Cook Silverman Search Helps Recruit Executive Director for Welcoming Home
May 1, 2026 – Greenbrae, CA-based Cook Silverman Search has assisted in the recruitment of Michael Cushing as the first executive director of Welcoming Home, marking a step in the organization’s growth and continued service to formerly homeless families in need across Marin and Sonoma counties. The organization’s founders, Marsha Roberts and Greg Hansen, will work closely with Mr. Cushing during the leadership transition. Both will remain active on the Welcoming Home board — Ms. Roberts as president and Mr. Hansen as chairman — and will continue supporting volunteer engagement and donor outreach.
“Michael brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience to the role,” Welcoming Home said in a LinkedIn post. “He has a strong operations background, guiding organizations through growth, change, and community impact. He also brings extensive development experience, having led fundraising efforts across major gifts, annual campaigns, and institutional grants. He is excited to bring that combined experience to Welcoming Home’s mission of furnishing homes for individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness and poverty in Marin and Sonoma County.”
Mr. Cushing brings more than 20 years of non-profit leadership experience, with a background in operations, organizational development and fundraising. He has led efforts across major gifts, annual campaigns and institutional grant programs and has guided organizations through periods of expansion and change while building teams and sustainable systems.
Most recently, Mr. Cushing served as executive director of San Francisco City Guides, where he led a community of more than 300 volunteer guides. He also headed up Industrial Design Outreach (IDO), a nonprofit providing hands-on design education to youth in marginalized communities. He previously held a senior management role at the Bar Association of San Francisco, supporting engagement among more than 5,000 members.
“Welcoming Home’s mission is rooted in dignity and fresh starts,” Mr. Cushing said. “I am honored to join this dedicated community of volunteers and supporters and look forward to expanding our impact for local families.”
Welcoming Home helps individuals and families who are transitioning out of homelessness and poverty by fully furnishing and equipping their homes while engaging the local community in donating gently used furniture and keeping good furniture out of landfills. Services are provided at no charge to the residents or referring social service agency. Founded nine years ago, Welcoming Home received its 501(c)(3) designation in 2023 after being fiscally sponsored. The organization has refined its processes to offer a unique and highly impactful service to those living ‘homeless while housed.’ In the past year alone, Welcoming Home furnished 39 homes in Marin and Sonoma Counties.
Cook Silverman Search focuses on many senior positions include but not limited to: development, CEO/COO/executive director and CFO’s for non-profit organizations, predominantly in Northern California. Its client base represents a broad span of organizations, including social service, museums, science. independent schools, universities, conservation, health care, and culture. The firm has placed advancement executives for Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, Children’s Council of San Francisco, Eviction Defense Collaborative, The Unity Council, Earth Island Institute, among others.
Related: Cook Silverman Search Tapped by JVS for Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Victoria L. Silverman is managing founder of the search firm. She has more than 30 years of experience in the philanthropic sector. Throughout her career, Ms. Silverman has worked in senior fundraising, advancement, and management positions at Stanford University, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of California, the American Film Institute, and the Buck Institute for Age Research, among others. Her search work focuses on higher education, the arts, biotech and environment sectors. She has been speaker for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and has served on fundraising advisory committees for several non-profit organizations.
Common Sense Media Search
Cook Silverman Search was recently retained by Common Sense Media to lead in its search for a chief development officer. This executive provides strategic leadership and guidance for the development department, while supporting the president and board chair.
They are responsible for building a multi-year sustainability strategy to deepen, diversify, and support the organization’s $35 million annual budget. This executive-level role involves managing and motivating a team of skilled fundraising staff, developing both existing and new relationships and strategic partnerships, and ensuring the achievement of Common Sense Media’s mission and goals.
Common Sense Media is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. They rate, educate, and advocate for policies to protect and prepare kids online.
Related: Cook Silverman Search Recruits Executive Director for Ploughshares
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
