Why Your Association Needs an Executive Search Partner

At The Moran Company, we partner with associations nationwide to find their next executive leader. Unlike traditional service nonprofits, associations are defined by members supporting a common profession or standard. The board structure is similar, with volunteers leading the organization’s direction, but instead of a variety of community leaders and skill sets, association board leadership is usually comprised of active members. Associations can have a local, state, regional, national or even international focus.

If you’ve wondered whether your association could benefit from a search partner, here are six critical ways an executive search firm ensures your association finds the right leader.

1. Dedicated Time and Outreach

   Association board members are volunteers with demanding full-time careers. These busy leaders have little additional time to spend on extensive outreach and conversations with potential candidates or connectors. A board-led search often defaults to “post and pray” — simply listing the job and waiting for job seekers to apply.

   • The Advantage: A search firm devotes daily energy to active outreach. We engage passive candidates — talented leaders who aren’t looking at job boards but may be perfect for your mission. This will bring a larger, high-quality candidate pool.

2. Expert Coordination for Dispersed Boards

   Association boards are often geographically dispersed, spanning state or even international lines. Coordinating schedules, interviews, and consensus across time zones is a logistical challenge for a volunteer search chair. This can make a board-led process difficult to navigate and coordinate.

   • The Advantage: An executive search firm can act as the project management hub, aligning schedules and maintaining momentum so the search doesn’t stall due to logistics.

3. Balancing Subject Matter Expertise with Business Acumen

   Association boards are masters of their industry. This is incredibly valuable in their governance responsibilities for the organization, but that expertise doesn’t always translate to evaluating the executive-level operational skills needed to run a large and complex association.

   • The Advantage: An executive search partner will have experience identifying these critical traits and will bring a highly qualified slate of candidates. The board can focus on evaluating candidates for mission fit.

4. Deep Sector Experience

   A good executive search partner will understand the needs of the organization because they have experience recruiting leaders for associations and working with their boards to fill key leadership positions. They will have networks that include association leaders and key connectors with the experience and relationships needed in the role.

   • The Advantage: At The Moran Company, we say “it takes one to know one.” Our team includes former association leaders. We understand what it takes to lead a successful association because we have served in the role.

5. Navigating the “CAE vs. SME” Debate

   Should your next leader be a Certified Association Executive (CAE) or a Subject Matter Expert (SME)? This is a pivotal decision based on your association’s current staffing, priorities, and external partnerships. There is no one-size-fits-all answer.

   • The Advantage: An executive search firm can help you weigh these needs objectively, crafting a position profile and recruitment strategy that finds the exact blend of credentials and experience your situation requires. Read more in our previous article: “Subject Matter Expert or Certified Association Executive?”

6. Maintaining Objectivity with “Insiders”

   Association board members will know the leaders in their geographic community and in their professional sphere. Candidates may include current staff, members, or former board colleagues. This can lead to awkwardness, as the board may feel they are “too close” to a situation or an individual to impartially evaluate their skills and readiness for the role.

   • The Advantage: A search firm provides a neutral, third-party buffer. A firm’s search process and evaluation tools ensure every candidate is treated fairly. This allows Board members the freedom to focus on the priorities in the search — sharing their perspectives, meeting top candidates and making an educated selection.

A partner like The Moran Company doesn’t just find applicant names; we manage the entire lifecycle of the search. From listening to your unique needs and building the outreach strategy to navigating final negotiations, we keep the process on time and on budget. Is your association interested in learning more about our executive search services? Contact us to schedule a free consultation.

By Mary Ontko, M.P.A.
Senior Vice President & COO
The Moran Company
“We Find Great Nonprofit Leaders”

About the Author: Mary Ontko is an association management and fundraising professional with 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience. She previously led three Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) chapters. She also served as a senior program officer for a national community development intermediary and a vice president for a large community development organization. Mary is the SVP & COO for The Moran Company. Read more about our team.