wharf Theatre; New York Stage & Film; Second Stage Theatre; SITI Company; Staten Island Arts; Staten Island Museum; The Field; Williamstown Theater Festival.