Contingency-Based · Nonprofits Nationwide

Finding the Right People
for the Right Missions

Greater Good Recruitment is a contingency-based executive search firm led by Nick Samuels — a direct hire recruiter with 20 years of nonprofit sector expertise. We connect mission-driven organizations nationwide with exceptional talent who are as passionate about the mission as you are.

Mission areas
Human Rights & Advocacy Environment & Climate Education & Youth Arts & Culture Health & Social Services International NGOs
Nick Samuels
The spark that brought you to this sector — that's what I work with.
Nick Samuels
Founder & Lead Recruitment Specialist · Greater Good Recruitment
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Contingency Based
You only pay when we successfully place your hire. No risk, no upfront fees.
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Full-Cycle Search
From intake call to signed offer — we manage every phase of the recruitment process.
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135+ Placements
Across 85+ organizations — with 25%+ of clients returning for multiple searches.
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Nationwide Coverage
New York, DC, Bay Area, national, and international placements across all mission areas.
Nick Samuels, Founder of Greater Good Recruitment
Nick Samuels
Founder, Greater Good Recruitment · Managing Director, TPSG

The Recruiter Nonprofits Come Back To.

I've spent 20 years placing leaders in the nonprofit sector — with particular depth in Fundraising, Development, and Finance, but across the full range of senior and mid-level roles organizations need to grow: Operations, Programs, HR, and Executive leadership.

What this work requires, more than anything, is the ability to listen. To understand not just the position on paper, but what an organization actually needs — and what will make a candidate not just qualified, but right. Nonprofit professionals aren't primarily motivated by compensation. They're motivated by mission. That means connecting them to the right opportunity is less about matching credentials and more about understanding what drives them. That's a specific skill, and one I've spent 20 years developing.

My track record reflects that: 135+ placements across 85+ organizations, with more than a quarter of my clients returning for multiple searches — some relationships spanning nearly a decade. One client told me that the hire I made for her ten years ago was the most impactful placement of her career. That's the standard I hold myself to.

If you're building your team — whether that's a Director of Development, a CFO, a Director of Programs, or an Executive Director — I'd welcome a conversation.

20 Years Experience Contingency Based Nationwide Formerly PNP Staffing Group Also Managing Director, TPSG
1
Intake call to identify the staffing need and establish search guidelines tailored to your organization.
2
Proactive, targeted outreach plan to notify and engage the right candidates — not just post and wait.
3
Ongoing evaluation, phone screenings, and in-person long-form interviews with top contenders.
4
Candidate presentation, interview scheduling, salary & benefit negotiation, and follow-through to placement.

We Recruit Across Every Cause Area

From boutique advocacy organizations to large international NGOs, we have placed talent across the full spectrum of the nonprofit sector.

Tell Us Your Needs
Human Rights & Advocacy
Civil rights, immigration, domestic workers' rights, reproductive rights, and legal advocacy organizations.
Environment & Climate
Climate advocacy, environmental health, sustainability, and conservation nonprofits at local and global scale.
Education & Youth
K-12 programs, STEM equity, literacy initiatives, and organizations serving girls and gender-expansive youth.
Arts & Culture
Museums, cultural centers, foundations, and arts education nonprofits across the country.
Health & Social Services
Cancer research foundations, health advocacy, homeless services, and organizations serving vulnerable populations.
International NGOs
Global human rights, women's rights, worker advocacy, and international development organizations.
Our Work

A Track Record Built on Mission-Driven Hiring

Over two decades of full-cycle search across every corner of the nonprofit sector — from boutique advocacy organizations to large international NGOs.

135+
Successful placements
85+
Client organizations
25%+
Clients on multiple searches
$50K–$245K
Salary range across all placements

Representative searches — selected for range and seniority

New York
Head of Development
Leading cancer research foundation
DevelopmentSenior
New York
CFO
Global climate advocacy nonprofit
FinanceExecutive
New York
Managing Director, Philanthropy
Cultural arts & educational center
DevelopmentSenior
Washington, DC
Executive Director
Health & advocacy organization
ExecutiveED Level
National veterans membership NGO
HRSenior
National
SVP of Finance
National homeless resources foundation
FinanceExecutive
International
Global Executive Director
International women's rights NGO
ExecutiveED Level
International
Global Director of Operations
Women's human rights nonprofit
OperationsSenior
San Francisco
Director of Development
Education equity nonprofit
DevelopmentDirector

Ready to add your organization to this list?

Start a Search →
Our Values

What We Stand For

01
Professionalism
Respect, humility, and care in every phase of recruitment. We understand you have options and are honored by your trust.
02
Transparency
Timely, clear, and targeted communication with both clients and candidates. That's the basis of good partnership.
03
Quality Over Quantity
We are thoughtful and strategic — targeting people for whom your specific organization and role represent a true alignment.
04
Expertise
Nonprofit recruitment specialists, proud of our specialization. From the intake call to the offer — we expertly guide every step.
05
Creativity
Finding exceptional candidates isn't always a straight line. We bring creative ingenuity to turning over every rock.
06
Fortitude
Finding "unicorn" candidates is what we're built for. We don't stop until we connect you to the hidden gems off your radar.
Insights

Thinking on Nonprofit Talent

Perspectives on executive hiring, career strategy, and the forces shaping the nonprofit sector — from the team at Greater Good Recruitment.

Job Seeker Advice
How to Land a Senior Role at a Nonprofit
Ready to step into a Director or Executive Director role? The candidates who consistently land competitive positions share five traits that have nothing to do with credentials.
Greater Good Recruitment  ·  January 2026 5 min read
Employer Tips
5 Signs It's Time to Hire an Executive Recruiter
Running a leadership search on your own seems like the right call — until it isn't. Here are five signs your nonprofit would be better served by bringing in a specialist.
Greater Good Recruitment  ·  February 2026 5 min read
Local Insights
Why New York Nonprofits Are Rethinking Executive Search
New York's nonprofit talent market is among the most competitive in the world. Here's what the organizations consistently landing great leaders are doing differently.
Greater Good Recruitment  ·  March 2026 5 min read
Thought Leadership
The Nonprofit Talent Crisis: What's Changing in Executive Hiring
Five significant shifts — from the thinning leadership pipeline to the end of the slow search — that every nonprofit leader needs to understand right now.
Greater Good Recruitment  ·  April 2026 6 min read
Employer Tips
How to Hire a Nonprofit Director of Development — and Get It Right
Of all the senior leadership searches nonprofits conduct, Director of Development placements are among the most consequential — and most frequently mishandled. Here's what actually determines whether these searches succeed.
Greater Good Recruitment  ·  May 2026 7 min read
More insights coming soon from the Greater Good team.
Want to be notified when new posts go live? Drop us a note via the contact form and we'll add you to the list.
Get in Touch
What Clients Say

Trusted by Nonprofit Leaders

8-year partnership · Equality Now
He was a trusted resource and I recommend him highly.
I worked with Nick Samuels for over eight years while I was Global Executive Director at Equality Now. Nick helped us build our team with stellar C-suite and manager-level candidates including in Programs, Communications, Fundraising, Operations and Finance. He listens well and attentively and only brings forward candidates that would be a good fit. He worked diligently with my team and was thoughtful and caring in his approach. I have continued to use his help to find the new head of Musawah in the Middle East as a board member to the organization.
Yasmeen Hassan
Former Global Executive Director, Equality Now
10-year partnership · Edible Schoolyard NYC
His ability to hone in and find the right candidates is unmatched across my 20+ years in the sector.
The first hire he helped me make was for a Director of Development, and that hire and placement turned out to be the most impactful placement of my career. My partnership with this hire has spanned two organizations and nearly 9 years supporting significant growth and millions of dollars raised. What sets Nick apart from any other recruiter I’ve worked with is his unique ability to listen and understand the organization and position needs. He is an incredible thought partner — and a genuinely good human.
Kristen E. Baldwin
President and Executive Director, Edible Schoolyard NYC
Senior leadership searches · Equality Now
He has a strong ability to find and present truly viable candidates — people we would seriously consider and have hired.
We’ve successfully used Nick for key senior-level searches in Fundraising, Finance, and HR. He’s done an excellent job for us.
Mona Sinha
Chief Executive Officer, Equality Now
Senior finance search · Health Care Without Harm
The person we ultimately hired through Nick has become one of the best hires I have ever made.
We worked with Nick on a senior finance search, and he was an excellent partner from start to finish. He quickly understood the level of finance expertise we needed, the importance of mission alignment, and the kind of person who would thrive in our organization. The candidates he presented were thoughtful, highly qualified, and technically skilled. Nick brings strong nonprofit sector expertise, excellent judgment, and a clear ability to identify talent that fits both the role and the organization. I would highly recommend him to any nonprofit looking for a trusted search partner.
Michael Allegretti
Senior Director of Finance, Health Care Without Harm / Practice Greenhealth
Ready to find your next great hire?
Let's talk about your organization's needs and how Greater Good can help.
Start a Conversation

Are You a Nonprofit Leader Exploring What's Next?

Many of the senior nonprofit professionals I work with aren't actively job searching — they're simply open to the right conversation. If you're a Director, VP, CFO, or Executive Director who's curious about what's out there, I'd genuinely like to connect.

I've spent 20 years getting to know this community. I understand what motivates people in this sector — it's rarely just compensation. When I reach out about a role, it's because I've thought carefully about whether it's a genuine fit for where you are and what you care about. I won't waste your time.

Confidential
All conversations
No pressure
Just a conversation
Free
Always, for candidates
Introduce Yourself

We’d Love to Work With You

Whether you’re a nonprofit organization looking to fill a critical leadership role, or a senior professional ready for your next mission-driven opportunity, we’d love to hear from you.

Greater Good Recruitment works on a contingency basis — meaning there’s no upfront cost to organizations. You pay only when we successfully place a candidate.

For a faster response, reach out directly:

✉  nsamuels@greatergoodrecruitment.com ✆  917-285-5442 🔗  linkedin.com/in/nicksamuelsrecruitment

We typically respond within one business day.

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Phone
917-285-5442
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Part of
Greater Good Consulting Services Network
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Coverage
Nationwide — New York, DC, Bay Area,
and all U.S. markets + International