Your leader's start date sets your launch deadline. Work backward.
Enter the date you want a new leader in the seat. You'll see when your board has to decide, when the search has to launch, and what a late start does to your timeline.
Built on 35 completed searches from Fall 2025 to Spring 2026, which averaged 8 weeks to a first slate and 22 weeks to an offer accepted. One firm and one season, so read it as a signal rather than a study.
Your board needs to decide by
Your search, to scale
From the board's decision to the leader's first day.
What a late decision does to your start date
A search doesn't get shorter because it started late. Each week the decision slips, the start date moves with it.
Want a second look at your timeline?
A partner will walk through your dates with you, including what can be compressed and what can't. Bring the plan above.
Common questions
How long does a nonprofit executive search take?
Our 35 completed searches last season averaged approximately 22 weeks from launch to an offer accepted, and 8 weeks to a first slate of candidates.
When should a board launch a search for a July 1 start?
With about two months of notice, a July 1, 2027 start means kicking off the search by early December 2026 and deciding to run it in early October.
Does having an internal candidate speed things up?
Usually not. When the committee hasn't agreed how to consider an internal candidate, the search slows down, and the candidate has a harder time.