About Us

Empowering Causes Through the Power of People
“Empowering causes through the power of people” is not just a slogan we put on our website. It is a promise we strive to deliver every day. When you partner with us, your search becomes our search. We take ownership of it and do not rest until you have the right person in place to help your organization flourish.

What Drives You Drives Us
Peña Search focuses on the placement of leaders in mission-driven organizations. We are passionate about contributing to your work, and we want to help you thrive.

We understand how important culture, environment and goals are to your success. So we apply a hands-on approach to obtain in-depth knowledge of your organization and every candidate we consider for your position.

We Know Nonprofits
Our expertise in nonprofits is not just from conducting searches. We have spent years working, volunteering and serving in leadership positions for a variety of nonprofits.

We understand the challenges you face and the opportunities you can seize. We know the issues you face and the dreams you aspire to. We have been in your shoes many times. And we will walk with you, every step, to get you where you want to be.

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The organizations that Peña Search serves are more than organizations. They are catalysts for important causes—causes that support communities, champion those in need, and broaden our collective consciousness.

We believe that putting the right people in leadership positions is key for these organizations to flourish. And that’s what we’ve done since Peña Search was founded by Holly and Carlos Peña in 2009. For over ten years, we have worked with nonprofits across the country—from Tampa to Dallas to Chicago to San Francisco—to find candidates that have passion both for their work and their communities. As a woman- and minority-owned business, we are deeply committed to diversity in our placements and work to find candidates who are both a match to the position as well as the culture of the organization they will join.

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

Solutions And Expertise

We Know Nonprofits
Our expertise in nonprofits is not just from conducting searches. We have spent years working, volunteering and serving in leadership positions for a variety of nonprofits.

We understand the challenges you face and the opportunities you can seize. We know the issues you face and the dreams you aspire to. We have been in your shoes many times. And we will walk with you, every step, 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
  • Faith Based
  • Foundations
  • Foundations
  • Health & Wellness
  • Healthcare Systems
  • Higher Education
  • Human and Family Services
  • Human Services
  • K-12
  • Legal
  • Legal/Compliance
  • Non-Profit
  • Non-Profits
  • Private Schools
  • Public & Social Sector
  • Social Service
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

News Briefings

Peña Search Seeks New Leader for Human Rights Initiative of North Texas

Peña Search has been retained by the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas (HRI) to head its search for a new executive director. Bill Holston is stepping down from his role after 11 years at the helm. Travis Hillier and Cindy Maloney are leading the assignment.  HRI is seeking a dynamic successor to compassionately lead a committed team

Peña Search Seeks VP of HR for The Meadows Foundation

Peña Search has been retained by The Meadows Foundation to lead its search for a vice president of human resources. Travis Hillier and Cindy Maloney are leading the assignment. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of handling complex situations and multiple responsibilities simultaneously, balancing short–and–long–term planning and projects with the urgency of immediate demands. They should demonstrate the ability

Peña Search Recruits Chief Development Officer for Healthy Futures of Texas

Virtually every industry needs top-drawer chief development officers. CDOs play a key role in planning, coordinating, and administering capital campaigns, corporate giving, and galvanizing new donors while keeping previous funders content. Implementing funding strategies that “keep the lights on,” according to recruiters specializing in the function, is job one. Recruiters continue to report that CDOs

Peña Search Seeks Key Leaders for Two Texas Non-Profits

Peña Search has been enlisted to conduct key searches for two Texas non-profits. The executive search firm is seeking a chief development officer for San Antonio-based Healthy Futures of Texas and a chief advancement officer for Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC). Search directors Maria Dickson Parigi and Travis Hillier are leading the assignments respectively. The