Executive Search for the Social Sector.
Alongside You When it Matters.
The Right Leaders. The Right Roles. The Right Time.
We represent your organization as if we were one of you.
Trusted in Leadership Decisions.
We are a retained executive search firm partnering with mission-driven organizations across the nonprofit and social impact sectors, including arts + cultural institutions, museums, zoos and aquariums, educational and research institutions, associations, and social service organizations.
As former nonprofit executives + fundraisers, we put our decades of leadership and search experience to work, approaching your search with context, credibility, and care.
We dig deep and do the work that doesn't scale so we get it right the first time.
What Makes Cooper Coleman Valuable.
At Cooper Coleman, you work directly with our most senior executive search professionals—your search team understands your world and is deeply committed to getting it right.
100%
Search completion rate.
95%
Candidates identify as diverse.
79%
of our business is from repeat clients and referrals.
48
Clients since 2021.
79
National searches since 2021.
100%
Search completion rate.
95%
Candidates identify as diverse.
79%
of our business is from repeat clients and referrals.
48
Clients since 2021.
79
National searches since 2021.
Award-Winning Service:
Ranked among the Top 250 Executive Search Firms and Top 75 Nonprofit Search Firms in the U.S.
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I’ve worked with search firms in the past but have NEVER had an experience that is this impressive, comprehensive, and thoughtful. You’ve really created something special in Cooper Coleman.
JAY BUDNER
Chief Talent Officer
University Of California, San Francisco
The Fund for a Safer Future engaged Cooper Coleman to conduct a search for our first President and CEO. Johnny and his team partnered closely with the search committee to customize the search, rigorously vet candidates, and guide the process through onboarding, all on an ambitious timeline.
Their expertise, warmth, and good humor made the search productive and enjoyable. We recommend them without hesitation.
TIM DALY
Chair, Fund for a Safer Future
Senior Advisor, The Joyce Foundation
I CANNOT say enough good things about Johnny. He’s done a number of searches for us, finding excellent, diverse candidates. He’s incredibly diligent, highly professional, and also just fun to work with. He is, frankly, the best search consultant I’ve ever worked with.
KEVIN JENNINGS
CEO
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
Before the Board makes its decision, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for the exceptional care and clarity you brought to this process. I don’t want my gratitude to be tied to the outcome. I want you to know what your support has meant to me, regardless of what happens next.
I’ve worked with many recruiters in my time as an HR executive and now as a CEO candidate. You are in a class of your own.
KISHALYNN ELLIOTT
PMP, SHRM-CP, CTACC
CEO Candidate, 2025
Featured Searches
What Makes Us Different?
We support organizations whose work shapes communities, advances knowledge, preserves culture, and serves the public good. Our team brings decades of firsthand nonprofit leadership and executive search experience. This allows us to approach each search with context, credibility, and care.
We represent your organization as if we are one of you.
We center the candidate experience by prioritizing their dignity + respect.
We make executive search more accessible, offering an affordable fee structure to smaller organizations.
100%
Search completion rate.
79%
of our searches are with repeat clients and referrals.
95%
of our placed candidates are people of color and/or women, representing racial, ethnic, and gender diversity.
Featured Placements
Let's Start Something
Amazing!
We look forward to discovering how we can help you move your career, your team, or your organization forward.
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I’ve worked with search firms in the past but have NEVER had an experience that is this impressive, comprehensive, and thoughtful.
You’ve really created something special in Cooper Coleman.
Start Your Next Search
Whatever your needs, share them with us and we will get to work helping you turn your challenges into opportunities.
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