What Boardwalk Consulting does

Boardwalk Consulting is a retained executive search firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that recruits CEOs, Executive Directors, and other senior leaders exclusively for nonprofit organizations and foundations. Founded in October 2002 by Sam Pettway (a 25-year veteran of Spencer Stuart and Egon Zehnder), the firm has grown from a solo practice to a 14-person team that has conducted over 500 leadership searches for nonprofit clients in roughly three dozen U.S. states. Its client base spans operating nonprofits and foundations across civil rights, environmental, human services, arts & culture, community development, international relief, and youth development missions, with named engagements for organizations such as the Sierra Club, Earthjustice, ACLU of Georgia, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, The Asia Foundation, Trust for Public Land, and the CDC Foundation.

The firm operates a single-service professional services model — there is no proprietary software platform or technology product; its "product" is a multi-month retained search engagement delivered by senior consultants and a dedicated recruitment/research function. Its go-to-market is consultative and relationship-based, engaging nonprofit boards and search committees directly through its established network, content marketing via the smorgasBoard newsletter and blog, an annual Nonprofit Leadership Conference (co-sponsored with Sterling Seacrest Pritchard and Truist), and earned media coverage in The New York Times, Chronicle of Philanthropy, NPR, and Hunt Scanlon Media. International capacity is provided through its membership in Panorama, a global network of independent executive search firms. Revenue is generated on a retained basis, with fees that vary by level of search, organization type and size, and structure — some engagements use fixed fees, others are tied to the salary of the placed role, with travel and search expenses billed separately. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated individually with each client.

Crystal Stephens was appointed CEO and Managing Director effective October 1, 2025, succeeding founder Sam Pettway (who remains as Founding Director), and the firm has continued to add senior practitioners through 2024–2026, including the integration of boutique search practice JUNE Partners. The firm has been recognized on Hunt Scanlon Media's HR/Diversity Recruiting Power 65 List and has placed nearly half leaders of color and a majority women across its engagements. Boardwalk is structured as a Georgia LLC (BoardWalk Consulting LLC), is privately held with no institutional investors or parent company, and is not a software or AI-native business — its competitive position is built on practitioner expertise, sector specialization, and a deep nonprofit leadership network.

Name

Boardwalk Consulting

Legal name

BoardWalk Consulting LLC

Website

https://boardwalkconsulting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BoardWalk Consulting is an Atlanta-based retained executive search firm that recruits CEOs and senior leaders exclusively for nonprofit organizations and foundations. With 14 practitioners and 500+ completed searches across the U.S., it serves mission-driven clients through relationship-driven, senior-led engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Nonprofit leadership recruiting
• CEO search consulting
• Retained search firm
• Foundation executive recruitment

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

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. Retained Executive Search Services: BoardWalk Consulting operates as a retained executive search firm, engaged by nonprofit organizations and foundations to conduct leadership searches. They are hired on a retained basis to find qualified candidates for senior executive positions. The firm charges fees based on the level of search, type and size of organization, with some firms charging fixed fees while others charge based on the salary of the role. In addition to the base fee, expenses for travel and other search-related activities are charged separately.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BoardWalk Consulting is a national retained executive search firm that recruits CEOs, Executive Directors, and senior C-suite leaders (COO, CFO, CDO, CHRO, CPO, Chief Program Officer) as well as board members for nonprofit organizations and foundations. Engagements are conducted on a retained basis with end-to-end service from research and candidate development through placement, and clients include national, regional, and local operating nonprofits and family, community, corporate, and legacy foundations.

Product overview

BoardWalk Consulting is a national executive search firm operating as a single-service consulting practice focused exclusively on nonprofit and foundation leadership recruitment. The firm offers retained executive search services for CEO, Executive Director, C-suite executives (COO, CFO, CDO, CHRO, Chief Program Officer), and board members. The firm does not operate a software platform or product portfolio; its primary offering is professional recruiting services supported by its smorgasBoard newsletter/blog as a content marketing channel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retained CEO and Executive Director Search National retained executive search service placing CEOs, Executive Directors, and equivalent top leaders for nonprofit organizations and foundations, with comprehensive 4–5 month processes producing professionally and demographically diverse candidate slates. Engaged directly by boards and search committees for succession from iconic long-serving leaders and other mission-critical transitions.
• Retained C-Suite Executive Search Retained executive search for senior C-suite roles at nonprofit organizations and foundations, including COO, CFO, CDO, CHRO, CPO, and Chief Program Officer positions. Delivered through a 4–5 month high-touch process by a team of practitioners with prior nonprofit and grantmaking experience.
• Nonprofit Board Member Recruitment Retained recruitment service for nonprofit boards of directors seeking new members, supporting search committee effectiveness, governance strengthening, and improved board composition and diversity. Engagements typically involve multi-stakeholder search committees and are sold as a distinct line of work alongside CEO and C-suite searches.
• Foundation President and CEO Search Retained executive search service focused on President, CEO, and senior leadership placements for family foundations, community-based foundations, corporate foundations, and health legacy foundations. Designed to address leadership transitions, succession planning, and the identification of visionary leaders who can advance philanthropic missions, with the option of global candidate reach through the Panorama network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 leadership searches conducted successfully
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PanoramacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoardWalk Consulting is an active member of Panorama, a global network of leading independent executive search firms. This partnership enables BoardWalk to access world-class talent worldwide and serve clients with international reach. The network combines home market experience with global capacity, allowing borderless searches.
• Sterling Seacrest PritchardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of BoardWalk's Annual Nonprofit Leadership Conference alongside Sterling Seacrest Pritchard and Truist
• TruistminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of BoardWalk's Annual Nonprofit Leadership Conference alongside Sterling Seacrest Pritchard and BoardWalk Consulting

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Spencer Stuart: One of the world's largest retained executive search firms, with a dedicated Nonprofit, Philanthropy & Social Innovation practice. Directly comparable as BoardWalk's founder Sam Pettway spent 1993-2002 at Spencer Stuart, and the firm competes for many of the same C-suite nonprofit engagements.
• Egon Zehnder: Global retained executive search firm with a dedicated Social Impact and Nonprofit practice. BoardWalk's founder spent 1981-1993 at Egon Zehnder, and the firm targets overlapping executive leadership engagements with foundations and large nonprofits.
• Isaacson, Miller: National retained executive search firm exclusively focused on the nonprofit sector, recruiting CEOs, senior leaders, and development professionals for foundations, advocacy organizations, and educational institutions — the closest direct competitor to BoardWalk's mission.
• Koya Leadership Partners: Executive search firm dedicated to mission-driven organizations, recruiting CEOs, senior leaders, and board members for nonprofits, foundations, and social enterprises. Directly comparable in client base and positioning to BoardWalk.
• NPAG (Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group): Boutique retained executive search firm exclusively focused on nonprofit leadership, conducting CEO and senior executive searches for mission-driven organizations across the U.S. — a direct niche competitor to BoardWalk.
• DRG Executive Search: Boutique retained executive search firm with a dedicated practice serving nonprofit, association, and social impact organizations. Comparable in scope and client base to BoardWalk, particularly for C-suite and Executive Director searches.

Broad incumbents

• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a dedicated Social Impact practice that recruits CEOs and senior leaders for nonprofits, foundations, and NGOs — directly competing with BoardWalk on larger retained engagements.
• Korn Ferry: Largest global executive search and organizational consulting firm with a dedicated Nonprofit, Healthcare & Social Impact practice. Competes with BoardWalk for senior nonprofit and foundation leadership searches at the enterprise end of the market.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Social Impact & Nonprofit practice that recruits CEOs and senior leaders for major foundations, NGOs, and cultural institutions — competing with BoardWalk for high-profile nonprofit engagements.

Emerging players

• Bridgespan Group: Nonprofit and philanthropy consulting firm that periodically supports leadership transitions and executive placements for foundations and large nonprofits. Adjacent to BoardWalk's market with overlap on executive succession engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boardwalk-consulting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Boardwalk Consulting