Executive Director Search

Strategy for Executive Search

When someone struggles -- or excels -- in the E.D. job, it's usually with the E.D. responsibilities, not with the program activities.

So I firmly believe, always first seek to hire someone who knows the E.D. job, even if they don't know your programs very well.

That is, if you have a choice between 1) someone who knows your programs but has never been an E.D. versus 2) someone who's been an E.D. but doesn't know your program, then hire the latter.

Obviously, you want someone who knows both the E.D. job and your programs, but that's like asking for the Second Coming of Christ.

Regarding finding possible candidates, most of the nonprofits I know that found good E.D.s got them from: 1. asking collaborators for ideas 2. the local unemployement office (especially in a weak economy, like ours) 3. local networks of E.D. professionals, e.g.,

   http://coloradononprofits.org/
   http://www.denver.org/metro/features/charities-nonprofits

(Don't ask Board members for ideas -- too often, that sets up a conflict of interest on the Board, and don't ask funders for ideas -- they don't give ideas and they might think you're naive to ask :-)

Source:

Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD

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