The board of directors needs to develop a plan to involve staff members, clients, funders and other community members in the hiring process in appropriate ways. The board has a responsibility to keep the staff up to date about the progress of the search for the executive director. Staff involvement in the search might include participating in an assessment of the issues facing the organization, providing input on the characteristics needed by the executive director to meet the identified challenges, helping to recruit applicants, reviewing resumes, participating in some interviews, meeting finalists and providing input to the board. On the other hand, the final decision-making belongs to the board. (Obviously staff will have the greater role hiring program leaders other than the executive director.)