Core Values
Do you need experienced and exceptional nonprofit mission-driven leadership?
The beginning of each executive search is an opportunity for organizational advancement, growth, and reflection. It is our work to make your organizations’ growth goals an attainable reality.
Since 1997, our partners have been strategically placing nonprofit talent within foundations, organizations, and educational institutions globally. From the largest foundations, universities, and government employers, to social services and art organizations, our firm offers tailored executive recruitment programs to meet your leadership needs.
As proven experts in nonprofit recruitment, we understand the vital importance of hiring experienced nonprofit talent that is fully motivated by your mission, and that fits within your nonprofit’s specific culture. We thrive in placing real and experienced people at social causes who are ready to wrap their arms around your mission, feed their respective passions, and in turn help our nonprofit community.
It is our Mission is to provide the nation’s best and most effective executive search service. Thus, we always conduct our business guided by these core values:
Confidentiality - we are committed to protecting our valued clients and brilliant executive candidates. As you know, the nonprofit and foundation world is quite remarkably connected. Successful searches require a careful approach to retaining competitive talent in a confidential and effective manner.
Quality – we are committed to excellence in everything we do. We strive to deliver lasting value to our executive search clients. We believe that success is a pattern that stems from our dedication and commitment to refinement.
Integrity – we do the right thing. We listen to our clients, we communicate honestly, and we deliver on our commitments.
Passion – our passion for helping nonprofit executives find great jobs is the key driver to our success and expertise. We take pride and enjoy each and every executive match we undergo.
Character - we believe in relationships, and just not transactions. We take very seriously the promises and commitments that we make.
Humanity - our interactions with our clients and with each other are conducted with the highest ethics and empathy.
Partnership – teamwork is paramount in all that we do, in our relationships with clients, with alliances, and with each other. We are all connected.
Innovation – as members of the Scion Executive Search team, we are committed to challenging ourselves constantly to deliver increasing value to our clients.
Your Committee’s Role
Successful executive searches require a close working relationship between your search committee, staff, and our executive search leader. Following is a list of suggested contributions your search committee can make to ensure a streamlined hiring process for your new nonprofit executive:
1. Envision what you require from your new executive and communicate in detail with Scion Executive Search.
2. Allow us to work directly with you. Alleviate indirect communication through assistants or intermediaries.
3. Provide timely feedback on the position description and recruitment goals for the search.
4. Provide the hiring history and reporting structure for the position.
5. Supply us the names and/or applicant materials of any candidates your search committee identifies from other sources or from within your organization so we may include them in our search candidate pool.
6. Advise us on any areas of the search that should be held confidential, and/or where privacy would benefit your search committee or entity. We consider your organization’s confidentiality to be of the utmost importance.
7. Reply in a timely manner with feedback regarding your interest level in the candidates we present.
8. Schedule candidate interviews quickly and after the interviews provide as much detailed feedback as reasonably possible.
9. Ask questions and prepare to make an employment offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why engage Scion Executive Search?
We are a modern executive recruitment firm designed exclusively for the executive search needs of prestigious nonprofit employers. We are very proud of our 100% retained search success rate, and client satisfaction.
Why are we so successful?
We make your organizations growth goals an attainable reality. We understand how to effective lead searches on behalf of nonprofit hiring committees and executives. In fact, we treat every executive search as a new opportunity for your organizations advancement and growth.
As experts in nonprofit executive search we assist your committee in uniting its resources, and offer clear expectations of your hiring committee’s responsibilities while working with us.
In the end, our valued clients thrive from our search Principals modern, intelligent, reflective, resourceful, and planned leadership.
How large is our network?
There is a very good reason why our firms search Principals are continually asked to speak at national nonprofit events, conferences, and educational institutions.
Born out of the nonprofit sector we are remarkably connected in international and US national nonprofit leadership community. This is why many of our prestigious foundation and international clients repeatedly select our firm over others.
Our private and confidential network is extensive. We hold the largest private database of executive nonprofit professionals in the US. Our connections and networking abilities are deeply rooted within national and international nonprofit directors, board members, academic leadership, city and federal governments, foundations, c-level corporate leaders, and consultants.
In addition to our exceptional proven track record, our Managing Partners and Principals are also experts who actively educate and shape nonprofit contemporary hiring practices; industry trends; modern networking approaches; recruiting technology; the executive search industry; and networking practices.
What type of executive searches do we lead?
We lead comprehensive executive searches for chief executive officers, executive directors, and departmental directors within development, finance, technology, operations, research, programs, and marketing.
Our areas of search specialization are best positioned for: foundations, international organizations, social services, international health organizations, science/research institutions, educational institutions, and art organizations.
Do we work nationally or internationally?
Both. We are proud to service our local, national, and international nonprofit clientele and actively recruit at the national, and international level. A successful comprehensive search should always include confidentially tapping into all available talent pools appropriate for your organization and field.
Where is Scion Executive Search located?
Scion Executive Search works nationally in the US and has offices and Principals within four regions (west, east, south, midwest).
How long does a Scion Executive Search take?
We lead searches for elite nonprofit and foundation leaders. No executive search is ever typical, and does differ slightly depending upon the competitive needs of your organization and board.
Recruiting is an individual, hands on, and professional communication based service, and successful searches require careful planning, and a methodical search approach. That being said, our comprehensive executive search is generally successfully completed (from initiation to completion of our ten step search process) in four months on average. Rest assured throughout the search process our search Principles continually educate your committee on our work, lead and facilitate the search and hiring process on your behalf, and will always advance the search to meet your organizational needs.
Please note – in special circumstances we can make available an expedited search process and timetable for organizations in need of emergency assistance.
