Your mission matters.
That's not just a tagline -
it's why I do this work.
After almost 25 years with the nonprofit sector — first as a fundraiser, then as a core member of Spencer Stuart’s Education and Social Impact practice — I founded Diane Carlyle Executive Search on a simple conviction: nonprofits deserve a search process designed around them.
That means taking stock of your internal resources — your staff capacity, your board engagement, your timeline and budget — and delivering a process that finds the right leader faster, with fees structured for the way nonprofits actually operate. And it means making search expertise accessible for the critical roles below the CEO level that you can’t afford to get wrong.
We come with experience
19 years
Search experience in the nonprofit sector
240+
Successful assignments
98%
career placement rate
About
Diane Carlyle has nearly 20 years of experience guiding nonprofits through leadership transitions and building high-performing executive teams. She specializes in CEO and senior leadership searches for cultural institutions nationwide and nonprofits across New York City.
Before launching Diane Carlyle Executive Search, she spent over 15 years as a core member of Spencer Stuart’s Education and Social Impact practice and began her career at a boutique search firm dedicated to NYC nonprofits. Her background as an educator and fundraiser gives her a grounded perspective on the sector's needs.
Today, Diane combines strategic expertise with a personalized, mission-aligned approach—helping nonprofits find the right leaders for long-term success.
Services
Search Advisory
Expert guidance for your Search Committee as you need it.
For organizations leading their own process, we provide experienced counsel to the Search Committee every step of the way. From shaping the search strategy to advising on interviews, references, and final decisions, we ensure the process is thorough, thoughtful, and aligned with best practices.
Every nonprofit is unique — and every engagement should reflect that. Whatever your situation, I work with you to shape an approach that fits your goals, timeline, and internal resources, without sacrificing the quality and best practices that get you to the right leader.
My fees are fixed and transparent, based on the scope of the assignment, level of the role, and complexity of the situation. I don't charge administrative fees, and I scale my pricing to fit your organization.
Search
A hands-on partnership to guide your search from first conversation to signed offer.
Our most comprehensive partnership. We work closely with your stakeholders to understand your needs, craft a compelling position specification, conduct thorough research and candidate development, and guide your Search Committee through every stage. From initial outreach through final negotiations, we handle the process so you can focus on selecting the right leader with confidence.
Talent Sprint
A focused process that builds momentum and delivers top candidates fast.
A focused, time-bound search designed to surface top talent quickly. Through targeted research and active outreach, we deliver a strong pool of qualified candidates, giving your team the momentum to move forward without delay.
Talent Mapping
Insight into the leadership landscape to inform today's search and tomorrow's strategy.
Gain clarity on the leadership landscape with our comprehensive talent mapping service. We provide detailed insights into key leaders and emerging talent across your peer and aspirational organizations, helping inform both your current search and future pipeline strategy.
How I Work with You
Your success matters to me. Having the right people in place is crucial — and I know that not having them can take a toll on your team, the people you serve, and your financial health. That's why I limit the number of engagements I take on — so each one gets the intensive focus needed to find the right leader quickly.
I believe great outcomes happen when the work is thorough, collaborative, and grounded in an understanding of your unique situation. Whether I'm conducting a search, running a talent sprint, mapping talent, or providing advisory support, the same foundational steps underlie every engagement.
Listen
I start by understanding your organization— the dynamics,goals, and what success looks like for you.
Design
Together, we define priorities and shape an approach that focuses on what matters most for your specific situation and objectives. Then, we construct a mutually acceptable budget around that design.
Engage
By investing time in meaningful conversations with you and your stakeholders, I can accurately assess what you need, in a process and in a placement. When I’m reaching out to potential candidates, I can genuinely advocate for your organization, introducing opportunities with the care, authenticity, and clarity your mission deserves.
Access
Whether identifying candidates, mapping talent, or guiding strategy, I draw on my networks and conduct thorough, original research for every engagement. In a competitive market where the best candidates aren't actively looking, I personally reach out to prospects who have the skills and experience you need — rather than relying on responses to postings. I'm expansive in my approach and intentional about minimizing bias to ensure you don't miss great talent.
Understand
When working with candidates, I always go beyond their resume to develop a holistic perspective. Understanding an individual's capabilities and the context for their accomplishments — not just the "what" but the "how" — is crucial when selecting the right leader for your organization.
Advise + Deliver
I stay with you through every stage to execute a strong process, share insights to support your decision-making, and as needed, advise through offer and negotiation.
For Candidates
The Candidate Experience Matters to Me.
As a retained search firm, I'm accountable to the organizations that engage me. That said, I believe that truly great outcomes happen when candidates have a positive experience too.
Here's what you can expect when you work with me:
· I'm genuinely interested in learning about you, what matters to you, and how you're thinking about your long-term career goals—not just for this opportunity, but for the future.
· I take time to have thoughtful conversations about whether a role aligns with your goals and values. It has to be a match for you, too.
· I respect that exploring a new opportunity is a significant investment of your time and energy, and I'm here to guide you through the entire process with timely updates and clear communication.
· Confidentiality matters as much to me as it does to you. Your information is only shared with my client, and only with your permission.
Interested in Hearing About Future Opportunities?
I post active searches on LinkedIn, so follow Diane Carlyle Executive Search to see
current openings.
Whether or not I'm working on something relevant right now, I'd love to learn about your background. Share your resume and tell me a bit about your goals — I'll keep you in mind for searches that might be a fit.
“After almost 20 years of doing this work, I know that each organization and each search is different. While there are best practices, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and I work with you to design a right-sized approach”
Executive Search
© 2025 by Diane Carlyle Executive Search.
