Paideia

What Paideia does

PAIDEIA, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned S-corporation headquartered in Stony Brook, New York, providing consulting and leadership development services exclusively to Christian educational institutions and faith-based nonprofit organizations. Founded in 1965 by D. Bruce Lockerbie (still Chairman and CEO), the firm delivers engagements organized around a proprietary "5 M's" framework — Mission, Management, Marketing, Master Planning, and Money — and offers a broad service portfolio that includes executive and administrative search-and-placement, board education and training, biblical worldview consulting, curriculum and program development, annual fund and major gift counsel, campaign readiness studies and feasibility analysis, strategic planning, and mentoring through The PAIDEIA Institute for Executive Leadership. Delivery is executed through a lean core team supplemented by affiliated independent contractors matched to client needs.

The firm operates a parallel publications business that functions as both a standalone revenue stream and a thought-leadership asset for the consulting practice. THE PAIDEIA LETTER, in its 37th year as of August 2025, is the only independent publication of its kind reaching Christian educators from K-12 through seminary worldwide, distributed via annual subscription at $175/year and producing more than 50 issues per year across four formats. A backlist of books (e.g., From Candy Sales to Committed Donors, Building a Better School, A Christian Paideia) is sold through the firm's e-commerce storefront at price points of $15-$55.

PAIDEIA generates revenue primarily through professional services engagements on quote-based pricing, supplemented by recurring publication subscriptions and one-time book sales. Distribution is direct: enterprise consulting is sold through referral networks, executive search mandates, and annual PAIDEIA conferences held in North America and internationally, while publications are sold via the company website (paideia-inc.com) accepting check, credit card, and PayPal. The customer base spans named K-12 Christian schools, colleges, universities, seminaries, and faith-based nonprofits, with active engagements reported across the USA, Canada, the Caribbean (Haiti), and parts of Asia (Hong Kong, South Korea) and South America (Ecuador).

Name

Paideia

Legal name

PAIDEIA, Inc.

Website

https://paideia-inc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PAIDEIA is a privately held, family-owned consulting firm founded in 1965 that delivers leadership, fundraising, strategic planning, and executive search services exclusively to Christian K-12 schools, colleges, seminaries, and faith-based nonprofit organizations under a proprietary "5 M's" framework, supplemented by a long-running subscription publication.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stony Brook

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Wide-ranging consulting services in five critical areas: mission, management, marketing, master planning, and money. Services include executive search, strategic planning, board workshops, advancement counsel, branding/marketing, and curriculum development.
2. Publications - The Paideia Letter: Annual subscription to THE PAIDEIA LETTER, the only independent publication reaching Christian educators from K-12 through college/university and seminary worldwide. Subscription runs August 1 through July 31.
3. Publications - Books: Sale of published books including The Timeless Moment ($15), Dismissing God ($20), A Christian Paideia ($20), A Passion for Learning ($20), Thinking and Acting Like a Christian ($15), Building a Better School ($15), From Candy Sales to Committed Donors (PDF $45, Binder $55).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PAIDEIA, Inc. is a comprehensive consulting firm providing wide-ranging advisory services to Christian K-12 schools, colleges, universities, seminaries, and not-for-profit organizations across five operational areas: Mission, Management, Marketing, Master Planning, and Money. Services include executive and administrative search-and-placement, strategic planning, board workshops, advancement/annual giving/capital campaign counsel, branding/marketing, curriculum and biblical worldview development, mentoring programs, and benchmarking. The firm also publishes The Paideia Letter (an annual subscription quarterly reaching Christian educators worldwide) and a catalog of books on Christian education, worldview, and school financing.

Product overview

PAIDEIA, Inc. is a comprehensive consulting firm dedicated to a biblical worldview serving educational institutions (K-12 schools, colleges, universities, seminaries) and not-for-profit organizations. The company operates as a single integrated consulting practice organized around five core service areas known as "the 5 M's": Mission, Management, Marketing, Master Planning, and Money. Its product portfolio includes publications (The Paideia Letter subscription publication and multiple books on Christian education, leadership, and worldview) and specialized consulting services (executive search, mentoring programs including The PAIDEIA Institute for Executive Leadership, biblical worldview consulting, curriculum development, strategic planning, board training, fundraising counsel, and campaign readiness studies). The publications serve both as standalone products and as thought leadership supporting the consulting practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The PAIDEIA Institute for Executive Leadership: A year-long mentoring program for mid-level administrators to receive specific mentoring in financial development/advancement.
• THE PAIDEIA LETTER

Products and services

• Consulting Services - The 5 M's Comprehensive consulting services delivered to K-12 schools, colleges, universities, seminaries, and not-for-profit organizations across five critical operational areas: Mission (institutional purpose and founding), Management (governance and administration), Marketing (branding and enrollment), Master Planning (strategic and facilities planning), and Money (fundraising and financial development).
• Executive and Administrative Search-and-Placement Comprehensive executive search services for schools, colleges, seminaries, and other organizations, including recruiting, credential assessment, phone and in-person interviews, and participation in selection meetings, conducted across North America and overseas.
• The PAIDEIA Institute for Executive Leadership A year-long formal mentoring program for mid-level administrators focused on financial development and advancement, beginning at the annual PAIDEIA Conference.
• Board of Trustees / CEO Workshops and Education Counsel at each step of board recruitment, profiling, education, and assessment, including board audits, campaigning education, and counsel on giving responsibilities.
• Biblical Worldview Consulting Counsel and mentoring to heads of schools, academic deans, principals, department chairs, and teachers on curriculum revision, lesson planning, and biblical worldview development.
• Curriculum Development / Program Development Assistance for boards and executive leadership in deciding upon course of study, including classical Christian curriculum, college-preparatory (AP/IB), and specialized curricula.
• Campaign Readiness Studies Feasibility studies focusing on five key factors: case for support, prospect pool, leadership, development offices, and climate for giving.
• Campaign Counsel Ongoing counsel to campaign leaders and teams on retainer or as-requested basis, equipping institutions to internalize campaign management skills.
• Founding an Institution Detailed counsel and roadmap for founding new schools or institutions, leading through progressive stages to a successful opening day.
• The Paideia Letter Annual Subscription Annual subscription to THE PAIDEIA LETTER, the only independent publication reaching Christian educators from K-12 through college, university, and seminary worldwide, priced at $175.00 per year and payable by check, credit card, or PayPal.
• From Candy Sales to Committed Donors: A Guide to Financing Christian Schools A guide to financing Christian schools, available as a one-time-print PDF ($45.00) or as a 3-ring binder version ($55.00, with discounts for five or more copies).

Quantifiable outcome

• 37th year of publishing THE PAIDEIA LETTER
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 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

One partnership is on record.

• OLYMPVS InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAIDEIA, Inc. has a close partnership with OLYMPVS International for facilities and event planning and development. Due to OLYMPVS's worldwide record of accomplishments, PAIDEIA recommends and often participates in delivering their services, ranging from initial facilities planning to turnkey project completion.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Huron Consulting Group: A global consulting firm with a significant higher education practice covering strategy, finance, advancement, and student success. Overlaps with PAIDEIA's higher education client work in fundraising counsel, campaign readiness, and institutional strategy.
• The Bridgespan Group: A non-profit consulting firm advising philanthropists, foundations, and non-profit organizations on strategy, fundraising, and organizational development. Comparable to PAIDEIA in the 'Money' and strategic planning dimensions of the 5 M's framework, especially for non-profit and faith-based clients.
• Bellwether Education Partners: A national education non-profit that advises school leaders, funders, and policymakers on strategy, talent, and growth. Comparable to PAIDEIA in the education consulting and leadership development space, though it serves a broader (secular and faith-based) client mix.
• EAB: A large education advisory firm serving K-12 districts, independent schools, and higher education institutions. Overlaps with PAIDEIA on strategic planning, enrollment, advancement, and board advisory — but at much greater scale and with a tech-enabled delivery model.

Direct peers

• Vanderbloemen Search Group: A faith-based executive search firm serving churches, Christian schools, colleges, and non-profits. Closely matches PAIDEIA in its explicit biblical-worldview positioning, target client segments (Christian K-12 and universities), and executive search offering.
• Independent School Management (ISM): A consulting firm serving private independent schools with services in enrollment, fundraising, governance, and leadership development. Comparable to PAIDEIA's K-12 private school client base and its fundraising, board, and strategic planning consulting offerings.
• Carney, Sandoe & Associates: An executive search and consulting firm focused on independent schools and higher education, with deep relationships in the prep school and faith-based institution market. Highly comparable to PAIDEIA in customer base (heads of school, Christian and classical schools) and core service line (executive search and leadership advisory).
• CapinCrouse: A national CPA and advisory firm exclusively serving non-profits, churches, Christian schools, and faith-based ministries. Comparable to PAIDEIA's fundraising counsel and campaign readiness practice, especially the 'Money' leg of the 5 M's.
• Slingshot Group: An executive search and consulting firm purpose-built for Christian schools, faith-based non-profits, and churches. Directly comparable to PAIDEIA in the same niche of faith-based leadership search and consulting for educational and ministry institutions.

Regional players

• Christian Schools International: A membership association for Christian schools in North America providing services, resources, and professional development. Comparable to PAIDEIA in the Christian K-12 market, with overlapping member/school relationships and a parallel focus on educator development — though it is a non-profit association rather than a fee-for-service consulting firm.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/paideiainc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paideia-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Paideia