Koya Leadership Partners

What Koya Leadership Partners does

DSG | Koya is the dedicated nonprofit and social impact executive search practice of DSG Global, a privately held executive search firm headquartered in Boston that has operated in the search industry for over 50 years. The firm places senior leaders — including CEOs, Executive Directors, Managing Directors, board directors, chief development officers, and other C-suite roles — into mission-driven organizations across nine verticals: arts and culture, environment and conservation, foundations and philanthropy, global organizations, social justice and advocacy, social services, women and girls, youth development and educational equity, and social impact companies. Its client roster includes Smithsonian Institution, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, United Way Worldwide, Amnesty International USA, Walton Family Foundation, The Wilderness Society, National MS Society, and dozens of other high-profile nonprofits and foundations.

The business is a retained and contingent executive search franchise operating under a professional services revenue model. Pricing is project-based and individually negotiated; the firm does not disclose fees publicly. Engagements are sourced through an enterprise field sales motion — direct, consultative partnerships with executive search committees, boards, and hiring leaders — supplemented by thought leadership content (industry articles), a Talent Network candidate platform, and DSG Global's broader marketing infrastructure including newsletters and PR. The firm is staffed by 20 Managing Directors, multiple Senior VPs and VPs, Managing Associates, Senior Search Associates, and dedicated research staff, with sector-specialized partners covering each vertical. The practice is also embedded in DSG Global's global alliance with Alto Partners, providing cross-border reach.

The firm has no proprietary technology platform at its core; the asset is human capital — partner relationships, candidate networks, and domain expertise accumulated over decades. It is an AESC member, has received Forbes recognition, and was ranked #8 in Modern Healthcare's 2025 list of largest executive search firms. The parent DSG Global also operates adjacent verticals in healthcare, technology/AI/cybersecurity, private capital, financial services, and other industries, providing cross-referral and shared infrastructure benefits but also positioning Koya as one division within a broader portfolio rather than a standalone entity.

Name

Koya Leadership Partners

Legal name

DSG Global

Website

https://koyapartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DSG | Koya is the nonprofit and social impact executive search practice of DSG Global, placing C-suite and senior leaders into mission-driven organizations across arts, environment, foundations, social justice, social services, and global NGOs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Executive & Leadership Direct Hire (BPACAFAB)

Keywords

• Nonprofit executive search
• Mission-driven leadership recruitment
• Social impact talent advisory
• CEO executive placement
• Board governance advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Executive Search Services: The firm generates revenue through retained and contingent executive search engagements, placing senior leaders (CEOs, Executive Directors, Managing Directors, and other C-suite roles) at mission-driven organizations. Revenue is earned upon successful placement of candidates.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DSG | Koya provides retained and contingent executive search services placing CEOs, executive directors, presidents, C-suite officers, fundraising leaders, and board directors at mission-driven nonprofit, foundation, advocacy, arts, environmental, and social impact organizations. Engagements are tailored to each client's goals, culture, and values, leveraging a multi-decade network of leaders and a rigorous, inclusive search process to identify candidates with both mission alignment and senior leadership capabilities.

Product overview

DSG | Koya operates as the nation's premier executive search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership, functioning as a specialized division within DSG Global. The core offering is executive search services for nonprofit and social impact organizations, supplemented by consulting and convening services. The portfolio includes specialized practices for placing leaders across sectors such as arts and culture, environment and conservation, foundations and philanthropy, global organizations, social justice and advocacy, social services, women and girls, youth development, and social impact companies. The firm also offers talent network enrollment, board governance advisory services, and fundraising & advancement placement services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nonprofit and Social Impact Executive Search Retained and contingent executive search services placing CEOs, executive directors, presidents, managing directors, and other C-suite leaders at mission-driven nonprofit, foundation, advocacy, arts, environmental, social services, and global organizations, tailored to each client's goals, culture, and values.
• Fundraising and Advancement Executive Search Specialized placement of senior fundraising and advancement leaders, including chief development officers, vice presidents of advancement, regional philanthropy officers, and development directors, for mission-driven organizations seeking to maximize philanthropic impact.
• Board Directors and Governance Advisory Board placement and governance advisory services connecting nonprofit and mission-driven organizations with qualified board directors and governance leaders to strengthen oversight and strategic direction.
• Talent Network Candidate engagement platform where executives can join a profile network to be considered for current and future nonprofit and social impact executive search opportunities across DSG | Koya engagements.

Named customers23 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Alto Partners Global Executive SearchminorOthersDSG Global is associated with Alto Partners Global Executive Search network, providing global reach across the Americas and beyond through this alliance of independent executive search firms.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Largest global organizational consulting firm with executive search practices serving nonprofit, healthcare, and social impact clients, representing broad incumbent competition for senior mission-driven searches.
• DHR International: Global executive search firm with nonprofit, foundation, and association practices that compete for senior mission-driven leadership searches, particularly with larger philanthropic institutions.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search incumbent with a dedicated Nonprofit, Education, Social Enterprise, and Healthcare practice that directly competes for nonprofit CEO and board mandates across DSG | Koya's segments.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search incumbent with nonprofit, philanthropy, and social sector practices that compete for the same mission-driven executive placements, especially with large foundations and global NGOs.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a dedicated Social Impact practice placing senior leaders at nonprofits, foundations, and NGOs across the same customer base as DSG | Koya.

Direct peers

• Bridge Partners: Specialist executive search firm focused on nonprofit and social impact leadership, overlapping closely with DSG | Koya on CEO and senior team placements at advocacy, education, and philanthropic organizations.
• Battalia Winnick: Executive search firm with strong nonprofit, association, and social impact practice placing CEOs and senior leaders at charities, foundations, and trade associations — directly comparable customer base and search process.
• Isaacson, Miller: Direct peer — leading executive search firm dedicated exclusively to nonprofit, foundation, education, and social impact leadership placements, serving the same C-suite and executive director candidate pool as DSG | Koya.
• NPAG (Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group): Boutique executive search firm exclusively focused on nonprofit leadership placements, directly competing for executive director and senior management searches at mission-driven organizations.

Emerging players

• Armstrong Craven: UK-based executive search firm with a growing global nonprofit and social impact practice, partially overlapping with DSG | Koya in international NGO and foundation placements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/koyapartners
• Facebookfacebook.com/koyapartners
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/koya-leadership-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Koya Leadership Partners