May 15, 2011

Board Members, Not Headhunters, Deserve Blame for Timid Hiring Practices

To the Editor:

Your stories about executive searches at foundations (“Inside the Searches for Filling Philanthropy’s Biggest Jobs” and “Increasing Clout of Recruiters Stirs Debate Among Philanthropy Experts,” April 7) included comments from critics who express concern that the influence of search firms results in the selection of foundation CEO’s who are not daring, lack diversity, are not edgy or unusual, lack grant-making experience, and are