Case Studies

Vice President of Development – New York

Challenge: Filling this role was crucial and a top priority for the CEO when they reached out to us. They needed someone to lead strategic planning and the development of all fundraising initiatives, bringing diverse experience across the full spectrum of fundraising campaigns. The ideal candidate would have the ability to lead a team, unify their efforts, exceed goals, and drive the mission to uplift the lives of all affected by a health epidemic. The organization required a confident self-starter with the entrepreneurial spirit to independently solicit new and deepen existing relationships. This person needed strong organizational and technical skills to manage individual, corporate, and major gifts, cause marketing, and special events.

Solution: Our extensive recruitment process and multiple conversations with development professionals led us to an exceptional candidate with solid experience in fundraising, donor development, and creative marketing and communication. Her alignment with our client’s mission, coupled with her proficiency in various development platforms and a track record of success, made her the best fit for this role. Equipped with technical and interpersonal skills, she can lead and mentor a team while stewarding donors, making her a valuable addition to the leadership team.

Vice President of Development – Ohio

Challenge: Our client required a dynamic leader who could become an asset within a condensed timeframe. We scouted for an exceptional candidate poised to spearhead strategic initiatives for expanding fundraising channels, including annual gifts, planned giving, special events, campaigns, and corporate and foundation relations for a leading organization dedicated to economic and social justice.

Solution: After extensive evaluation, we identified a standout professional possessing unparalleled relationship-building skills across all echelons. This individual has a remarkable track record of inspiring teams to surpass objectives and has charted a progressive career trajectory, perfectly aligning with our client’s need for sustained growth and leadership.

Senior Philanthropic Relationship Manager – Philadelphia

Challenge: Our client needed a unique professional to fill a senior role managing philanthropic relationships, with familiarity in nonprofit operations and a developed understanding of investments. This person would take a holistic approach to donor gifting and granting patterns, identifying opportunities and challenges, and leading a team to do the same. Gaining a thorough understanding of clients’ giving plans for retention and long-term growth was crucial. They needed to possess strong interpersonal skills, leadership abilities, and data analysis expertise to assess investment risk and opportunities for major donors.

Solution: Through a fine-tuned search, we identified a professional with the necessary hard and soft skills to excel in this role. She successfully managed complex client relationships, ensuring high levels of satisfaction while focusing on strategic planning and creating and implementing risk/opportunity matrices. Her demonstrated holistic approach perfectly aligned with our client’s philanthropic growth plans, and her hedge fund and wealth management experience made her the ideal person to communicate effectively with major donors.

Chief Development Officer – Massachusetts

Challenge: This position holds immense significance for our client’s prosperity, serving as a pivotal strategic advisor to both the executive team and board. The ideal candidate will be tasked with crafting and executing a comprehensive organizational development plan, rallying their team, and engaging stakeholders to drive progress towards our mission. We built a search and conducted outreach to secure an individual with a versatile skill set, capable of expanding the donor portfolio, nurturing donor connections, boosting the annual fund, scouting, and securing grants, orchestrating impactful events, and elevating the organization’s visibility.

Solution: We conducted a rigorous selection process to meet the demands of this critical role identifying a candidate who possessed a unique blend of strategic acumen, relationship-building prowess, and a deep commitment to the organization’s mission. We located an individual with a proven record of accomplishment in cultivating and expanding donor networks, securing substantial contributions, and implementing comprehensive development plans. This candidate embodies the essence of a strategic advisor, capable of collaborating closely with the executive team, board, and donors to formulate and execute organizational strategies. Their multifaceted skill set enables them to drive initiatives across various fronts.

Director of Development – Philadelphia

Challenge: Our client tasked us with finding a standout candidate to work closely with the CEO and Board. The ideal candidate would have a proven track record in developing innovative fundraising campaigns, nurturing both current and prospective donors, and fostering long-term relationships in an early educational enrichment setting. Key to their success would be the ability to lead, mentor, and build a strong development team. Additionally, they needed to be adept at communicating effectively with varied stakeholders, managing donors, and possessing strategic and analytical skills.

Solution: Our targeted outreach within the nonprofit educational community led us to an exceptional professional who matched our client’s requirements. This individual demonstrated a history of success and entrepreneurial vision, particularly in youth initiatives, aligning perfectly with our client’s focus. Their innate ability to forge relationships promises to secure lucrative, long-lasting partnerships. Furthermore, their proven track record in team building, mentorship, and their hands-on approach, combined with an ability to work seamlessly across departments, made them a valuable addition to the leadership team.

Director of Philanthropy – New York

Challenge: This national organization transforming lives with animal companionship contacted us after months of unsuccessful recruiting for a critical regional role. They needed someone to collaborate with the Executive Director to develop long-term fundraising plans, encompassing individual donors, corporate sponsors, foundations, events, and grants. Our client sought a superstar who could research opportunities, engage diverse audiences, and implement and execute comprehensive development plans. It was essential that this person could represent the organization well in public presentations and speaking engagements, while also fostering a culture of philanthropy within the organization.

Solution: Having a client committed not only to their mission but also to their employees made it a pleasure to seek the right person for this critical role. We discovered such a gem: her enthusiasm for the mission and immediate connection to the goals were palpable. A true nonprofit authority, she possesses an earnest eagerness to promote the mission and has achieved progressive, meaningful growth throughout her career. We identified a real gem for our client.

Senior Director of Strategic Giving – Illinois

Challenge: Our client tasked us with identifying a dynamic leader responsible for overseeing the management and expansion of critical major gifts, planned giving programs, and capital campaigns. Our objective was to identify an individual with a proven history of success in development, strong leadership capabilities, and substantial experience engaging with high-level donors, volunteers, and colleagues.

Solution: We secured an exceptional candidate with a track record of consistently surpassing goals. Their unparalleled personality and proactive attitude have been proven to drive achievement. Their exceptional ability to motivate benefactors, teams, and volunteers ensures maximized results in furtherance of our client’s mission.

Director of Grants and Research – Illinois

Challenge: The organization needed someone with a deep understanding and alignment with their mission, someone who could tell their story in the most compelling way.  This individual would have a successful track record in all aspects of grant processes, keeping the ultimate goal at the forefront in all decision making. Demonstrated project management, strong attention to detail and financial budgeting would lead the staff in the right direction.

Solution: Through extensive outreach into the nonprofit community, we identified someone with strong mission alignment and a depth of diverse experience in grant management. Her experience across varied funding sources, technical prowess, and ability to interface at all levels allowed her to come in and start telling the story while handling all administrative and financial details with ease. She will be an impactful asset to the organization.

Director of Foundation Relations and Partnership Grants – Maryland

Challenge: Finding a results-driven Director to strengthen fundraising and grant making programs post-pandemic was key.

Solution: We identified and secured an individual who had led grant strategy, research & proposal development, partner relations, and project management. Managing the portfolio, deepening connections, and expanding key programs and relationships for this high-profile nonprofit was critical to the organization’s success. We ensured our client was equipped to navigate the post pandemic landscape and bolster their capacity to fulfill their mission.

Senior Director of Finance – New York

Challenge: Our world-renowned organization, a leader in the arts aimed to find a professional from the nonprofit arts sector to oversee the efficient and effective financial operations of the organization. This individual would play a crucial role within the leadership team, offering strategic guidance and decision-making to enhance program quality and organizational capacity in alignment with their mission. The ideal candidate needed to possess exceptional financial expertise, dynamic energy, and interpersonal skills to nurture both internal departmental dynamics and external relationships with banking and accounting partners.

Solution: Through thorough outreach within the community, we identified a candidate who embodies all the required qualities and has progressive finance experience within the arts. This individual has exemplary interpersonal abilities to interface effectively with senior leadership, department directors, and external partners. With a career dedicated to building financial infrastructure and accounting systems, and a steadfast focus on organizational improvement and mission alignment, she is equipped with the breadth of talent necessary to achieve our client’s goals.

Senior Director of Finance – North Carolina

Challenge: Our client charged us with finding the most well-rounded financial professional possessing nonprofit financial management experience. They sought someone with extensive grants management knowledge to work closely with the COO to strategize and forecast. This person should have the communication skills to simplify concepts for an audience, interface at all levels and lead a team to prepare budgets and monitor and update forecasts regularly. Having the right person in this role would be critical!

Solution: Our search led us to an amazingly credentialed individual with varied nonprofit financial leadership roles and a strong passion for nonprofit service and work quality. He had demonstrated strategic management, capacity building and long-term planning for financial viability. His enthusiasm to get the job done was palpable, his financial acumen and leadership abilities will impact the organization immeasurably.

Chief Financial Officer – Illinois

Challenge: A new position to the organization, our client sought a highly skilled and strategic CFO capable of navigating the complex financial landscape of a nonprofit organization creating opportunities for unemployed and underemployed. The ideal candidate would possess a unique blend of financial acumen, grant management focus, and leadership ability to drive the organization’s mission forward. The CFO must be adept at developing and implementing robust financial strategies, managing compliance with financial reporting requirements, and ensuring the financial health of the organization. Furthermore, the individual would need to demonstrate exceptional skills in managing a diverse team of finance and HR professionals, fostering a collaborative and results-oriented environment.

Solution: A comprehensive search allowed us to talk with varied professionals and pinpointed the perfect person for our client. She possessed strong senior financial leadership, and impressive, critical grant experience. Her process improvement and turn-around capabilities across financial domains, technology and human resources made her the most suitable hire for our client’s short and long-term goals.

Managing Director – North Carolina

Challenge: Our esteemed client turned to us in search of a dynamic leader with a commitment to the mission and vision of the organization with an unwavering passion for equitable education. This person would join senior leadership and oversee programs and services utilizing qualitative and quantitative analysis to support strategic planning and policy development. They would be charged with maximizing resources and delivering results with exemplary team leadership and mentoring, and the highest level of communication with internal and external stakeholders.

Solution: Specifically designed search parameters allowed us to speak with exceptional professionals and ultimately found the person who possessed unsurpassed end to end project management skills that transformed learning models. Her innovation and framework were widely recognized at the highest levels. She led teams to success identifying action steps, facilitating learning experiences and driving growth. The contributions made throughout her career were substantial and our client is fortunate to have her on board.

Chief Operating Officer  – Massachusetts

Challenge: Our client asked us to fill the key role of COO, someone to design and implement business strategies, policies, plans and procedures across all areas of operation and seamlessly slip into a well-developed senior leadership team committed to shelter and support of the homeless. The individual would be tasked with evaluating and improving operational areas to drive the mission. A savvy professionalism to back up the CEO and provide the board with detailed growth strategies and detailed direction was a must.

Solution: Our extensive outreach into the nonprofit community of leaders led us to a forward-thinking executive with a proven track record of success aligning strategy and operational effectiveness. Her ability to develop initiatives, implement and measure efficacy were developed senior roles within the nonprofit community. Our client respected her tenure and loyalty to the organizations where she had worked. Bringing a strong work ethic and positive attitude, her ability to manage change and develop people will have a strong impact on the organization.

Director of Educational Diversity – North Carolina

Challenge: With an imperative for equitable reforms in education, our client sought to fill a pivotal role, someone who could spearhead significant objectives in educator diversity. This individual needed not only to achieve formidable goals but also to possess the capacity to navigate a complex network of stakeholders, both internal and external, to achieve them.  They would be expected to remain abreast of national educator diversity data, policies, and best practices, translating this knowledge into actionable initiatives and priorities to drive the mission of the organization.

Solution: Our solution involved identifying and securing a candidate who not only embraced the magnitude of the task but was also willing to relocate to fully dedicate themselves to the role. Through thorough research and vetting, we found an individual who was deeply committed to the mission, ready to collaborate tirelessly with all parties involved to drive tangible progress towards success.

Vice President of Research, Evaluation and Business Analytics – Illinois

Challenge: We helped our client fill a new role aimed at cultivating a culture of data-driven learning across all levels and departments. This position entails close collaboration with senior management, outside stakeholders, direct reports, and every department to instill the principles of data analytics into the organizational DNA. The mandate includes crafting and executing evaluation and impact measurement strategy and actively studying and influencing initiatives to propel the mission forward.

Solution: We’ve identified an exceptional leader to assume this pivotal role. With a wealth of experience and mastery in data management strategy, she is poised to deliver top-tier resources that seamlessly integrate data throughout the organization. Her commitment to aligning every action with the overarching goals is evident, as she focuses on ongoing assessment, evaluation, and communication to ensure all constituents are data-informed and actively contributing to advancing the mission.

Senior Director of Public Policy – Illinois

Challenge: We were tasked with identifying a candidate with a keen strategic acumen for navigating government relations and championing community advocacy. The ideal individual would be adept at devising and executing advocacy, legislative, and coalition strategies across various governmental tiers—local, state, and federal—to propel the organization’s legislative and policy agendas forward.

Solution: We uncovered a hidden gem only beginning to consider a search following a sabbatical. With a track record of spearheading policy advocacy within a multifaceted mission-driven organization and a passion for an impactful position, she relied on our insight into our client’s mission. Our client won a forward-thinking leader with substantial experience in affecting policy change!

Chief Human Resources Officer – New York

Challenge: It is always a challenge when a tenured colleague decides to retire! We felt honored to take on the responsibility of filling her shoes. Working closely with the incumbent and the CEO, we identified the necessary steps for a smooth and effective transition. The new hire will be responsible for the overall administration, planning, and coordination of HR processes at this social services agency. This individual must possess comprehensive experience in all facets of HR, strategic acumen to advance board initiatives, expertise in database implementation and development, and the ability to lead, mentor, and develop staff members.

Solution: We made it difficult for our client to choose by presenting candidates who possessed the interpersonal style to work closely with an established senior leadership team and integrate seamlessly into the organization’s HR operations. The candidate chosen had nonprofit experience implementing HR strategies in complex organizations and checked all the boxes and brought a personality that promised to make this transition great. Not only did this thrill our client, but our candidate was also ecstatic to find a role that exceeded his wish list.

Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion – Illinois

Challenge: To drive forward workplace diversity initiatives, we sought an impactful leader to assume this pivotal position, collaborating closely with leadership to execute a comprehensive JEDI strategic plan. It was crucial to find someone capable of aligning with the mission, devising innovative initiatives, and training programs, and overseeing their implementation and progress.

Solution: We pinpointed an exceptional individual with a wealth of experience and a proven track record in DEI endeavors. With a history of spearheading cultural transformations within organizations and a reputation for delivering keynote addresses on a national scale, she emerged as the ideal candidate. Her addition to the senior management team promises to catalyze the creation and support of initiatives and best practices, steering the organization towards the attainment of its objectives.

Deputy of Human Resources – Massachusetts

Challenge: Our client seeks a dedicated nonprofit professional to develop partnership with the Chief Human Resources Officer guiding all major HR program initiatives in lockstep. This role involves interfacing with stakeholders at every level, actively engaging committees to garner insights and cultivate personnel, fostering a culture of continuous professional growth and a profound commitment to the mission. We are looking for a strategic visionary well-versed in the multifaceted aspects of HR, adept at building rapport and devising strategies to empower our entire staff to achieve their fullest potential and impact our goal of prevention and recovery in safety.

Solution: With a detailed wish list in hand, we successfully found the ideal candidate. Skilled in navigating the intricate landscape of human resources in nonprofit organizations, she brings strategic solutions to enhance employee engagement, training, development, and leadership coaching. Her enthusiasm for the role ensures she will tackle our client’s initiatives with a professionalism that motivates and engages employees. Furthermore, her dedication to excellence and active participation in professional affiliations will drive committee activities forward.

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer – Ohio

Challenge: In search of an innovative marketer to spearhead marketing and communications efforts, fortifying the brand and bolstering support for the nonprofit’s development endeavors. The ideal candidate would lead and mentor a team while engaging stakeholders across internal and external platforms.

Solution: Our quest led us to a candidate boasting a proven expertise in digital marketing strategy and brand enhancement, coupled with a knack for orchestrating comprehensive marketing campaigns. With an established record of success, this individual embodies the pinnacle of marketing and communication strategy, perfectly poised to elevate our client’s mission advocating for economic and social justice.

Director of Events – North Carolina

Challenge: Our esteemed client was in search of a strategic leader to collaborate closely with the leadership team, overseeing top-tier events that effectively engage diverse audiences, state and national policymakers, the board of directors, and educational institutions. This role also entails managing a team of events professionals dedicated to advancing the mission, providing impartial research, technical expertise, and learning experiences to drive innovation in public education.

Solution: We’ve discovered a rare gem – a candidate who not only possesses exceptional skills in educational programming but also has a proven ability to interface successfully with high-ranking elected officials. With a distinguished track record of achievements within the executive branch of the US government, this candidate represents an extraordinary opportunity for our client.