Our Vision
Understanding the Need
When it is necessary to augment an institution's Board of Trustees, internal and external systemic issues arise. Internally, the individuals in charge of board recruitment may not have the time or the expertise to devote to a comprehensive search. Similarly, presidents who assist in this effort have other priorities - and are best deployed at the conclusion rather than at the outset of the process. Externally, there is an absence of a nationwide research and sourcing strategy, which is de rigueur for executive search firms. However, retaining the services of search consultants, whether compensated or not, has seldom been considered an option.
Meeting the Need
Our mandate is not simply to fill vacant governing board seats. Rather, it is to cultivate outstanding men and women who are motivated to serve and possess particular skill sets that will complement a given board's collective expertise. Further, we will seek opinion leaders, those individuals who will have a highly positive influence on other board members.
Our Vision
The vision of the R. H. Perry Foundation is to demonstrate empirically that this new service is efficient and productive. The more pervasive its use throughout the academy, the greater the visibility it will achieve. As the model and variations on it are emulated and the process becomes institutionalized, we will create a legacy of strengthening governing boards and their institutions.