Search Process
Sourcing Strategy
The R. H. Perry Foundation believes that there are a great many well-qualified men and women in all walks of life who comprise an untapped, high potential resource. Many of these individuals have a latent motivation to serve as trustees - to "give something back" - yet they have never acted on it. The reason is simple: there has never been an easily accessible means to do so. This goes to the essence, the raison d'etre of executive search - namely, identifying and attracting an elusive group of prospective candidates who are unaware of the opportunity and whom we reach through targeted research and sourcing. In short, the Foundation will provide that means.
We will design a process that is comprised of best practices in higher education and other sectors of executive search to recruit the optimally qualified trustee for each client institution. After assisting in defining institutional goals and candidate criteria, we will implement a research and sourcing strategy to identify concurrently both "internal" and "external" prospects:
- The "Internal" search focuses on alumni, friends of the institution and community leadership. We will work closely with the development office to identify prospective candidates through its existing fundraising and alumni databases and prospect wealth and demographic screening software.
- The "External" search is facilitated by a marketing/ publicity program casting a nationwide net to solicit nominations and recommendations of - and to directly attract - outstanding individuals; a Secure Trustee Suite on the RHPF website provides those interested in trustee service a confidential opportunity to apply.
- Our strategic alliances represent an excellent source of prospective trustees: The Registry for College and University Presidents, a cadre over 100 recently retired and former presidents; and the Volunteer Consulting Group, whose mission is strengthening governing boards of health, human service, educational, cultural, environmental, advocacy and community development non-profit organizations.
Value-Added Component
The service that RHPF offers will extend well beyond completion of the trustee search. Equally important as identifying and attracting an outstanding new board member is sharing the methodology of accomplishing that task. A key part of our role is to ensure that our client will not need search counsel to assist in filling its next and subsequent vacancies. To that end, we will create a detailed record of the process that is tailored to the particular needs and circumstances of each institution. This documentation will facilitate conducting future state-of-the-art, all-inclusive searches.
Assignment Caveat
We anticipate that potential trustees who are willing to commit to substantial financial support will be a priority. While we understand the importance of this 'W', as in "Wealth, Wit, and Wisdom," the criterion needs to be clearly articulated at the outset. One's ability to give should be accompanied by a commitment to the institution's mission. In addition, individuals with particular expertise whom we identify may well be able to make cash contributions or comparable donations in other forms.
"Firewall" or "Off-Limits" Policy:
R. H. Perry & Associates (RHPA) will not submit a proposal - or accept an assignment - to conduct any search or consulting assignment for an institution of higher education, which is a current client of R. H. Perry Foundation (RHPF). This prohibition applies for the entire course of the RHPF assignment.
Further, consistent with its not-for-profit status, RFPF's policy is not to accept remuneration from its client institutions. However, our 501(C)(3) status will not preclude our accepting a donation from institutions that choose to make a modest one.