Isaacson, Miller was founded in 1982, at a time when not-for-profit organizations and public agencies rarely used executive search firms. Isaacson, Miller's expertise in this area has grown out of its founders' public service backgrounds and commitment to finding talented people to lead and enhance civic institutions. Today, we undertake nationwide searches for a wide variety of organizations, including leading universities, research institutes, academic medical centers, foundations, cultural institutions, economic development organizations, human service agencies, and national advocacy groups. While most of our clients are not-for-profit groups, we also work with select for-profit corporations, particularly those with ties to education and science, as well as with socially responsible companies.

Our approach to search is simple but disciplined. Our first step is to spend a great deal of time with our clients, getting to know their organizations, and creating, through a collaborative process, a profile of the ideal candidate. Our five-phase search process emphasizes in-depth interviewing and reference checking of candidates along with a thoughtful analysis of the fit between the client organization and candidate. In difficult search closings, we help our clients weigh options and find solutions.

Many of our clients and past candidates become part of an extended network that shares our goal of working to strengthen the civic infrastructure. These people know that our capacity to match the person to the job is exceptional and that our searches attract the best possible candidates. They also know that our commitment to social diversity is recognized throughout the search industry. On average, 41% of our annual positions over the last decade have been filled by women and 25% by people of color.

We believe that as technology advances and our society experiences great, unforeseen transformations, there will be a growing need for people capable of balancing the values of mission-driven institutions with the demands of emerging marketplaces and changing social structures. We anticipate filling this need with a new generation of leaders to whom a responsible, civic-minded society is not a luxury, but a necessity. We will be satisfied with nothing less.

We encourage you to contact us and look forward to helping you with your search.