Executive Search

Executive Search Services

In 2015, Spire Management partnered with Nonprofit Professionals to provide Executive Search Services (ESS) in the Mid to South Willamette Valley (Salem, Albany, and Corvallis).  Spire will provide search services for nonprofits looking for Executive Directors or Development Directors.

Nonprofits often have difficulty finding nonprofit leaders with fundraising and board management credentials that align with the organization’s culture and needs.  Board members are busy volunteers who usually don’t have the time or human resources experience to conduct thorough candidate searches.  A bad match is not only costly in time, but in precious nonprofit resources and reputation.

ESS’ searches are done through a well-constructed, well-tested, confidential and neutral process. Searches are done to the client’s specifications and can attract nationwide interest in a position with your organization.  It also alerts people who may be ready to move positions or relocate.

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Process At A Glance

  • Client intake interview: Two hour interview with organizational leaders
  • Job description written
  • Job description approved and updated, if needed
  • Position is posted: Three weeks
  • Applications are received using electronic application service (Screening questions are applied)
  • Applications are ranked
  • Highest scoring applicants are interviewed via phone
  • New ranking is established
  • In-person / Skype interviews are scheduled
  • Final ranking of 3-5 candidates are provided to organization (including all documents and written report)

Additional Services & Fees

Additional services are available on an hourly basis:

  • Interview participation
  • Reference checking
  • Salary negotiation

SERVICE FEES

  • Nonprofit Professionals would be pleased to discuss how fees are calculated

Frequently Asked Questions

Executive Search Services (ESS) is a job placement service for nonprofits that seek to hire an Executive Director or a Development Director.

Our goal at SPIRE is to create strong, stable nonprofit leadership that will engage in the community. We serve nonprofits and their employees with fundraising and leadership programs and want to engage with an organization throughout its life-cycle. Strong, successful matches are in the best interest of the nonprofit, the community and of SPIRE.

NPO is a full-service staffing agency for nonprofits. We were started by nonprofit professionals for nonprofits. Nonprofit Professionals Now (NPN) can help you conduct a full search, post a job, find an interim, access temporary staffing support, or even a temp-to-hire staff person to keep your nonprofit running strong. Because NPN serves the nonprofit community, you’ll find competitive rates, along with a personalized and efficient process.


NPN began leading searches for fundraising professionals and executive directors in 2011. Since then, we have conducted over 300 successful searches. We’re excited to continue to grow and look forward to helping you meet your staffing needs.

Our staff and consultants have extensive expertise in the nonprofit sector. Agnes Zach, our CEO, and Nina Nguyen, our Search Director-Recruiting, are both AIRS Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiters. We are focused on building longevity in the nonprofit sector. To support longevity, we: don’t recruit anyone who has been in their role for less than two years; measure our success in 2 year segments; and provide 10 hours of on-boarding support with every placement We have a dedicated team with specific roles and the ability to flex our own staffing needs to meet our clients with the attention they need.In 2015 they partnered with Spire Management, an association management and nonprofit consulting company located in Salem, Oregon. Spire was asked to provide these services to nonprofits south of Portland, focusing on Salem, Albany and Corvallis. Along with Spire’s sister company, VanNatta Public Relations, they have been providing management and development services to associations since 1968.

The Executive Search Service is managed by Executive Director, Agnes Zach. Agnes has an MBA from Willamette University’s Atkinson School of Management and has managed associations for over 20 years.

The Search Services was created to walk an organization through the process of identifying skills and attributes needed to succeed as well as build a job description, establish key criteria and shape candidate screening questions.

Everything begins each search with an in-take interview with the client. This 2-hour interview reviews the position characteristics, past performance measures, management styles, metrics and organizational culture. Based on this interview, a job description is written and/or updated to include key criteria. This job description becomes the basis for job postings locally, regionally and nationally.

Positions are generally posted on NPO’s Job Source distribution list and posted in various professional arenas appropriate to the position. Also used are NPO Eblast and Confidential Database, past members and job placements. All applications are received through an electronic application service. Within this system, screening questions are asked, demographic data may be collected and ranking systems are established. The system also tracks where people received information about the posting so future listings can be targeted.

Once applications are received, they are ranked based on client criteria. Applicants receiving the highest scores are interviewed via phone. A new ranking is established. Those receiving the highest marks are scheduled for an in-person interview. Individuals geographically unable to participate in an in-person interview are scheduled for a skype interview. Based on this interview, a final ranking is established and the top 3-5 candidates are presented to the nonprofit client.

The nonprofit receives a ranking sheet of all candidates, resume, cover letter and summary of interview responses on all recommended candidates in a written report. The report summarizes key characteristics of the top candidates as well as areas to explore with the organization’s interview process.

The nonprofit should be fully ready to meet and share job requirements, salary and benefits for the position. We can assist in some of these areas and in writing the job description, however. The nonprofit should be ready to provide contact information for key board and staff members for informationgathering interviews. At the end of the search, the nonprofit should be prepared to perform an in-person, traditional interview with the top three to five candidates recommended From that group, a second interview that includes a short-presentation, staff meetings, etc. should be offered to the top two candidates. Reference and background checks should be performed. Additional services are available for an hourly fee including: participating in interviews, performing reference and or background checks, assisting with salary negotiations.

NPO can provide an estimate of the fee structure.