The Moran Company was established in Kansas City in 1996 by Bill Moran with the sole intent to help nonprofits improve and save lives. It has been doing exactly that for more than 30 years.

In 2026, Mike English joined Bill Moran as a Partner of the firm and was named our new Chief Executive Officer. Bill Moran remains fully active, continuing his role as President and focusing on strategic growth, select client engagements, and mentoring our team.

Through the decades, our firm has grown to include hundreds of clients and a full team of recruiters who have previously served as nonprofit leaders. As we reflect on our history, we are grateful to all the organizations who have trusted us so far – and those who will partner with us in the future!

Recognizing a Need

The early days of our firm were spent with organizations in need of fundraising assistance. Bill Moran, Founder and President of The Moran Company, was aided by a single staff member, Susan Barton, who remains an important part of our team.

With his background as both a lawyer and a senior-level fundraising professional, Bill experienced great success as a nonprofit consultant during this time. He also embraced web-based training technology and led presentations for nonprofit professionals nationwide.

In 2006, a regional hospital foundation hired Bill to identify the foundation’s next executive director because “it takes one to know one.” Bill loved the hunt for talented leadership and was hooked. Ever since then, he has been committed to helping organizations find great nonprofit leaders.

Building a Team

In 2006, Bill turned his attention exclusively to recruiting for nonprofit organizations and associations, particularly for fundraising and executive director positions, as well as other senior leadership roles. He began to carefully and gradually select other highly respected nonprofit leaders to join his expert team – starting with Paul Gemeinhardt, an award-winning nonprofit executive director for 34 years who remains connected to The Moran Company still today.

Bill’s hiring philosophy for our firm and our nonprofit clients is to hand-pick seasoned professionals who have “walked the walk.” He selects his own team with the same care he recruits for others.

The Moran Company now consists of a larger team of senior search consultants and senior search advisors who have hundreds of years of combined experience in executive nonprofit leadership. In addition to these consultants, Bill relies on a team of dedicated staff members who also have a passion for helping nonprofits.

Realizing a Dream

The Moran Company has now conducted more than 300 nonprofit executive searches nationwide. In the past year alone, our growing team has partnered with more than 30 organizations and associations to recruit top CEOs, executive directors, senior-level fundraisers, CFOs, vice presidents and more.

We believe that having a strong vision of servanthood makes The Moran Company special. Because we all come from the nonprofit sector, our true calling is to help others. We feel rewarded when we can identify and attract the right leader who will have a profound effect on an organization’s mission.

In addition to recruiting, we feel it is our responsibility to give back to our communities, to serve as a leader in our field, to promote diversity, and to invest in the next generation of nonprofit professionals. One way we give back to communities is by supporting philanthropy at all levels, including multiplying charitable donations from team members with matching gifts. To give back to our field, Bill has served as President of the National Network of Nonprofit Search Consultants to help establish and share best practices in recruiting.

As part of our efforts to increase diversity, we have made strides in, and continue to work toward, diversifying our own team – just as we encourage nonprofits to do the same. To invest in the next generation of nonprofit leaders, we dedicate time and resources to individuals who are underrepresented in these roles by providing internships and training opportunities for career development.

Looking to the Future

As we celebrate 30 years of helping mission-driven organizations uncover exceptional talent, The Moran Company is proud to enter its next chapter of service. Mike English has been elevated to Partner and CEO of the firm, and he continues to work alongside President Bill Moran. They have collaborated for years in various leadership roles at The Moran Company. Both remain active and integral to our success.

This thoughtful transition represents a planned evolution designed to ensure long-term continuity and growth for decades to come. Our approach, team, and commitment to serving the nonprofit sector remain the same. Read more in our news release announcement.

The nonprofit sector is a tremendous strength of our society. At The Moran Company, our calling is to partner with organizations in their quests to uncover the right leaders who can transform their mission and our world. With an eye to the future, we look forward to being of service to you for the next 30 years and beyond.