Ruotolo Associates

What Ruotolo Associates does

Ruotolo Associates Inc. is a privately held, New Jersey-based professional fundraising consulting firm founded in 1979 by George C. Ruotolo, Jr. The firm delivers four core services to nonprofit clients: Fundraising Strategy and Planning, Campaign Management, Philanthropy Research & Analytics, and Executive Search. RA bills clients by time and project scope under The Giving Institute's Code of Ethics, which prohibits percentage-of-funds-raised fees, and does not rely on proprietary software or technology platforms — its value is delivered through senior consultants with deep nonprofit sector experience. RA is the third-longest-standing member firm of The Giving Institute and operates as a Collegium Partner.

The firm serves more than 1,800 cumulative nonprofit clients across faith-based organizations (Catholic dioceses, parishes, and religious orders, plus Episcopal and Lutheran churches), educational institutions (Catholic K-12 schools, private schools, colleges, and universities), and healthcare, arts, and community support organizations. RA claims experience with 275+ Catholic schools and has raised over $3 billion for clients across 37 U.S. states plus engagements in Canada, Germany, Italy, and Kenya. Notable outcomes include Niagara University's $80M-goal campaign concluding above $88M, Diocese of Phoenix's $110M+ campaign including a new Catholic high school, SUNY New Paltz Foundation exceeding a $23M goal at $24.6M, and Norwalk Hospital Foundation's $30M+ capital campaign. The firm operates from a Ridgewood, NJ headquarters and a Southeast Regional Office in Palm Beach, FL, and is led by George C. Ruotolo, Jr. (Chair & CEO) and Steve Michalek (President & COO) alongside a team of roughly 11-50 consultants, including Vice President & Director of the Faith-Based Division Tatiana Ramirez.

Name

Ruotolo Associates

Legal name

Ruotolo Associates Inc.

Website

https://ruotoloassociates.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ruotolo Associates is a privately held nonprofit fundraising consulting firm, founded in 1979, serving 1,800+ faith-based, educational, healthcare, and community organizations through campaign management, philanthropy research, and executive search.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Fundraising Consulting

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD)

Keywords

• Fundraising consulting services
• Capital campaign management
• Philanthropy research analytics
• Nonprofit executive search
• Development strategy counsel

Headquarters

HQ city

Englewood Cliffs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: Ruotolo Associates bills for professional fundraising consulting services according to time provided and/or projects accomplished. The firm adheres to The Giving Institute's Professional Code of Ethics, which dictates that services are never billed based on a percentage of funds raised. Fees are agreed upon prior to commencement of service.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ruotolo Associates is a professional fundraising consulting firm serving 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The firm delivers four core services: fundraising strategy and planning, end-to-end campaign management (capital, comprehensive, and major gift campaigns), philanthropy research and analytics (including feasibility studies and prospect research), and executive search for nonprofit leadership roles such as Executive Director, Chief Advancement Officer, and Director of Development.

Product overview

Ruotolo Associates is a nonprofit fundraising consulting firm offering a portfolio of professional services centered on four core offerings: Fundraising Strategy and Planning, Campaign Management, Philanthropy Research & Analytics, and Executive Search. These services are delivered as consulting engagements rather than software products, tailored to address the distinctive needs, culture, and leadership of each nonprofit client served across faith-based, education, healthcare, and community support sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fundraising Strategy and Planning Consulting services to develop successful philanthropic advancement strategies, including campaign planning and organizational fundraising counsel tailored to each nonprofit client's needs.
• Campaign Management End-to-end campaign management services including capital campaigns, comprehensive campaigns, and major gift initiatives to achieve fundraising goals.
• Philanthropy Research & Analytics Data-driven research and analytical services including prospect research, donor analytics, feasibility studies, and pre-campaign assessments to inform fundraising strategies.
• Executive Search Recruitment and placement services for nonprofit leadership positions including executive directors, chief advancement officers, and development professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Niagara University capital campaign exceeded $80M goal, raising over $88 million
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Collegium PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollegium elevates professional standards within mission-driven organizations, building capacity and competency within the sector. As a privately held parent company, Collegium operates an organization of people, firms, and resources delivering professional consulting services to nonprofits. Ruotolo Associates maintains its distinct brand identity as a Collegium Partner.
• MeitlercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Meitler, the country's foremost Catholic school market data research and strategic planning firm. The partnership delivers seamless services by combining Meitler's strategic planning experts with Ruotolo Associates' fundraising expertise.
• The Giving InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Giving Institute (founded 1935 as American Association of Fundraising Counsel) provides standards of practice for members. RA is the third longest-standing member firm and adheres to the Code of Ethics set forth by this organization. George Ruotolo has served as Chair of the organization.
• Giving USA FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorge Ruotolo serves as board member and former Chair of Giving USA Foundation, publisher of the Giving USA report on philanthropic activity in the United States.
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorge Ruotolo serves on the board of AFP and is a member of AFP's New Jersey Chapter. The firm participates in AFP conferences and professional development events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bentz Whaley Flessner: One of the largest fundraising consulting and executive search firms in North America, serving nonprofits with campaign counsel, feasibility studies, and advancement services. Comparable to RA in service portfolio, ethics-driven fee structure, and large-client campaign execution.
• Marts & Lundy: Long-established nonprofit fundraising counsel firm specializing in capital campaigns, feasibility studies, and campaign management for higher education, healthcare, and faith-based institutions. Closely comparable to RA in longevity, ethical standards, and nonprofit client mix.
• Campbell & Company: National fundraising and executive search consulting firm serving nonprofits with campaign management, development counsel, and talent acquisition. Directly comparable in mission-driven client base and comprehensive fundraising services.
• Grenzebach Glier and Associates: International fundraising and communications consulting firm serving educational, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations with capital campaigns and donor strategy. Comparable in scale, scope, and nonprofit vertical focus.
• Heller Consulting: Nonprofit technology and fundraising strategy consultancy offering CRM implementation, campaign counsel, and analytics. Comparable in nonprofit client focus, though differentiated by a stronger technology-services orientation than RA.
• Changing Our World: National cause marketing and fundraising consulting firm serving nonprofits, foundations, and corporations. Comparable in nonprofit campaign counsel and major-gift strategy work.
• Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates: Community foundation and nonprofit fundraising counsel firm specializing in feasibility studies, campaign management, and strategic planning. Comparable in mid-sized nonprofit client focus and ethical practice standards.
• The Curtis Group: Faith-based fundraising consultancy serving Christian schools, churches, and ministries with capital campaigns and feasibility studies. Direct peer in faith-based fundraising specialization, though smaller and narrower in vertical than RA.
• Apogée Consulting (formerly BWF Advancement): Apogee, formed through the merger of BWF and other fundraising consultancies, provides comprehensive fundraising and advancement services. Comparable in full-service nonprofit counsel offerings and enterprise campaign execution.
• Alexander Haas: Fundraising and campaign management consultancy primarily serving faith-based and educational nonprofits, including churches, synagogues, and schools. Direct peer in faith-based vertical specialization and capital campaign execution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_72mAMsTpSzZBdA05voLBg/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/ruotoloassociates
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ruotolo-associates-inc

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

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Ruotolo Associates