Cause Strategy Partners

What Cause Strategy Partners does

Cause Strategy Partners (CSP) is a Certified B Corporation, founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York, that operates a technology-powered marketplace and service business at the intersection of Fortune 500 employers and the nonprofit sector. Through its flagship BoardLead program, the company matches corporate professionals with nonprofit board service opportunities, supported by a virtual governance training suite called BoardLearn. CSP also offers a white-glove Concierge Board Placement service for senior executives, live learning experiences, consulting for HR/CSR teams, a structured Executive Director Performance Assessment (EDPA) tool, a Nonprofit Board Service Fellowship for underrepresented leaders, and an annual Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant co-funded with Tradeweb and Dolce Vita.

CSP operates a tri-sided model. Corporate partners (60+ organizations including Google, JPMorgan Chase, PwC, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Mastercard, Adobe, Credit Suisse, Workday, Salesforce, LinkedIn, Allstate, United, Sidley Austin, and the Gates Foundation) pay recurring fees to offer board placement as an employee leadership development and CSR benefit. Nonprofit organizations (1,500+) receive BoardLead matching and training free of charge, with costs underwritten by corporate partners and funders. Board candidates access curated matching, training, and ongoing support through the platform. Disclosed scale metrics include 3,000+ board members elected, 30,000+ professionals trained, 126,000+ annual board service hours, and $27.5M in annual revenue referenced on the company website.

The business is geographically diversified across the United States, the United Kingdom (since 2021), and Hong Kong (since 2024), with no disclosed venture capital or private equity ownership. In December 2025, COO Whitley Richards was promoted to CEO as founder Rob Acton transitioned to a principal/founder role, signaling a planned leadership succession. The company differentiates via a curated 'BoardLeader Way' standard, governance training depth, network density, and brand assets including B Corp certification and the RealLeaders 2023 Impact Award.

Name

Cause Strategy Partners

Legal name

Cause Strategy Partners, Inc.

Website

https://causestrategypartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cause Strategy Partners operates the BoardLead platform, matching corporate professionals from Fortune 500 firms with nonprofit board service opportunities and providing governance training; it serves corporate partners, nonprofits, and board candidates across the U.S., U.K., and Hong Kong.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Board Placement and Governance Training Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Nonprofit board placement
• Governance training services
• Corporate volunteer programs
• CSR talent development
• Board matching platform

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Partnership Fees: Cause Strategy Partners generates revenue by charging corporate partners (Fortune 500 companies, professional services firms) for board placement and governance training services. Companies pay to offer board service as an employee benefit, talent development tool, and CSR initiative. The company places over 3,000 professionals from 60+ corporate partners on nonprofit boards annually.
2. Concierge Board Placement: Premium white-glove placement services for senior executives at top companies seeking governing board opportunities at high-impact nonprofits, including one-on-one planning, nonprofit outreach and vetting, introduction and process management, and individualized ongoing support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cause Strategy Partners connects corporate professionals with nonprofit board service opportunities through its BoardLead matching platform, Concierge Board Placement for senior executives, and BoardLearn governance training suite. The company partners with Fortune 500 companies and global professional services firms to offer nonprofit board placement as an employee development and CSR initiative, while providing nonprofits access to vetted, trained board candidates at no cost.

Product overview

Cause Strategy Partners offers a portfolio of nonprofit board placement and governance training products centered around its flagship BoardLead platform. The core offering includes BoardLead (online matching and placement platform), Concierge Board Placement (high-touch executive service), and Live Learning Experiences (governance training). Supporting products include BoardLearn (virtual training suite), Consulting services, the Nonprofit Board Service Fellowship, the Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant, and the Executive Director Performance Assessment tool. Together these products enable Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits to connect talent with social good opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BoardLead: Flagship nonprofit board matching and training program that connects corporate professionals with nonprofit boards in the U.S., U.K., and Hong Kong
• BoardLearn
• Concierge Board Placement
• Nonprofit Board Fellowship
• Executive Director Performance Assessment (EDPA)

Products and services

• BoardLead Flagship online platform and program that matches nonprofit organizations with corporate professionals for board service. Provides curated board matching, placement services, training through BoardLearn, and ongoing support for BoardLeaders throughout their governance journey. Operates in U.S., U.K., and Hong Kong.
• Concierge Board Placement White-glove placement service for senior executives at top companies seeking governing board opportunities at high-impact nonprofits. Includes one-on-one planning, nonprofit outreach, vetting, introduction management, and individualized ongoing governance support.
• Live Learning Experiences Live, webinar-based, and in-person governance training programs including Board Governance Live Learning Experiences. Features interactive sessions, boardroom simulations, and workshops covering topics like financial oversight, DEI in the boardroom, crisis management, and fundraising.
• Consulting Strategic consulting services for CSR teams, HR/Talent teams, and nonprofit organizations. Includes Nonprofit Board Development Consulting, Nonprofit Leadership Coaching, Corporate Social Responsibility & HR/Talent Consulting, and Conference Speaking.
• Executive Director Performance Assessment (EDPA) Independent assessment tool helping nonprofit boards conduct comprehensive Executive Director performance reviews with confidential feedback collection, objective synthesis, and structured reporting frameworks.
• Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant for Small Nonprofits Annual grant program providing $20,000 unrestricted grants plus pro-bono capacity-building supports to small nonprofit organizations supporting human rights, girls'/women's empowerment, and LGBTQ+ causes.
• Nonprofit Board Service Fellowship

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% of BoardLeaders elected to leadership positions within first year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• GooglecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner placing employees on nonprofit boards through BoardLead. Google employees including Katarzyna Bednarowicz matched with PowerPlay NYC, launching mentorship programs connecting Google professionals with nonprofit youth mentees.
• JPMorgan ChasecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor corporate partner with employees serving on nonprofit boards through BoardLead program. Partnership supports talent development and CSR objectives.
• AdobecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner; employee Laura Herman placed on board of Arts at the Old Fire Station in London. Adobe supports employee board service as leadership development.
• Credit SuissecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with employees on nonprofit boards. Employee Kerri Catalano matched with Beyond Differences and organized Credit Suisse volunteering events.
• PwCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional services firm partner using BoardLead for senior executive placement. Patti Bartos, Strategic Initiatives Officer, placed as Treasurer with Step Up for Better Living.
• BlackRockcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner placing employees on nonprofit boards through BoardLead as part of employee engagement and leadership development programs.
• Goldman SachscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with employees serving on nonprofit boards through the BoardLead program.
• MasterCardcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in the BoardLead network supporting employee nonprofit board service as part of CSR and talent development.
• The Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner supporting board development initiatives and nonprofit capacity building through Cause Strategy Partners programs.
• LinkedIncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner; employee Erinn Mallory Kolp, Learning Leader for Customer Success, placed with Step Up for Better Living as Vice President.
• WorkdaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with employees serving on nonprofit boards through BoardLead.
• SalesforcecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner participating in BoardLead program for employee board placement.
• TradewebstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Cause Strategy Partners and Dolce Vita to launch the Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant for Small Nonprofits, providing $60,000 total in grants to three grassroots organizations in 2025.
• Dolce VitastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Cause Strategy Partners and Tradeweb to fund the Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant, supporting small nonprofits in human rights, women's empowerment, and LGBTQ+ causes.
• Taproot FoundationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides pro-bono capacity-building consulting support to Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant awardees as part of the grant package.
• Activate GoodminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic partner referring nonprofit organizations to the BoardLead network in North Carolina region.
• America's CharitiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic partner referrals of nonprofits and corporate CSR programs to BoardLead.
• Joan Garry / Nonprofit Leadership LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernance expert collaborator who co-hosts 'Tough Conversations' video series with Rob Acton on CEO-board chair challenges.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BoardSource: Leading national nonprofit focused on nonprofit board governance, leadership, and recruitment. Directly comparable as both organizations train, place, and support board members, though BoardSource historically skews more toward resource publishing and consulting than marketplace matching.
• CompassPoint Nonprofit Services: Provides executive coaching, consulting, and leadership development for nonprofit leaders and boards. Directly comparable in the nonprofit governance training and leadership development space.
• Common Impact: National nonprofit that connects corporate employees with nonprofits for skills-based volunteering and board service. Closely comparable mission of bridging corporate talent with nonprofit capacity-building needs through structured programs.
• Taproot Foundation: Nonprofit that facilitates pro bono consulting engagements between corporate employees and nonprofits. Comparable in enabling corporate talent to serve nonprofits and a current Cause Strategy Partners program partner for capacity building grants.
• American Corporate Partners: Nonprofit that connects veterans with corporate mentors and board opportunities. Comparable model of matching corporate professionals with mission-driven organizations, though focused specifically on the veteran community.

Emerging players

• BoardEffect: Board management software for nonprofits, healthcare systems, and educational institutions. Adjacent product (board portal) that competes for nonprofit board technology budgets, though not in matching/training.
• Net Impact: Professional network for students and leaders using business skills for social impact. Overlaps in engaging professionals in CSR/board service, though primarily a community/membership organization rather than a placement provider.

Broad incumbents

• Benevity: Corporate CSR and employee engagement software platform used by many of the same Fortune 500 buyers as Cause Strategy Partners. Adjacent through shared buyer (corporate CSR/HR teams) and emerging overlap in skills-based volunteering features.
• The Bridgespan Group: Large nonprofit and philanthropic consulting firm. Overlaps in serving nonprofit capacity building and CSR strategy, but a broader strategy consulting firm rather than a matching/training specialist.
• Diligent (Galvanize): Enterprise governance, risk, and board management software vendor. Comparable as a board governance platform but operates at a much larger scale and broader enterprise/corporate governance market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CauseStrategy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cause-strategy-partners-llc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments3 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Cause Strategy Partners