U.S. Nonprofit CEO Turnover:
What 990 Data Reveals
Across 29,786 U.S. nonprofits tracked over five years of IRS Form 990 filings, 14.7% of CEOs are replaced in any given year — and the rate is climbing. Healthcare nonprofits churn fastest at 18%, while larger organizations ($100M+) see turnover rates of 21%. Here is what the data shows about leadership stability in the sector.
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Annual Turnover Rate
14.7%
Latest Year (2023–2024)
16.4%
U.S. Organizations Tracked
29,786
Same CEO for 5 Years
58.1%
CEO turnover is measured by comparing the highest-paid individual with the title "Chief Executive Officer" across consecutive tax years for the same organization. Data covers tax years 2020–2024 from IRS Form 990 electronic filings. We continuously update our datasets as new filings become available.
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CEO Turnover Rate by Year
The annual CEO turnover rate has risen steadily from 13.3% in 2020–2021 to 16.4% in 2023–2024 — a 23% increase over four years. The post-pandemic period brought accelerated leadership churn across the sector.
| Period | Orgs Compared | CEO Transitions | Turnover Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–2021 | 21,152 | 2,816 | 13.3% |
| 2021–2022 | 22,245 | 3,258 | 14.6% |
| 2022–2023 | 21,333 | 3,238 | 15.2% |
| 2023–2024 | 14,152 | 2,323 | 16.4% |
Source: IRS Form 990 electronically filed returns, Tax years 2020–2024. Each row compares the highest-paid CEO in consecutive filing years for the same organization.. 4 categories shown.
Get more data →CEO Turnover Rate by Sector
Healthcare nonprofits experience the highest CEO turnover at 18%, followed by public benefit and international organizations at 17%. Animal-related and recreation nonprofits are the most stable at 12%.
| Sector | Year-Pairs | Transitions | Turnover Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | 10,056 | 1,775 | 18% |
| Public & Societal Benefit | 876 | 153 | 17% |
| International | 1,574 | 273 | 17% |
| Civil Rights | 543 | 90 | 17% |
| Medical Research | 484 | 79 | 16% |
| Diseases & Medical | 1,175 | 178 | 15% |
| Youth Development | 1,915 | 288 | 15% |
| Human Services | 11,180 | 1,603 | 14% |
| Education | 5,358 | 768 | 14% |
| Housing & Shelter | 3,408 | 488 | 14% |
| Philanthropy & Voluntarism | 3,128 | 443 | 14% |
| Environment | 1,088 | 150 | 14% |
| Community Improvement | 4,034 | 555 | 14% |
| Arts & Culture | 2,793 | 376 | 13% |
| Mental Health | 2,425 | 314 | 13% |
| Employment | 1,372 | 171 | 12% |
| Religion | 1,714 | 211 | 12% |
| Recreation & Sports | 1,058 | 128 | 12% |
| Animal-Related | 881 | 105 | 12% |
Source: IRS Form 990 electronically filed returns, Tax years 2020–2024 combined. Sectors with fewer than 200 year-pairs excluded. Sector based on NTEE major group classification.. 19 categories shown.
Get more data →CEO Turnover Rate by Organization Budget Size
Larger nonprofits experience significantly more CEO turnover. Organizations with $100M+ budgets have a 21% turnover rate — nearly double that of sub-$1M organizations at 12%. Larger organizations face more intense board oversight, higher CEO visibility, and greater competitive pressure for executive talent.
| Budget Size | Year-Pairs | Transitions | Turnover Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 15,722 | 1,947 | 12% |
| $1M–$5M | 23,910 | 3,284 | 14% |
| $5M–$10M | 11,414 | 1,753 | 15% |
| $10M–$25M | 12,954 | 2,017 | 16% |
| $25M–$50M | 6,911 | 1,105 | 16% |
| $50M–$100M | 3,810 | 656 | 17% |
| $100M+ | 4,161 | 870 | 21% |
Source: IRS Form 990 electronically filed returns, Tax years 2020–2024 combined. Budget size is total revenue from Part I of the Form 990 filed in the earlier year of each pair.. 7 categories shown.
Get more data →CEO Tenure Distribution (Organizations with 5 Years of Data)
Among 8,727 organizations with CEO data in all five tax years (2020–2024), 58% retained the same CEO throughout. Nearly 10% had three or more different CEOs — a signal of leadership instability that may concern donors and funders.
| Number of CEOs (2020–2024) | Organizations | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (same CEO entire period) | 5,067 | 58.1% |
| 2 | 2,810 | 32.2% |
| 3 | 718 | 8.2% |
| 4 | 115 | 1.3% |
| 5 (different CEO every year) | 17 | 0.2% |
Source: IRS Form 990 electronically filed returns, Limited to 8,727 organizations with CEO compensation data in all five tax years (2020–2024).. 5 categories shown.
Get more data →CEO Turnover by State — Highest Turnover
Arkansas and Washington state lead with 20% CEO turnover. States with competitive metropolitan labor markets tend toward higher leadership churn.
| State | Year-Pairs | Transitions | Turnover Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 431 | 90 | 20% |
| Washington | 1,752 | 356 | 20% |
| Alaska | 276 | 53 | 19% |
| Colorado | 2,002 | 370 | 18% |
| Kansas | 725 | 130 | 17% |
| Indiana | 1,750 | 307 | 17% |
| Arizona | 1,579 | 270 | 17% |
Source: IRS Form 990 electronically filed returns, Tax years 2020–2024 combined. States with fewer than 200 year-pairs excluded.. 7 categories shown.
Get more data →CEO Turnover by State — Most Stable
New Hampshire and Mississippi have the lowest CEO turnover at 9–10%. Smaller, more rural states tend to have greater leadership continuity.
| State | Year-Pairs | Transitions | Turnover Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 363 | 35 | 9% |
| Mississippi | 336 | 33 | 9% |
| Connecticut | 916 | 97 | 10% |
| Nebraska | 587 | 62 | 10% |
| South Dakota | 281 | 32 | 11% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,526 | 418 | 11% |
| Tennessee | 1,406 | 173 | 12% |
Source: IRS Form 990 electronically filed returns, Tax years 2020–2024 combined. States with fewer than 200 year-pairs excluded.. 7 categories shown.
Get more data →Key Findings
16.4%
CEO Turnover Rate in 2023–2024
Up from 13.3% in 2020–2021 — a 23% increase in four years
Nonprofit CEO turnover has accelerated meaningfully over the past five years. What was a 13.3% annual rate in 2020–2021 has climbed to 16.4% in the most recent year — meaning roughly one in six nonprofit CEOs is replaced annually. This trend cuts across sectors, budget sizes, and geographies, though some segments are more volatile than others.
The $100M+ Churn Problem
The largest nonprofits ($100M+ revenue) experience 21% annual CEO turnover — nearly double the rate at sub-$1M organizations. Larger boards, higher scrutiny, and competitive executive labor markets all contribute. For donors and funders evaluating large organizations, recent leadership transitions are worth investigating.
What CEO Turnover Signals
Why leadership stability matters for donors, funders, and boards
A single CEO transition is normal — leaders retire, relocate, or pursue new opportunities. But when an organization cycles through three or more CEOs in five years (as 9.7% of continuously tracked organizations do), it raises questions that donors and funders should investigate. Frequent turnover can signal board dysfunction, unsustainable compensation, cultural problems, or strategic drift.
One Transition (32.2%)
Most common pattern after full retention. Usually represents a planned succession or natural career move. Generally not a concern if the organization's financial metrics remain stable.
Two Transitions (8.2%)
Warrants a closer look. Could indicate a failed hire followed by a correction, or an interim CEO between permanent leaders. Check whether financial performance dipped during the transition period.
Three+ Transitions (1.5%)
A red flag for leadership instability. Organizations with 4–5 different CEOs in five years often show corresponding declines in program spending, fundraising efficiency, or revenue growth.
Sector Patterns
Healthcare nonprofits lead all sectors with 18% annual CEO turnover — driven by the complexity of managing clinical operations, regulatory compliance, and post-pandemic workforce challenges. International and civil rights organizations follow at 17%, reflecting the intensity and political sensitivity of their missions.
At the other end, animal-related (12%), recreation (12%), and religion-related (12%) nonprofits enjoy the most stable leadership. These sectors tend to have smaller, more community-rooted organizations where CEO roles are deeply personal and less susceptible to competitive poaching.
Why Healthcare Turns Over Fastest
Nonprofit healthcare organizations face unique pressures: clinical credentialing requirements, Medicare/Medicaid compliance, union negotiations, and competition with for-profit hospital systems for executive talent. The 18% turnover rate is consistent with industry surveys showing hospital CEO tenure averaging just 5.2 years nationally.
The Budget Size Effect
There is a clear, monotonic relationship between organization size and CEO turnover. At every step up the revenue ladder, turnover increases — from 12% at sub-$1M organizations to 21% at $100M+ organizations. This pattern holds across all years in the dataset.
Why Larger Nonprofits Churn More
More active boards with formal performance evaluation processes
Greater media and donor scrutiny of leadership decisions
Higher CEO compensation attracts competitive recruiting from other organizations and the for-profit sector
More complex operations increase the risk of a poor CEO-organization fit
Mandatory retirement policies are more common at larger institutions
Geographic Variation
CEO turnover varies significantly by state, ranging from 9% in New Hampshire to 20% in Arkansas and Washington. States with competitive metropolitan labor markets (Colorado, Arizona, Washington) tend toward higher turnover, while smaller, more rural states (New Hampshire, Mississippi, South Dakota) see greater leadership continuity.
Washington, D.C. — home to the densest concentration of national nonprofits — registers a 16% turnover rate, slightly above the national average. The capital's unique nonprofit ecosystem, where advocacy organizations rise and fall with political cycles, contributes to more frequent executive transitions.
How to Use This Data
Practical applications for donors, boards, and researchers
For Donors and Funders
Check the timeline
Before making a major gift, ask how long the current CEO has been in place. A CEO in their first year may still be establishing strategy.
Compare to sector norms
A 15% turnover rate is concerning at an animal welfare nonprofit but typical in healthcare. Context matters.
Look for patterns
One transition is normal. Three in five years is a signal to investigate before committing funding.
Pair with financial data
CEO transitions that coincide with declining program expense ratios or shrinking reserves deserve extra scrutiny.
For Boards
Benchmark your organization
Compare your CEO tenure to sector and budget-size peers using the tables above.
Plan for succession
With 14.7% annual turnover sector-wide, every board should have a succession plan — most do not.
Invest in retention
The cost of CEO replacement (recruiting, onboarding, lost momentum) far exceeds the cost of competitive compensation and board-CEO relationship investment.
How This Data Is Calculated
Transparency in methodology builds trust.
Sample Size
29,786 organizations (78,882 consecutive-year filing pairs)
Data Source
IRS Form 990 electronically filed returns
Period
Tax years 2020–2024
CEO turnover is identified by comparing the highest-paid individual with normalized_title = 'Chief Executive Officer' in Part VII Section A across consecutive tax years for the same organization. Only organizations with compensation data in at least two consecutive years are included. Organizations with data_quality_flags are excluded. The 2023–2024 period has fewer observations (14,152 vs. ~21,000) because 2024 filings are still being processed by the IRS.
Transition Detection
For each organization, we identify the highest-paid person with the title "Chief Executive Officer" in each tax year. When the name changes between consecutive years, we record a transition. This approach handles co-CEOs and mid-year transitions by always selecting the highest-compensated individual.
One CEO Per Organization Per Year
Where multiple individuals share the CEO title (co-CEOs, interim overlaps), we use the highest-compensated individual to ensure a consistent, comparable measure across organizations.
Consecutive-Year Requirement
We only count transitions between consecutive tax years (e.g., 2022 and 2023). Gaps in filing data are excluded to avoid false positives from missing filings rather than actual leadership changes.
Five-Year Window
The tenure distribution analysis is limited to 8,727 organizations with CEO data in all five tax years (2020–2024), providing a complete picture of leadership stability over the full period.
Name Matching Limitations
CEO identity is based on the person_name field as reported on the Form 990. Minor name variations (nicknames, middle initials, name changes) may produce a small number of false transitions, but this noise is consistent across all segments and does not affect comparative analysis.
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