Cause Strategy Partners
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
Cause Strategy Partners firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Cause Strategy Partners industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Cause Strategy Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cause Strategy Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | BoardLead for Nonprofits - Free |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cause Strategy Partners product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Cause Strategy Partners
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cause Strategy Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cause Strategy Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- GooglecoreCorporate 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 ChasecoreMajor corporate partner with employees serving on nonprofit boards through BoardLead program. Partnership supports talent development and CSR objectives.
- AdobecoreCorporate 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 SuissecoreCorporate partner with employees on nonprofit boards. Employee Kerri Catalano matched with Beyond Differences and organized Credit Suisse volunteering events.
- PwCcoreProfessional services firm partner using BoardLead for senior executive placement. Patti Bartos, Strategic Initiatives Officer, placed as Treasurer with Step Up for Better Living.
- BlackRockcoreCorporate partner placing employees on nonprofit boards through BoardLead as part of employee engagement and leadership development programs.
- Goldman SachscoreCorporate partner with employees serving on nonprofit boards through the BoardLead program.
- MasterCardcoreCorporate partner in the BoardLead network supporting employee nonprofit board service as part of CSR and talent development.
- The Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationcoreFoundation partner supporting board development initiatives and nonprofit capacity building through Cause Strategy Partners programs.
- LinkedIncoreCorporate partner; employee Erinn Mallory Kolp, Learning Leader for Customer Success, placed with Step Up for Better Living as Vice President.
- WorkdaycoreCorporate partner with employees serving on nonprofit boards through BoardLead.
- SalesforcecoreCorporate partner participating in BoardLead program for employee board placement.
- TradewebstrategicPartnered 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 VitastrategicPartnered 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 FoundationstrategicProvides pro-bono capacity-building consulting support to Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant awardees as part of the grant package.
- Activate GoodminorStrategic partner referring nonprofit organizations to the BoardLead network in North Carolina region.
- America's CharitiesminorStrategic partner referrals of nonprofits and corporate CSR programs to BoardLead.
- Joan Garry / Nonprofit Leadership LabminorGovernance 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
Cause Strategy Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Cause Strategy Partners social profiles
Digital presenceCause Strategy Partners compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Cause Strategy Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cause Strategy Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Cause Strategy Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cause Strategy Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cause Strategy Partners
What does Cause Strategy Partners do?
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.
Is Cause Strategy Partners a public or private company?
Cause Strategy Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cause Strategy Partners founded?
Cause Strategy Partners was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cause Strategy Partners based?
Cause Strategy Partners is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cause Strategy Partners make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Corporate Partnership Fees are the primary driver. The others are concierge Board Placement.
Who are Cause Strategy Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BoardSource, CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, Common Impact, Taproot Foundation and American Corporate Partners. Emerging players are BoardEffect and Net Impact. Broad incumbents are Benevity, The Bridgespan Group and Diligent (Galvanize).
Does Cause Strategy Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cause Strategy Partners.
What industry is Cause Strategy Partners in?
Cause Strategy Partners's product category is Nonprofit Board Placement and Governance Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABAAAA, Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAC, Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking. Its NAICS code is 8139 and its SIC code is 8742.