Peña Search

About Us

Empowering missions through the power of people

“Empowering missions through the power of people” is more than a slogan on our website. It is a promise we strive to fulfill every day. When you partner with us, your search becomes ours. We fully invest in it and will not rest until you have the right person in place to help your organization flourish.

What drives you drives us.

Peña Search focuses on placing leaders in mission-driven organizations. We are passionate about contributing to your work and helping you thrive. We understand how important culture, inclusion, environment, and goals are to your success. We take a hands-on approach to gain in-depth knowledge of your organization and of every candidate we consider for your position.

We understand you.

In addition to more than 60 years of collective recruiting experience, the Peña Search team brings unique personal experience working in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors. We understand the specific requirements of executive-level roles because we have held some of the very roles we now help others fill. We leverage that knowledge to serve our client organizations and advance their beliefs and values. We have been in your shoes many times, so we understand the challenges you face and the goals you aspire to. We will take every step with you to get you where you want to be.

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The power of inclusion. A culture of caring.

A wide range of perspectives strengthens nonprofit organizations and advances mission impact. Teams that reflect the communities they serve are better equipped to make sound decisions, navigate complexity, and achieve effective, sustainable outcomes. We apply these principles in our work and partner with nonprofit leaders and boards as they think intentionally about building leadership teams prepared for today’s evolving challenges.

An inclusive, collaborative workplace supports staff engagement and well-being while enabling organizations to deliver higher-quality programs and services. Through its nonprofit-focused executive search and advisory work, Peña Search helps organizations identify and place leaders with the experience, judgment, and perspective to advance mission and stewardship.

We’d love to help your organization take its next steps — one person at a time.

Peña Search

Solutions And Expertise

We understand you.

In addition to more than 60 years of collective experience in executive recruiting, the Peña Search team brings unique personal experience working in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors. We understand the specific requirements of executive-level roles because we have held some of the very roles we now help others fill. We leverage that knowledge to serve client organizations and promote their beliefs and values.

We have been in your shoes many times, so we understand the challenges you face and the goals you aspire to. We will take every step with you to get you where you want to be.

Solutions
  • Executive Recruitment
  • Executive Search
  • Interim
  • Permanent Search
  • Retained Searches
  • Temporary Staffing
Industries
  • Advocacy
  • Associations
  • Colleges/Universities
  • Cultural Arts
  • Education
  • Executive Search
  • Foundations
  • Health & Wellness
  • Higher Education
  • Human and Family Services
  • Human Services
  • K-12
  • Legal
  • Legal/Compliance
  • Non-Profit
  • Non-Profits
  • Public & Social Sector
  • Social Service/Social Justice
Functions
  • Business Leaders
  • C-Level
  • C-Level Leaders
  • C-Suite
  • CEO/President
  • CEO/President/Executive Director
  • CFO
  • Communications/PR
  • COO
  • Development
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Finance/Accounting
  • Financial Officers
  • Fundraising
  • GM/Operations
  • Head of Department
  • Human Resources
  • Legal/Compliance
  • Marketing
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Operations
  • Presidents & Chancellors
  • Vice President

Peña Search

News Briefings

Peña Search Seeking Philanthropy Lead for The Rees-Jones Foundation

Peña Search has been retained by The Rees-Jones Foundation to lead in its search for a senior director of philanthropy. Travis Hillier and Carlos González Peña are leading the assignment. The Rees-Jones Foundation is seeking a senior director of philanthropy to help lead and advance its mission of serving vulnerable populations through faith-driven, high-impact grantmaking. This is

Peña Search Recruits CEO for The SAFE Alliance

Peña Search has assisted in the recruitment of Pierre R. Berastaín as the new CEO of The Safe Alliance. Travis Hillier led the assignment. He succeeds longtime CEO Julia Spann, whose decades of leadership built SAFE into a nationally recognized model for integrated services. “For more than twenty years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside extraordinary staff, board

Peña Search Seeking Executive Director for To Be Like Me

Peña Search is currently seeking a new executive for To Be Like Me (TBLM) in Dallas, TX. Travis Hillier, Carlos González Peña, and Thaise Pereira are leading the assignment. With high demand for its core program(s) for school-aged children and ample opportunities to engage with corporations desiring to utilize more inclusive business practices, the next executive director will

Peña Search Seeking Major Gifts Officer for Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep

Peña Search was recently selected by Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep (Cristo Rey Dallas) to lead in its search for a major gifts officer. Cristo Rey Dallas seeks a major gifts officer to join its advancement team at a pivotal moment in the school’s history. As Cristo Rey Dallas enters its second decade of impact,

Peña Search

Press Releases

With Travis Hillier and Cindy Maloney leading the search, the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas (HRI) has appointed Ms. Shalaina Abioye as Executive Director.

Ms. Abioye joins HRI with more than a decade of experience leading immigrant-and-refugee-serving agencies. Most recently serving as Executive Director for the Dallas office of the International Rescue Committee, where she launched her nonprofit career in 2007, Ms. Abioye has also held leadership positions at Catholic Charities Fort Worth and Educational First Steps. Ms. Abioye’s