Cook Silverman Search

Firm Overview

Cook Silverman brings more than two hundred combined years of nonprofit experience, spanning all aspects of development, advancement, communications and marketing, and executive management. Our team includes individuals who have served as executive directors, development and marketing directors and other senior positions in nonprofits, and therefore have unique knowledge and abilities to evaluate skill sets of nonprofit executives. We have worked in the positions our clients hope to fill, which gives us a distinctive perspective on evaluation of the candidates. Cook Silverman takes our role in combating the discriminatory factors that influence barriers many of our candidate’s face very seriously. We approach our work by acknowledging and valuing the intersections of race/ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, and ability. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity for candidates in all our search efforts. With over 450 searches successfully completed in the last twenty plus years, Cook Silverman has a long record of success: a deep bench of senior management, fundraising, marketing, finance, and communications, executives and strong connections within the nonprofit sector that makes us one of the most effective search firms in the business. In addition to our years of experience in the field, our team takes an approach that ensures we have our pulse on the market and an in-depth understanding of the needs of our clients, the potential pool of candidates, and the best methods to reach them.

Off-Limits Policy

Two Years

Average Time to Completion on Assignment

Three - four months

Recently Completed Assignments

News Briefings

Cook Silverman Search Helps Recruit Executive Director for Welcoming Home

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...

Cook Silverman Search Retained by Common Sense Media to Find Chief Development Officer

Greenbrae, CA-based Cook Silverman Search has been 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...

Cook Silverman Search Tapped by JVS for Chief Financial and Operating Officer

Greenbrae, CA-based Cook Silverman Search was recently selected by Jewish Vocational & Career Counseling Service (JVS) to lead in its search for a chief financial and operating officer (CFOO). This executive will be responsible for overseeing the operational strategy of the organization with a focus on scalability, efficiency, and financial leadership in support of JVS’s mission...

Cook Silverman Search Retained by Welcoming Home

Greenbrae, CA-based Cook Silverman Search has been selected by non-profit Welcoming Home to find is next executive director. This individual will lead Welcoming Home into its next dynamic phase of growth, working closely with the board of directors, part-time staff, and dedicated volunteers. They will be responsible for strategy, fundraising, program management, communications, and organizational operations, ensuring...

Navigating Uncertainty: How Non-Profit Executive Search is Evolving in 2025

The non-profit sector is entering a pivotal moment in 2025, marked by financial volatility, leadership transitions, and heightened expectations around organizational performance and equity. As federal funding cuts ripple through social services, education, the arts, and environmental initiatives, many non-profits have paused executive hiring or slowed decision-making, creating an environment of deep uncertainty. As expectations...

Cook Silverman Search Seeking Executive Director for Ability Now Bay Area

Greenbrae, CA-based Cook Silverman Search was recently retained by Ability Now Bay Area (ANBA) to lead in its search for a new executive director. The executive director reports to the board of directors and is responsible for leading all staff, overseeing organizational strategy, and ensuring alignment between programs, mission, and financial sustainability. Ability Now Bay Area seeks...