Home | Diane Carlyle Executive Search

Your mission matters.

That's not just a tagline,

it's why I do this work.

After working on behalf of the nonprofit sector for most of my career — 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 staff capacity, your board engagement, your timeline and budget, and delivering a process to find the right leader that's 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

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.

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.

Core Services

A hands-on partnership to guide your search from first conversation to signed offer. I work closely with your stakeholders to understand your needs, craft a compelling position specification, conduct thorough research and candidate development.

Talent Sprint

A focused process that builds momentum and delivers top candidates fast. Through targeted research and active outreach, I 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. I 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.

Search Advisory

Expert guidance for your Search Committee as you need.

Whether it is shaping the search strategy to advising on interviews, references, and final decisions, I partner with you to ensure the process is thorough, thoughtful, and aligned with best practices.

Having the right people in place is crucial.

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.

Your success matters to me, and 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.

How I work with you

1

Listen

I start by understanding your organization — the dynamics, goals, and what success looks like for you.

2

Design

Together, we define priorities and shape an approach that focuses on what matters most for your specific situation and objectives. Then, I construct a mutually acceptable budget around that design.

3

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.

4

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.

5

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.

6

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.

"I hired Diane Carlyle for a challenging national search in large part because I knew of her reputation as someone who develops genuine relationships with candidates. Her care of candidates not only expands her prospect and referral base, but it makes her the best possible champion for your organization with the people you most want to hire."

Gail Lopes, Former Board Chair of Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Arts for LA

"We had a terrific experience working with Diane. She ran an organized search,identified qualified candidates, provided helpful insights in advance of us interviewingcandidates, and provided wise counsel as we negotiated offers and ultimately madea hire. Diane quickly became a trusted and valued partner to our team.”

Chris Adkins-Lamb, Director of Development, Air Force Museum Foundation

"We are thrilled with Diane’s work and impressed by the quality, professionalism, and adaptability she brought to our search. Her process was thorough, efficient, and incredibly clear, she communicated consistently, provided insightful guidance at every step, and delivered a highly qualified candidate pool in a remarkably short timeframe. Just as important, every candidate remarked on Diane’s professionalism and genuine support throughout the process. Diane was an outstanding partner, and we’re grateful for her leadership and expertise."

Rorie Cartier, CEO, Admiral Nimitz Foundation