Kittleman
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Kittleman firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kittleman
- Legal name
- Kittleman & Associates, LLC
- Website
- https://kittlemansearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kittleman industry classification
Industry- 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
- C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)
Keywords
Where Kittleman is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Kittleman business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Executive Search Services: Kittleman operates as a retained executive search firm providing specialized nonprofit CEO and Executive Director placements. The firm charges fees for conducting executive searches on behalf of nonprofit clients. As a retained search firm, candidates presented during the search process remain part of the engagement regardless of referral source. The firm provides placement guarantees where replacement searches are conducted at reduced fees if placed candidates depart within a specified period.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Kittleman product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kittleman is a retained executive search firm specializing exclusively in placing CEOs and Executive Directors for nonprofit organizations. Founded in 1963 as the first firm dedicated to nonprofit executive search, the firm manages end-to-end CEO/ED recruitment processes including candidate sourcing, assessment, and onboarding support. Services are delivered through consultant-led engagements with offices in Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and Boston.
Product overview
Kittleman is an executive search firm offering a single, focused service portfolio centered on nonprofit CEO and Executive Director placements. The core offering is retained executive recruiting services, supplemented by leadership transition planning advisory services and a candidate network for connecting organizations with prospective nonprofit executives. Founded over 60 years ago, Kittleman positions itself as the first and leading search firm dedicated exclusively to nonprofit leadership placements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Nonprofit CEO & Executive Director Executive Search Services Retained executive search services focused exclusively on placing nonprofit CEOs and Executive Directors. The firm manages the complete recruitment process including candidate sourcing, assessment, interviews, and placement for nonprofit organizations across foundations, associations, cultural institutions, and human services organizations.
- Leadership Transition Planning Advisory services helping nonprofit boards prepare for leadership transitions, including succession planning, outgoing CEO transition management, and onboarding support for new executives.
- Candidate Network Services A network connecting Kittleman with executive-level nonprofit professionals for placement consideration. Candidates can submit resumes and receive updates on relevant opportunities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 96% of searches place CEOs or EDs with nonprofit clients
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kittleman
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Kittleman technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Kittleman partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Alliance Partners (Interim Executive Providers)minorKittleman has relationships with several Interim Executives through Alliance Partners. These partnerships support clients who need interim leadership during the search process, particularly when leadership transitions are unplanned and sudden. The firm can refer clients to qualified interim executives during the period before a permanent CEO or ED is placed.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Kittleman competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Phillips Oppenheim: Retained executive search firm dedicated to nonprofit and association leadership placements. Directly competes with Kittleman for the same nonprofit board clients and CEO/ED searches.
- Isaacson Miller: Executive search firm specializing in nonprofit, education, arts/culture, and social-impact leadership placements. The closest direct peer to Kittleman given the overlapping mission-driven CEO/ED focus and retained search model.
- Nonprofit HR: HR and talent solutions firm focused exclusively on the nonprofit sector, including executive search, interim leadership, and HR consulting. Comparable niche specialization and nonprofit-only client base.
- Bridge Partners Executive Search: Boutique retained executive search firm dedicated to nonprofit and association leadership placements. A direct boutique peer in the same niche, often competing on the same set of nonprofit board clients.
Broad incumbents
- Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with deep nonprofit and association search capabilities. A broad incumbent that competes for large nonprofit CEO/ED mandates.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a dedicated Social Impact practice serving nonprofit clients. A large incumbent competing at the top end of nonprofit CEO searches against Kittleman.
- Korn Ferry: Largest global executive search and organizational consulting firm with significant nonprofit and association sector coverage. Sets fee benchmarks and competitive pressure on boutique nonprofit search firms.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a dedicated nonprofit practice. A broad incumbent that competes for high-end nonprofit leadership placements alongside Kittleman.
Emerging players
- BoardSource: Nonprofit organization focused on nonprofit governance and leadership, providing board consulting, leadership development, and executive search support. Overlaps with Kittleman on the leadership transition side of nonprofit board needs.
Regional players
- DHR International: Executive search firm with a nonprofit and association practice serving North American clients. Comparable in size and practice breadth, competing for mid-market nonprofit CEO mandates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kittleman social profiles
Digital presenceKittleman financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kittleman leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Kittleman funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kittleman M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kittleman
What does Kittleman do?
Kittleman is a retained executive search firm specializing exclusively in placing CEOs and Executive Directors for nonprofit organizations. Founded in 1963 as the first firm dedicated to nonprofit executive search, the firm manages end-to-end CEO/ED recruitment processes including candidate sourcing, assessment, and onboarding support. Services are delivered through consultant-led engagements with offices in Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and Boston.
Is Kittleman a public or private company?
Kittleman is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kittleman founded?
Kittleman was founded in 1963. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kittleman based?
Kittleman is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kittleman make money?
One revenue line is on record: executive Search Services.
Who are Kittleman's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Phillips Oppenheim, Isaacson Miller, Nonprofit HR and Bridge Partners Executive Search. Broad incumbents are Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles, Korn Ferry and Russell Reynolds Associates. BoardSource is listed as an emerging player. DHR International is listed as a regional player.
Does Kittleman have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kittleman.
What industry is Kittleman in?
Kittleman's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAI, Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search, with a secondary code of BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.