About Us

Through executive search, planning and fundraising, Development Guild DDI partners with nonprofit leaders to drive their mission forward with fresh perspective and high impact solutions. With offices in Boston and New York and working with clients nationwide, the firm partners with leaders in academic medicine, higher education, arts and culture, human service, environment, social enterprise, and other nonprofits in delivering on their most important goals.

Achieving bold impact requires trusted advisors who bring strategic insight, relevant experience, critical thinking, rigorous discipline, and high standards of integrity to their professional practice. These are the traits that drive Development Guild DDI’s executive search engagements. With a 40-year track record, deep roots in strategic planning and leadership development, and sector knowledge spanning the nonprofit landscape, they provide clients with a lens – and a compass – for negotiating the terrain between where they are and where they are going. Whether your search involves a CEO, CFO, vice president of development, or director of communications, the end result is a powerful connection between an extraordinary organization and an exceptional leader, who achieves a lasting, positive impact.

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At Development Guild DDI, they strongly believe that talent is the critical differentiator in its ability to deliver a higher level of strategic thinking, high-caliber ideas, a collaborative work style, and solutions that offer real impact. They apply the same discipline and rigor to developing their own talent that we bring to clients—and as a result have established a second-to-none team of professionals.

Their people are the firm’s greatest asset. Their experience, talent, and dedication set the firm apart and provide clients with unparalleled services. They support and invest in each other.

Solutions And Expertise

Through executive search, planning and fundraising, Development Guild DDI partners with nonprofit leaders to drive their mission forward with fresh perspective and high impact solutions.

Solutions
  • Executive Search
  • Leadership Consulting
  • Leadership Develop.
  • Mgmt. Consulting
  • Onboarding
  • Succession Planning
Industries
Functions
  • Board/Governance
  • CEO/President
  • Communications/PR
  • Development
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Finance/Accounting
  • General Management
  • Government
  • Human Resources

News Briefings

When and Why to Hire an Executive Search Firm

Employers typically use an executive search firm when a top job opening is important enough, senior enough and when discretion is at a premium. Organizations justifiably take many criteria into account when considering partnering with an executive search firm. However, engaging an executive search firm is an investment of time and resources, which means that it

Development Guild DDI Seeks CAO for Massachusetts Youth Group UTEC

Non-profit specialist recruitment firm Development Guild DDI has been enlisted to find a chief advancement officer for UTEC Inc., a youth services organization in Lowell, MA. UTEC’s first CAO will be charged with expanding the organization’s philanthropic support. “The individual will have the resources in place to support this growth in dollars raised and engagement

Development Guild DDI Seeking Chief Development Officer for US Sailing

Executive recruitment firm Development Guild DDI, which focuses on the non-profit sector, has been selected by US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport of sailing, to find a chief development officer. Leading the assignment is senior consultant Jesse Bryan. “US Sailing is seeking a chief development officer to work closely with the CEO, the foundation chair

Development Guild DDI Recruits Chief Development Officer for Greenpeace

Executive recruitment firm Development Guild DDI, which focuses on the non-profit sector, has placed Tricia Hart as chief development officer for the environmental group Greenpeace. Managing director Sherry Ettleson led the assignment. Ms. Hart most recently served as national director of marketing and engagement at Amnesty International USA, where she expanded direct mail and digital giving programs

Press Releases

Heather Stacchi joins Lawrence Academy as Executive Director of Development

GROTON, MA, December 7, 2017 – Lawrence Academy is pleased to welcome Heather Stacchi as its new Executive Director of Development (EDOD). She has most recently served as Executive Director of Advancement at St. Mark’s School. Prior to her time a St. Mark’s, Heather worked at Merrimack College as the Assistant Vice President, Leadership Giving, Boston College as

Justin Marquart joins SightLife as Vice President of Philanthropy & Business Development

SEATTLE, WA, November 20, 2017 – Headquartered in Seattle, SightLife is the only non-profit global health organization working relentlessly to eliminate corneal blindness in the U.S. and around the world by 2040. SightLife is helping eye banks worldwide build tissue capacity to meet local needs and providing surgeons in the U.S. with the highest quality transplant tissue.

Robin Elkins Named Vice President of Development New England Aquarium

BOSTON, MA, September 10, 2017 – The New England Aquarium (“the Aquarium”) welcomes Robin Elkins as the new Vice President for Development. Robin comes to the Aquarium from the MIT Sloan School of Management, where she began her development career after many years in the private sector. Over her almost 7 years at MIT, Robin has held progressive

Development Guild DDI Named to Forbes “America’s Best Executive Search Firms 2017” List

NEW YORK, NY, June 5, 2017 – Development Guild DDI has been named to Forbes inaugural “America’s Best Executive Search Firms 2017“. The ranking is based on the results from a rigorous independent peer review survey of more than 4,000 executive recruiters, candidates who have worked with recruiters, and human resource managers. Forbes worked with the analytics firm Statista to compile