Waverly Partners
Waverly Partners is a retained executive search firm founded in 2001 that places Presidents, CEOs, and Executive Directors for nonprofit Boards of Directors, including chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and trade associations. Since early 2025, it operates as the nonprofit search practice of Ward Howell International.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Waverly Partners does
Waverly Partners is a retained executive search firm founded in 2001 that specializes in placing President, CEO, and Executive Director candidates for Boards of Directors in the nonprofit sector, including chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, trade associations, cultural arts organizations, and health and human service agencies. The firm also serves select Fortune 500 corporate clients. As of early 2025, Waverly Partners joined Ward Howell International and now operates as the nonprofit search practice within that global leadership consulting network, which spans 30+ offices across 22 countries while Waverly Partners maintains its own brand identity and consulting team.
The firm operates with a small partner-led team of four named consultants (Heidi G. Milosovic as Managing Partner, plus Sara B. Cikalo, Eric N. Peterson, and Deborah M. Galbraith as Partners), each with over 25 years of executive search experience. Its core product is retained executive search for senior leadership roles, augmented by three newer add-on service modules introduced post-integration: Board Advisory, Succession Planning, and Leadership Appraisals. The firm maintains offices in Cleveland, OH and Kansas City, KS, with the Ward Howell headquarters in New York serving as the parent company's base.
Waverly Partners generates revenue through professional services fees on retained executive search engagements, with pricing not publicly disclosed but consistent with industry-standard retained fee structures. Its go-to-market is direct Board engagement combined with professional network referrals within the nonprofit sector, supplemented by its membership in the Network of Nonprofit Search Consultants. The firm does not disclose revenue figures and operates as a privately held subsidiary within the Ward Howell International strategic operating structure.
Waverly Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Waverly Partners
- Legal name
- Waverly Partners
- Website
- https://waverly-partners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Waverly Partners is a retained executive search firm founded in 2001 that places Presidents, CEOs, and Executive Directors for nonprofit Boards of Directors, including chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and trade associations. Since early 2025, it operates as the nonprofit search practice of Ward Howell International.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Waverly Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI)
Keywords
Where Waverly Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Waverly Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retained Executive Search Services: Retained executive search engagements for President, CEO, and Executive Director roles. Clients engage the firm for comprehensive national searches, with the firm working directly with Boards of Directors to identify and place qualified leadership candidates.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Waverly Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Waverly Partners provides retained executive search services for nonprofit organizations including chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, trade associations, cultural arts, and health and human service agencies. The firm conducts comprehensive national and international searches for President, CEO, and Executive Director roles, engaged directly by client Boards of Directors. Complementary offerings include board advisory, succession planning, and leadership appraisals delivered through the Ward Howell International network.
Product overview
Waverly Partners operates as a retained executive search consulting firm that functions as Ward Howell's nonprofit search practice. The core offering is executive search services for nonprofit organizations including chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, trade associations, cultural arts, and health and human service agencies. They conduct searches for President, CEO, and Executive Director roles on behalf of client Boards of Directors. Additional service modules include Board Advisory, Succession Planning, and Leadership Appraisals, which expand the firm's capabilities beyond traditional search to provide comprehensive leadership solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Executive Search Services Retained executive search services for nonprofit organizations, including chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, trade associations, cultural arts, and health and human service agencies. Conducts searches for President, CEO, and Executive Director roles on behalf of client Boards of Directors.
- Board Advisory Services Advisory services for organizational boards to enhance governance effectiveness and leadership structure, delivered as a standalone service offering to nonprofit and corporate clients.
- Succession Planning Services Planning services to help organizations prepare for leadership transitions and ensure continuity of executive leadership.
- Leadership Appraisals Services Assessment services to evaluate current leadership performance and effectiveness, delivered as a standalone engagement.
Companies that use Waverly Partners
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Waverly Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Waverly Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Kearney Area Chamber of CommerceminorWaverly Partners was engaged by the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors to conduct a comprehensive national search for the Chamber's next President and CEO, with the position expected to be posted within two weeks.
- Ward Howell InternationalcoreWaverly Partners has officially joined Ward Howell International as of early 2025, functioning as Ward Howell's nonprofit search practice. This partnership provides Waverly Partners with access to Ward Howell's global network of 30+ offices in 22 countries, expanded services including board advisory, succession planning, and leadership appraisals, and enhanced resources to meet evolving client challenges.
- Network of Nonprofit Search ConsultantsminorWaverly Partners is an active member firm of the Network of Nonprofit Search Consultants, a trade association focused on best practices within the nonprofit search sector.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Waverly Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Isaacson, Miller: Executive search firm exclusively focused on the nonprofit sector, serving education, social justice, arts, health, and advocacy organizations for CEO and senior leadership placements. Closest direct comparable to Waverly Partners given the nonprofit-only specialization and retained Board-level engagement model.
- WittKieffer: Executive search firm with dedicated practices in healthcare, education, and nonprofit leadership. Comparable to Waverly in serving mission-driven organizations for senior executive placements, though broader across healthcare and higher education.
Broad incumbents
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a nonprofit, association, and social enterprise practice. Competes with Waverly for C-suite placements in mission-driven organizations while serving a much larger corporate client base.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with practices spanning nonprofit, association, and social sector clients. Overlaps with Waverly's Board-level nonprofit engagements but serves a much wider range of industries and geographies.
- DHR International: Global executive search firm with practices serving nonprofit, association, and cultural sector clients for senior leadership roles. Comparable in targeting Board-level engagements, though operating across many additional industries.
- Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a large executive search practice serving corporate and nonprofit clients across industries. Competes with Waverly for senior-level nonprofit CEO engagements, but operates as a much broader talent and advisory platform.
- Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a dedicated nonprofit and association practice placing CEOs and senior leaders. Directly comparable on nonprofit executive search engagements, but as part of a much broader cross-industry portfolio.
- Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm serving nonprofit, foundation, and association clients alongside corporate mandates. Overlaps with Waverly on nonprofit CEO placements but offers a broader suite of leadership advisory services.
Others
- Ward Howell International: Parent organization and global leadership consulting firm founded in 1951 with 30+ offices across 22 countries. Now houses Waverly Partners as its nonprofit search practice; comparable as a partner-level executive search provider but with a much broader geographic and functional footprint.
- CohnReznick: Professional services firm serving nonprofit, association, and government clients with audit, tax, and advisory services. Related as a partner firm to nonprofit Boards and an indirect competitor for Board-level relationships, though not a direct executive search peer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Waverly Partners social profiles
Digital presenceWaverly Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Waverly Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Waverly Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Waverly Partners 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 Waverly Partners
What does Waverly Partners do?
Waverly Partners provides retained executive search services for nonprofit organizations including chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, trade associations, cultural arts, and health and human service agencies. The firm conducts comprehensive national and international searches for President, CEO, and Executive Director roles, engaged directly by client Boards of Directors. Complementary offerings include board advisory, succession planning, and leadership appraisals delivered through the Ward Howell International network.
Is Waverly Partners a public or private company?
Waverly Partners is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Waverly Partners founded?
Waverly Partners was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Waverly Partners based?
Waverly Partners is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Waverly Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: retained Executive Search Services.
Who are Waverly Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Isaacson, Miller and WittKieffer. Broad incumbents are Russell Reynolds Associates, Heidrick & Struggles, DHR International, Korn Ferry, Spencer Stuart and Egon Zehnder. Others are Ward Howell International and CohnReznick.
Does Waverly Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Waverly Partners.
What industry is Waverly Partners in?
Waverly Partners's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAI, Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.