Besides seeking out philanthropic commonalities, families often work through their own social network—fellow board members, friends, business acquaintances, members of organizations they have supported. Wasserman cites a family whose patriarch, a scientist, had founded a biotechnology firm. When his family decided to focus the family office on philanthropic giving in medicine, their first move was to contact the dean of a medical school to which they had contributed. They hired him to run the office.

There are also a number of professional advisors who will work with families to recruit the right executive. Remmer Ryzewic and her family, for example, turned to Family Office Exchange (FOX), a Chicago-based consultancy, for advice. FOX helped steer the family toward Asset Management Advisors. Executive search firms specializing in family offices are another option. They utilize their contact networks to locate candidates that families might never find on their own.