Leadership & Talent Search
Retained search for CEO, ED, and CXO-level roles - built on sector fluency and a network we didn't source, we grew up in.
For Nonprofits · NGOs · CSR · Foundations
Find the Leaders Who Make Impact
Nonprofits are solving the country's hardest problems with its thinnest talent pipelines. We help you close that gap - connecting you with active candidates across India & South Asia, backed by 150+ organizations who trust us to get it right.
Deep Sector Fluency
Extensive Talent Pool
Nationwide Reach, Local Understanding
› What We Do
We Build the Sector's Talent Infrastructure
Four ways we strengthen the backbone of India's social sector - because closing one role was never the whole problem
Talent Infrastructure
Community & Talent Infrastructure
The job board, the podcast, the AMAs, the webinars, the community groups - the ecosystem-wide work that keeps talent flowing in and out of the sector, long before or after any single mandate.
OD & People Practices
Organizational Design & People Practices
Helping nonprofits build the hiring systems, structures, and culture that let good leaders actually stay and thrive - not just get placed.
1Jobboard
1Jobboard - A FREE Jobboard for Ecosystem
1JobBoard is our free, AI-enabled job board built for India's nonprofit sector. Nonprofits get smarter search to find the right talent, faster. Candidates get a built-in tracker to stay in the loop, every step of the way.
› How It Works
From mandate to onboarding
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Partner With Us
One contract, one accountable partner.
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Brief Us (Day 0)
We learn the role and what success looks like
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First Shortlist (Day 5)
Fresh profiles, every 5 days after.
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Through to Offer (Day 6+)
We stay in it until the mandate closes.
› Sectors We Cover
Our Recruitment Expertise
Click on a specialism to see how we can help
Education
Public Health
Climate & Environment
Livelihoods & Skill Development
Public Policy & Governance
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)
Humanitarian Response
Digital Inclusion & Technology for Social Good
CSR, Foundations & Family Philantrhophy
Agriculture & Rural Development
Women & Gender Equality
Food Security & Nutrition
Youth Development & Employability
Disability inclusion
› Impact
Our Footprints & Partners
We're proud to work alongside incredible nonprofits in India & South Asia
180,000+
Talent Pool
150+
Nonprofit Partners
31
States & UT in India
30+
Podcasts with CEOs
Hear It From Our Partners
“Everyone shares resumes but Ground Zero takes it to the next level. The team sits in for a few interviews to get a sense of what are the softer aspects of the role the organisation is looking for. Ground Zero is not a vendor or a consultant, they are a partner to us.”
Rahul KatariyaSr Director – HR & Fundraising, Swades Foundation
“We have been associated with Ground Zero for more than a year now. It has been an enriching experience for us. The team understands the sector well and requirements. We are glad that they have supported us on critical mandates, which were crucial for business success. Kudos to the team Ground Zero”
Shweta MehrotraHR Consultant, Samhita
“Ground Zero is an incredible force and changing the way that search firms work to great effect. As a fast-growing organisation, both speed and quality are important to us, and Ground Zero brings exactly the right kind of energy and pace to thier work. I would recommend Ground Zero very strongly.”
Kruti BharuchaFounder & CEO, Peepul
› Keep Learning
Popular Resources
Resource Library
Guides, toolkits and reports built for nonprofit hiring teams.
Browse resourcesCEO Podcast Series
Candid conversations with founders and CEOs building India's nonprofit ecosystem.
Listen nowEvents & Webinars
Hiring workshops, sector webinars, and community meetups.
See upcomingExploring Collaboration?
Join 150+ nonprofits who are already partnered with Ground Zero
Common questions
What is Ground Zero?
Ground Zero is a next-generation talent search and advisory firm for the social impact ecosystem in India & South Asia. We work across leadership hiring, organizational design, salary benchmarking, and a community of 3,70,000+ social impact professionals.
What makes Ground Zero different from a general recruitment agency?
Ground Zero works exclusively within the nonprofit and social impact ecosystem, unlike general recruitment agencies. This means deeper sector fluency, an existing network of nonprofit leaders, and screening built around mission-fit, not just skill-fit.
Is Ground Zero a retained search firm or a contingency recruiter?
Ground Zero operates on a retained search model for leadership mandates. We commit fully to each search - mapping the market and engaging passive candidates - rather than competing with multiple firms to fill a role first.
Does Ground Zero work with small or early-stage nonprofits?
Yes. Ground Zero works with organizations of every size, from early-stage nonprofits to established foundations and CSR teams, as long as the mandate fits our search process. We typically take mandates above 10L
How many nonprofits does Ground Zero work with?
Ground Zero currently partners with 150+ organizations across India and South Asia, including nonprofits, philanthropies, foundations, and CSR teams.
What roles does Ground Zero recruit for?
Ground Zero specializes in nonprofit leadership and mid-to-senior hiring, including Executive Directors, CXOs, program leads, and functional heads.
Does Ground Zero offer services beyond recruitment?
Yes. Ground Zero offers organizational design, people practices, and salary benchmarking, in addition to leadership search - supporting nonprofits beyond the hire itself.
What is nonprofit salary benchmarking?
Nonprofit salary benchmarking is compensation data built specifically for the social sector. It helps nonprofits set competitive, fair pay without relying on corporate benchmarks that don't apply to their context.
Can nonprofits post jobs for free on Ground Zero?
Yes. Ground Zero's '1jobboard' is free for nonprofits to post general roles. Retained search is a separate, paid service specifically for leadership and mission-critical hires managed by Ground Zero team
How long does Ground Zero's hiring process take?
Ground Zero's search process begins with a briefing call on Day 0, followed by a first candidate shortlist by Day 4-5, with fresh profiles shared every 5 days until the role is filled.
How does Ground Zero screen for cultural and mission fit?
Ground Zero screens candidates for mission alignment as rigorously as skills, since retention in the nonprofit sector depends on genuine belief in the cause, not qualifications alone.
Are nonprofit hiring mandates kept confidential?
Yes. Leadership search mandates are confidential by default. Nonprofits that want broader visibility can also share roles through Ground Zero's free job board known as 1jobboard and community channels.
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