Our Value Proposition
LeaderFit partners with executives and Boards of mission-driven organizations to discover, evaluate, and select extraordinary leadership talent.
We invest significant time and energy to become trusted advisors to our clients, and we work hard to understand each client’s unique culture, strategic objectives, program offerings, and talent needs.
Nonprofit Expertise
Our team’s extensive experience as nonprofit leaders, Board members, and volunteers has given us first-hand knowledge of the sector’s unique challenges and opportunities. Our exclusive focus on the nonprofit sector has further sharpened our knowledge and networks.
Proven Process
Having successfully completed more than 225 searches, we have developed a best practices methodology to maximize our clients’ limited time and resources. We balance discipline, flexibility, and a sense of urgency to lead each search efficiently and create the most value for our clients.
Diverse Network
We have cultivated a network of leaders, not only in the nonprofit sector, but also in business and government, who serve as our connectors to leading talent. In addition to the thousands of candidates who apply to our searches each year, we proactively connect with a diverse selection of top talent.
A SAMPLE OF COMPLETED SEARCHES
Our Approach
1. Understanding Your Needs
Our first step is to learn about your organization's unique culture. We interview key stakeholders to understand the ideal candidate’s experience, skills, and personal attributes. We develop a position description for advertising the role in addition to an internal tool for evaluating and comparing top candidates.
2. Sourcing Top Talent
To develop a robust and diverse pipeline of highly qualified candidates, we build our sourcing strategy in a few different ways. First, we contact our extensive network of executives and key thought leaders across the nonprofit sector. Next, we conduct in-depth research to look for new sources of talent. Then, we place targeted advertisements to generate leads from outside our network.
3. Evaluating Candidates
Leveraging our researched-backed interview methodology, we carefully evaluate and assess each candidate. We select the top candidates for you or your search committee to interview. We then prepare your team with the information and tools to conduct a thorough evaluation. We also conduct detailed reference and background checks, as necessary, to ensure proper due diligence.
4. Negotiating the Offer
Finally, we help you craft a competitive offer and facilitate negotiations with the candidate. Since we get to know your organization and the selected candidate so well during the recruiting process, we are well-positioned to develop an onboarding plan to ensure a successful transition.
Our team
What Our Clients Say About Us
"LeaderFit helped our Board navigate a challenging leadership transition. They worked tirelessly to identify a diverse group of talented candidates and provided guidance throughout the entire process. When it came time to make our final decision, their insight added a valuable perspective."
Noralisa Leo
Chair, Latino Economic Development Center
"LeaderFit is a terrific partner in the search for a senior executive. They learn the client and its needs, organize and facilitate the search process, and keep the entire Search Committee focused on its goal. And they are nice people to boot. I highly recommend LeaderFit."
Marc L. Fleischaker
Chair, DC Bar Foundation
“I have worked with LeaderFit on several successful searches. They have done a great job identifying candidates from both traditional and non-traditional sources. They are very client-focused – eager to engage in carefully defining both the skills and style that are the best fit for the position but also able to shift gears if the needs change during an assignment. I would be happy to work with them again.”
Michela English
President & CEO, Fight for Children
Some of our favorite articles about talent and executive search
Call us: (202) 827-7407
© LeaderFit 2009 -
LeaderFit ® is a registered trademark of LeaderFit, LLC.
Call us anytime at (202) 827-7407.
LeaderFit’s office locations:
Washington, DC
1875 Connecticut Ave
10th Floor
Washington, DC 20009
Denver, CO
2420 17th St
4th Floor
Denver, CO 80202
LeaderFit has been privileged to work with exceptional social impact organizations, including:
- America’s Promise Alliance
- Arabella Philanthropic Advisors
- Beacon House
- Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington
- BBYO
- Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence
- Byte Back
- CASA de Maryland
- Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
- Charter Board Partners
- Community Wealth Partners
- Corporation for National and Community Service
- DC Bar Foundation
- DC Prep
- DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative
- DC Public Education Fund
- DC SCORES
- DC Vote
- Echoing Green
- Excel Academy Public Charter School
- Exponent Philanthropy
- Fair Chance
- Fight for Children
- Fisher House Foundation
- Flamboyan Foundation
- Friends of Choice in Urban Schools (FOCUS)
- Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ)
- Groundswell
- Issue One
- KIPP DC
- Landon School
- Latino Economic Development Center
- Leading Educators
- Marriott Foundation
- Martha’s Table
- Metro TeenAIDS
- Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
- Philip L. Graham Fund
- Search for Common Ground
- Share Our Strength
- SMYAL
- Strive (Sports Challenge Leadership Academy)
- Teach for America
- The Management Center
- Turnaround for Children
- Center for Policing Equity
- Venture Philanthropy Partners
- Washington Humane Society
- Washington Jesuit Academy
- Washington Latin Public Charter School
- Washington School for Girls
- Women In Cable Telecommunications
- 826DC
- Aga Khan Foundation
- Aspen Institute
- Association of American Law Schools
- Association of Small Foundations
- Big Brothers Big Sisters National Capital Area
- Capitol Hill Village
- ClearPath Foundation
- Community Foundation of the National Capital Region (CFNCR)
- CrimsonBridge
- DC Alliance for Youth Advocates
- DC School Reform Now
- Educare
- For Love of Children
- Fresh Taste
- Georgetown University Berkley Center
- Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia
- Gonzaga College High School
- Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO)
- Higher Achievement
- Jefferson Awards Foundation
- KaBOOM!
- KEEN
- Malala Fund
- Mobilize.org
- My Brother’s Keeper Alliance
- National Fatherhood Initiative
- NATS Washington Baseball Academy
- New Futures
- Peace Players International
- PICO National Network
- Pro Bono Institute
- REAL School Gardens
- Service Year
- Shared Interest
- Shelter House
- St. Ann’s Center for Children, Youth and Families
- Thurgood Marshall Academy
- Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF)
- Washington Lawyers Committee
- Weissberg Foundation
- Wyman Center
- Campaign Legal Center
- DC Bar Pro Bono Center
- Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
- Humane Rescue Alliance
- The Peter G. Peterson Foundation
- Ready At Five
- Sandy Hook Promise
- United Way Worldwide
- University of Washington School of Law
- World Wildlife Fund
- Woodley House
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, DC
- The Wendt Center for Loss and Healing
- Demos
- Hire Heroes USA
- The Consortium of Catholic Academies
- Refugees International
- A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
- National Conference on Citizenship (NCOC)
- U.S. Soccer Foundation
- Latin American Youth Center (LAYC)
- Washington Tennis and Education Foundation
- The Greater Washington Community Foundation
- Georgetown University Office of Advancement
- Catalogue for Philanthropy
- YWCA National Capital Area
- Legal Aid
LeaderFit’s Completed Searches
Executive Director
- 826DC
- Beacon House
- Byte Back
- Capitol Hill Village
- Catalogue for Philanthropy
- Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
- Consortium of Catholic Academies
- The Crimsonbridge Foundation
- Crown Family Philanthropies
- DC Bar Foundation
- DC Bar Pro Bono Center
- DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative
- DC SCORES
- Fair Chance
- Friends of Choice in Urban Schools (FOCUS)
- Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ)
- Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia
- Hire Heroes USA
- Latin American Youth Center (LAYC)
- Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC)
- National Conference on Citizenship
- New Futures
- Pro Bono Institute
- PsychArmor Institute
- Ready at Five
- Shelter House
- Sports Challenge Leadership Academy
- Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL)
- The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF)
- Washington Tennis & Education Foundation
- The Weissberg Foundation
- The Wendt Center for Loss and Healing
- Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
- Woodley House
- YWCA National Capital Area
Senior Leadership
- Assistant Dean for Advancement, University of Washington School of Law
- Associate Counsel, State and Local Programs, The Campaign Legal Center
- Assistant Director, Family Engagement and Education, Martha's Table
- Associate Director, Consulting, Arabella Advisors
- Associate Director, Foundation Relations, Demos
- Associate Director, Managed Organizations, Arabella Advisors
- Associate Vice President of Development, The Greater Washington Community Foundation
- Chief Administrative Officer, Campaign Legal Center
- Chief Development Officer, The Brady Campaign
- Chief Development Officer, Higher Achievement
- Chief Development Officer, Humane Rescue Alliance
- Chief Development Officer, Malala Fund
- Chief Development Officer, Service Year
- Chief Development Officer, US Soccer Foundation
- Chief Education Officer, Sustainable Forestry Initiative
- Chief Finance Officer, Community Foundation of the National Capital Region
- Chief Finance Officer, Higher Achievement
- Chief Health Officer, Whitman Walker Health
- Chief Operating Officer, Fight For Children
- Chief Operations Officer, Higher Achievement
- Chief Program Officer, Exponent Philanthropy
- Chief of Staff, Walton Family Foundation
- Director, City Engagement, KaBOOM!
- Director, City Partnerships, KaBOOM!
- Director, Communications, Berkley Center at Georgetown University
- Director, Communications, Issue One
- Director, Communications and Marketing, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
- Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations
- Director, Corporate Partnerships, KaBOOM!
- Director, Corporate Partnerships, US Soccer Foundation
- Director, Development and Communications, The Wendt Center for Loss and Healing
- Director, Development and Engagement, Higher Achievement
- Director, Development and Marketing, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, DC
- Director, Development and Volunteer Engagement, Aga Khan Foundation
- Director, Development, Association of American Law Schools
- Director, Development, Landon School
- Director, Development, Legal Aid
- Director, Development, NATS Washington Baseball Academy
- Director, Development, PeacePlayers International
- Director, Development, Sandy Hook Promise
- Director, Early Childhood Education, Martha's Table
- Director, Engineering Initiatives, A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
- Director, Employee Engagement, The Greater Washington Community Foundation
- Director, Ethics Program, Campaign Legal Center
- Director, Finance, Share Our Strength
- Director, Foundation Relations, Share Our Strength
- Director, Grants and Foundation Relations, CityBridge Foundation
- Director, Growth and Development, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
- Director, Healthy Start, Martha’s Table
- Director, Human Resources, Share Our Strength
- Director, Impact Investing and Operations, Shared Interest
- Director, Impact Investing, Arabella Advisors
- Director, Law Annual Giving, Georgetown University
- Director, Major Gifts, Humane Rescue Alliance
- Director, Marketing Analytics, United Way Worldwide
- Director, Marketing, Arabella Advisors
- Director, Operations and Partnerships, Friends of the National Zoo
- Director, Operations, DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative
- Director, Programs and Partnerships, Aga Khan Foundation
- Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications, Aga Khan Foundation
- Director, Recruiting, Arabella Advisors
- Director, Strategic Partnerships, KaBOOM!
- Director, Washington, DC Initiatives, A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
- Global Climate & Energy Lead Scientist, World Wildlife Fund
- Global Food Lead Scientist, World Wildlife Fund
- Global Forest Lead Scientist, World Wildlife Fund
- Global Freshwater Lead Scientist, World Wildlife Fund
- Global Oceans Lead Scientist, World Wildlife Fund
- Global Wildlife Conservation Lead Scientist, World Wildlife Fund
- Head of School, The Washington School for Girls
- Manager, Communications and Public Affairs, The Peter G. Peterson Foundation
- Manager, Corporate Partnerships, KaBOOM!
- Manager, Development, CASA de Maryland
- Manager, Email Campaigns, United Way Worldwide
- Managing Director, Jefferson Awards Foundation
- Managing Director, The Campaign Legal Center
- National Partnerships Director, Real School Gardens
- Program Manager, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
- Program Officer, Multi-Input Area Development, Aga Khan Foundation
- Regional Director, REAL School Gardens
- Senior Director, Development, Fisher House Foundation
- Senior Director, Education, Martha's Table
- Senior Director, Finance, Campaign Legal Center
- Senior Director, Healthy Eating, Martha’s Table
- Senior Director, Marketing and Communications, Gonzaga College High School
- Senior Director, Operations, United Way Worldwide
- Senior Director, Talent Management and Strategy, Georgetown University
- Senior Manager, Educational Outreach, Share Our Strength
- Senior Manager, Services, CASA de Maryland
- Senior Program Officer Civil Society, Aga Khan Foundation
- Sr. Consultant, Community Wealth Partners
- Senior Vice President, Strategy and Partnerships, Center for Policing Equity
- Vice President, Mission Advancement, America’s Promise Alliance
- Vice President, Corporate Partnerships, KaBOOM!
- Vice President, Development, America’s Promise Alliance
- Vice President, Development, Gonzaga College High School
- Vice President, Development and Marketing, Ronald McDonald House Charities, DC
- Vice President, Philanthropy, Refugees International
- Vice President, Programs, Community Foundation of the National Capital Region
- Vice President, Programs, St. Ann’s Center
- Vice President, Talent Management, Inclusion and Operations, KaBOOM!
- Vice President, Talent, KaBOOM!
Current Searches
Katie McNerney
Katie McNerney founded LeaderFit in 2009 to provide a more efficient and cost-effective approach to identifying, attracting, hiring, and onboarding exceptional talent for nonprofits, foundations and social enterprises. Katie leads executive search engagements and, along with Annie, manages the firm's team, strategy, and operations. In 2016, Katie and the LeaderFit team also launched Purpose Path (www.purposepath.org), an innovative career coaching program that inspires and prepares professionals to pursue leadership roles at social impact organizations. To date, more than 450 individuals have participated in Purpose Path programs.
Katie earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a 2019 Colorado Governors Fellow, a 2017 Presidential Leadership Scholar, a Praxis Mentor, and volunteers regularly with Girls on the Run and Veterati.
Annie Linehan Czerwinski
Annie Linehan Czerwinski joined LeaderFit as a Partner in 2011. In addition to leading executive search engagements, Annie works with Katie to manage the firm’s team, strategy, and operations. Prior to joining LeaderFit, Annie was a Program Director at the CityBridge Foundation, where she designed and implemented corporate civic engagement programs for the ServiceCorps practice. Annie started her career with AmeriCorps in Washington, D.C., where she taught nutrition through a program developed by the Capital Area Community Food Bank. At UNICEF Argentina, Annie helped build public private partnerships. Her experience also includes corporate marketing with The Advisory Board Company and Corporate Executive Board.
Annie recently completed more than a decade of service on the Board of Higher Achievement, including Vice Chair of the Governance Committee. She has a MPP from Georgetown University and a BA from the University of Notre Dame.
Shaina Amaya
Shaina Amaya joined LeaderFit in 2013 as Vice President leading executive search engagements for nonprofits, foundations, and social enterprises. Shaina joined LeaderFit in 2013, after more than six years at a philanthropy consulting firm. As Vice President of Operations, she was responsible for all aspects of the firm’s operations, financial management, human capital development and marketing strategies. Earlier in her career, Shaina served as a key member of the marketing and communications team at Unitus, where she worked closely with the organization’s international microfinance partners.
Shaina has a BA from Western Washington University in Spanish and Latin American Studies.
Joelle Deleveaux
Joelle Deleveaux is a Senior Associate at LeaderFit, where she supports client engagements through research, candidate communication, and project management with a special focus in advancing our efforts to help close the racial leadership gap. Prior to LeaderFit, Joelle served as a Research Associate and a Fellow at CityBridge Education, where she designed evaluation systems, implemented social-emotional learning measures, and conducted research to support K-12 public schools in Washington, D.C.
At Princeton University, Joelle managed orientation activities and programming for the Davis International Center and served as an Advising Fellow at Matriculate, a nonprofit that assists low-income students in applying to college. Joelle's experience also includes extensive qualitative research based in Memphis, Tennessee with the George Washington University, where she studies school-community relations in the context of school turnarounds.
Joelle has a BA in History from Princeton University and is currently pursuing an MA in Education Policy from George Washington University's School of Education and Human Development.