31 Years of Excellence in Executive Search

31 Years of Excellence in Executive Search

Exclusively Serving the Nonprofit and Philanthropic Sectors

Exclusively Serving the Nonprofit and Philanthropic Sectors

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Leaders

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Leaders

Client-Centered, Research-Driven Strategy

Client-Centered, Research-Driven Strategy

We are honored to be included on the Forbes and Statista America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms Award List for the third year in a row!

McCormack + Kristel is a national retained executive search firm with expertise in discovering transformational leadership talent for mission-driven organizations. We know that visionary leaders fuel innovation, nurture creativity, and inspire action, and we are passionate about connecting our nonprofit and philanthropic clients with top-tier executives who ignite impact.

 

31 Years of Excellence

Our team brings decades of recruiting, organizational and leadership development consulting, and nonprofit experience to our client engagements.

A photo of the McCormack+Kristel staff's hands making a circle

Leading on Diversity

As one of the first diversity focused executive search firms, our practice was founded on the core principals of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Current Searches

We provide access to a complete list of all current searches including recruitment profiles and a secure portal for a streamlined application process.

 

Read What Clients are Saying

Testimonials

Thank you for placing me in the job of my dreams! I am doing everything my whole career has prepared me to do.

— Carlo Giovanni
Chief People Officer, Los Angeles LGBT Center

“The Funders Network brings together funders and partners from diverse backgrounds and wide-ranging expertise, and provides a wide range of opportunities to share knowledge and deepen engagement across the philanthropic sector.  It was critical for us to surface candidates for our President & CEO position that had career-long emersion in racial equity, economic justice and environmental sustainability, and McCormack+Kristel exceeded our expectations; serving a robust roster of qualified candidates with a wide range of skills and expertise that helped us find clarity in what we needed, and ultimately find the strongest individual.”

— Don Hickman
Board of Directors, The Funders Network

“We engaged McCormack + Kristel to fill a critical new role. The team guided us through a thorough and equitable process that resulted in an exceptional hire. Working with M+K was an absolute pleasure every step of the way.”

— Peggy Rajski
Co-Founder and Interim CEO, The Trevor Project

“After nearly a year of unsuccessfully recruiting for the leader of our Marketing and Communications department, I called Michelle, and by the time that conversation ended, I regretted not reaching out to McCormack + Kristel sooner! Michelle and her team drafted a dynamic job description that was grounded in the input collected by stakeholders throughout the organization within a few weeks of the engagement starting and shortly thereafter I was presented with an exciting slate of candidates for the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer role. McCormack + Kristel facilitated a thoughtful and inclusive interview process that ultimately resulted in the selection of an exceptional candidate who the Center likely would have never found if we continued to recruit for the role on our own. While I was highly satisfied throughout my working with McCormack + Kristel, what stands out most about the experience was the genuine thought partner I had in Michelle. She asked all the right questions, wasn’t afraid to offer constructive feedback, and was open to shifting the process when it became necessary. I would absolutely partner with McCormack + Kristel again!”

— Joe Hollendoner
Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles LGBT Center

“I want to express my deep gratitude to McCormack + Kristel for guiding us through our most recent executive search to a very positive and welcome conclusion. This was my first time playing such a close role in an executive search and I thought I would feel overwhelmed by the process. However, Joe and his team were so professional, organized, helpful and patient that any worry I had melted away. I very much appreciate their commitment to ensuring we had a good pool of candidates. In fact, they were excellent and I cannot thank M+K enough for their time and expertise in getting us to our final choice. We are thrilled. THANK YOU!!!”

— Michele Beasley
Chair of Executive Search Task Group, TransForm

“Just a brief note to recognize your work related to the CEO recruitment process. The process was beautifully and professionally managed. The candidates presented exceeded expectations. As we move now to the final stages of the process, I wanted to thank you and your team for all you did to support staff and the ad hoc committee throughout. Please know how much it is appreciated.”

— Kay Hazen
Board of Directors, Desert Healthcare District

“I’ve been using the services of McCormack + Kristel for a decade. Over the years, I’ve tried many search firms but none have provided the consistent level of service that I get from Joe and his team. The most recent search was a terrific example. I was looking for a new Development Director—in my experience one of the most difficult positions for which to find stellar candidates. To add to my worries, several organizations in our sector were looking to fill the same position. Thus, I was very concerned about how the candidate pool would develop. As it turned out, we ended up with a small group of finalists, any of whom could have done the job. Instead of having only one finalist, I had several really good ones to choose from! The person we hired had not been looking for a job. He applied because Joe called him and talked to him about the position. McCormack + Kristel excels at that kind of strategic recruitment.”

— Lorri Jean
Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles LGBT Center

“We hired McCormack + Kristel to fill a critical position with our health and mental health services. The search resulted in the hire of an exceptional candidate from another HIV/AIDS services agency. We were so pleased with the attentive service and thoroughly vetted candidates, that when a second important position became available, we reached out to McCormack + Kristel again. We are so thankful to Joe and the entire team for making the process smooth and enjoyable start to finish.”

— David Brinkman
Chief Executive Officer, Desert AIDS Project

“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for assisting me in my search for a new position at Compassion & Choices. I appreciated your professionalism and support during the search phase. I have been in the fundraising business for over twenty years and have used many search firms, but this was by far my best experience. I think for me, what stands out the most, was the constant communications and that I always had an awareness of where I stood in my candidacy. The conversations were honest and always helpful. A special thank you to Joe and Michelle. Your support was very much appreciated! As I’ve said before, what a long strange trip it’s been…but the results are fantastic!”

— Ken Mintzer
Chief Development Officer, Compassion & Choices

“Just a quick note to let you know that the Division Director of our Suicide Prevention Center, just hit her 90 days with us and she is AMAZING! I really feel like we made the right decision and she is beyond what we had ever hoped for. She is a gem and I just wanted to say thank you for finding her for us!”

— Lyn Morris
Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services

“Our search for a new Executive Director for PFLAG National was handled efficiently, thoroughly, and with grace by Michelle Kristel. Her excellent communication, her vast network of contacts which enabled a large pool of qualified applicants, her sensitivity to issues of diversity and her skill and expertise in interviewing top candidates were all critical to keeping the process moving on a well-paced timeline. Best of all was the wonderful result in hiring exactly the right person for the job.”

— Jean Hodges
President & Board Chair, National PFLAG

“When our Executive Director of eight years decided to retire, we knew we would have a tall order of replacing our exceptional leader. Our Board of Directors retained McCormack + Kristel because they knew the Coachella Valley Community and they came highly recommended by trusted sources. They brought us a talented group of candidates, delivered as scheduled, and we hired a seasoned executive who can take Guide Dogs of the Desert to the next level. The process was thorough, well managed and satisfying for all concerned. The Board of Directors from Guide Dogs of the Desert would highly recommend them.”

— Gary Jeandron
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Guide Dogs of the Desert

“McCormack + Kristel was instrumental in helping us expand our pool of passionate and enthusiastic potential trustees from which to draw, as we engaged in board expansion. The firm was very attentive to our requests and tried to get candidates whose characteristics best fit the needs of our agency. They listened carefully and got the work done very quickly and well. After they identified potential candidates, they diligently screened them to ensure that their background was appropriate to 4CS’s needs. They were easy to work with and the process took less time than anticipated. They have created a sound bench of board candidates who will serve as board committee members before being formally asked to serve on the full board. We are deeply grateful.”

— Coleen Stevens Porcher
4CS of Passaic County

“When TransForm considered recruiting firms for our Executive Director search, we were determined to find a consultant who understood our commitment to diversity and inclusion and could reflect that in the search process, as well as its outcome. McCormack + Kristel came highly recommended by progressive organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the firm lived up to its reputation. After a long and challenging search in which McCormack + Kristel was indispensable, we hired a highly qualified candidate with extensive experience in our sector who also reflects the communities we aim to serve. The McCormack + Kristel team was knowledgeable, organized, offered wise counsel and was a pleasure to work with.”

— Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz
Co-Chair Board of Directors, TransForm

“By sourcing top talent, McCormack + Kristel has been a key component in our dynamic growth strategy. In 2020, we engaged McCormack + Kristel to fill a newly created position. The firm shares our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Their expertise in helping define the position, understanding of the unique considerations in finding a successor to a founder, and flexibility throughout the process was extraordinary. McCormack + Kristel is distinguished by its effective processes, support, and results. I look forward to continuing to utilize their world-class services into the future!”

— Christopher Clinton Conway
Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Susan Love Foundation

“After the feature on Rainbow Railroad on 60 Minutes, we had a large presence but behind the scenes we were still a small start-up organization. We wanted to capitalize on the huge interest and support for our work but still lacked a professional process for recruiting board members who could help us and had difficulty reaching beyond our networks and typical board candidates. Joe and the McCormack + Kristel team helped us create a structured process that would give prospective members confidence and a real assessment of fit between their needs and ours. The result was phenomenal candidates that hit all our objectives and resulted in members who were immediate contributors, people of national prominence and a pipeline of potential candidates for the future.”

— Michael Murphy
President, Rainbow Railroad USA

“Diversity and an understanding of intersectionality were among our top objectives in seeking a new Executive Director for PFLAG, and McCormack + Kristel delivered on both counts. As a national organization with members across the political spectrum, it was important for us to attract a leader who could work with parents of all political persuasions but who are united in their support for LGBTQ equality. In Brian Bond, a widely respected Washington veteran, we have such a leader. Throughout the search process, we had a productive partnership and collaboration with our recruiter, who kept us informed on a weekly basis of the challenges, milestones and successes of our search efforts. McCormack + Kristel continually addressed our concerns and the needs of our stakeholders to achieve a successful result.”

— Chuck Middleton
Search Committee Chair, PFLAG

 

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