099122025 - CMHO RFP - CEO Executive Search

Request for Proposal (RFP)

Executive Search Services for Chief Executive Officer
Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO)

Issue Date: December 9, 2025
Submission Deadline: December 18, 2025 5:00PM EST
Contact for Inquiries and Submission:
Bashar Alrehany
Board Chair
Children’s Mental Health Ontario
administration@cmho.org

Introduction
Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) represents 85 of Ontario’s community-based, publicly funded child and youth mental health agencies in Ontario.  CMHO’s primary goal is to promote a coordinated and high-performing system of care so that young people and their families get the mental health supports they need to thrive. We focus on advocacy, partnerships, and member support to achieve our objectives, and in recent years, we have initiated education and training programs for our members.

Children’s Mental Health Ontario is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to invite qualified executive search firms to submit proposals for providing professional services in the recruitment of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The successful firm will work with CMHO’s Board of Directors to conduct a comprehensive search to identify, assess, and recommend highly qualified candidates.

CMHO is committed to advancing equity, anti-racism, diversity, accessibility and inclusion across the organization, our Board, and our membership. The successful firm must demonstrate experience embedding EDI into all stages of the executive search process. 

Scope of Work
The selected executive search firm will be responsible for:

• Meeting with the Board Chair, Search Committee, and Senior Leadership Team and CMHO Members to understand organizational needs, culture, and strategic direction.
• Developing a detailed candidate profile and position description.
• Designing and implementing a comprehensive search strategy, including outreach, advertising, and direct recruitment.
• Identifying and assessing prospective candidates, including conducting initial interviews, background checks, and reference checks.
• Presenting a shortlist of highly qualified candidates to the Board.
• Supporting the Board through the interview, selection, and offer process.

• A detailed search plan and timeline.
• Position description and candidate profile.
• Regular progress updates and candidate reports.
• A shortlist of top candidates with assessments.
• Coordination of interviews and reference checking.
• Advisory support through final selection and negotiation.

1. Company Overview: History, mission, and relevant expertise.
2. Experience: Description of past work recruiting CEOs or equivalent roles in the non-profit and/or health sector.
3. Team: Biographies and qualifications of staff assigned to the project.
4. Methodology: Description of your approach to executive search, including equity, diversity, and inclusion practices.
5. Timeline: Proposed schedule for search milestones and completion.
6. Fees: Fee structure and estimated total cost.
7. References: At least three client references for similar engagements.

• Relevant experience and track record
• Understanding of the sector and organization
• Strength and diversity of recruitment approach
• Quality of proposed team
• Cost-effectiveness and value
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion

• RFP Issued: December 9, 2025
• Submission Deadline: December 18, 2025 5:00PM EST
• Selection of Firm: December 23, 2025
• Project Start Date: January 5, 2025

• All administrative services and supplies used by the firm to complete the services will be provided to the CMHO at no additional charge.
• The firm must also ensure that if retained, it does not have any conflict of interest representing CMHO in this matter, and that the company’s partners, associates, employees and agents will ensure that the Recruitment Services to be provided would be provided free of any conflict of interest. If retained, the partners, associates, employees and agents shall not engage in any work or provide recruitment services for another client that could reasonably result in a conflict of interest. Should the recruitment services provided by a firm to any other client of the firm create an actual or potential conflict of interest, the firm will be required to immediately advise CMHO and CMHO, in its sole discretion, may terminate the contract if, in our opinion, the conflict cannot be mitigated appropriately.
• Without the prior written consent of CMHO, which may be withheld in our unfettered discretion, the firm and its partners, associates, employees or agents agree not to disclose to any person or entity any of the information, or any portion thereof, provided pursuant to this invitation except as may be agreed in writing by CMHO.
• A firm may not at any time directly or indirectly communicate with the media in relation to this invitation or any contract awarded in respect of this invitation without first obtaining the written permission of CMHO.
• The applicable laws for this letter shall be those in effect in the province of Ontario and the parties hereby agree that any dispute arising out of or in relation to this letter shall be determined in Ontario.