Capital Development Services

What Capital Development Services does

Capital Development Services (CapDev) is a privately held professional services firm founded in 1984 and headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The firm serves mission-driven nonprofit organizations across the Southeast United States, with two principal service lines: Philanthropy Consulting (capital campaign guidance, feasibility studies, development assessments, and board engagement) and Executive Search (retained search for executive directors and senior development leaders, plus candidate sourcing engagements). The company has completed 225 executive searches and hundreds of campaigns over its 40+ year history, operating exclusively on a retained basis with no contingency search offering.

CapDev monetizes through monthly retainer engagements for campaign consulting, flat-fee development assessments, retained executive search fees (16–20 week comprehensive engagements), and hourly "CapDev-On-Call" consulting for organizations with more targeted needs. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; engagements are initiated via direct consultative outreach to nonprofit executive directors, boards, and leadership teams, with demand generated through referrals, conference presence, and thought-leadership content including the annual Compass Report on regional philanthropy trends.

The firm operates without proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or disclosed institutional backing, competing instead on 40+ years of regional relationships, an exclusive retained search methodology that accesses passive candidates, a maintained Resume Bank, a one-year performance guarantee on placements, and active participation across regional nonprofit associations (Together SC, North Carolina Center for Nonprofits) and industry conferences. Leadership includes CEO Allan Burrows, Client Development lead Stephanie Flores de Valgaz, and recently hired Senior Counsel Leila Thomas.

Name

Capital Development Services

Legal name

Capital Development Services

Website

https://capdev.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Consulting Services

akta.pro primary industry

Capital Campaign Management & Advancement Strategy (EDALAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)

Keywords

• Nonprofit consulting
• Philanthropy consulting
• Executive search
• Capital campaigns
• Fundraising consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Winston Salem

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. Philanthropy Consulting: Campaign consulting engagements operate on a monthly retainer throughout the campaign timeline. Development assessments are priced as flat-fee projects. CapDev-On-Call provides hourly consulting for organizations with more targeted needs.
2. Executive Search Services: CapDev offers two retained search configurations: Comprehensive Executive Search covering the full process (16-20 weeks), and Candidate Sourcing covering sourcing and screening phases. Both are retained (upfront fee) model. CapDev does not offer contingency arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Capital Development Services is a boutique consulting firm that helps nonprofit organizations raise more money and recruit senior leaders. The firm provides philanthropy consulting (capital campaigns, feasibility studies, development assessments, strategic planning, board engagement) and retained executive search services (comprehensive full-process search and candidate sourcing) to mission-driven nonprofits primarily across the Southeast US. Additional offerings include hourly CapDev-On-Call consulting and interim executive placement during leadership transitions.

Product overview

CapDev operates as a nonprofit consulting firm offering two primary service lines: Philanthropy Consulting (encompassing Campaign Consulting and Development Consulting) and Executive Search (offering Comprehensive Executive Search and Candidate Sourcing engagements). Additional offerings include CapDev-On-Call hourly consulting for organizations not ready for full engagements, and Interim Executive placement services. The firm was founded in 1984 and serves mission-driven nonprofits across the Southeast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Philanthropy Consulting Comprehensive consulting services for nonprofit organizations covering campaign consulting and development consulting, including capital campaign guidance, feasibility studies, development assessments, strategic planning, and board engagement. Priced on a monthly retainer throughout the campaign timeline, with development assessments as flat-fee projects typically running about twelve weeks.
• Comprehensive Executive Search Full-arc retained executive search engagement covering every phase from position profile development through onboarding, running 16 to 20 weeks. Includes one-year performance guarantee. Priced as a retained (upfront fee) engagement for nonprofit boards seeking executive directors, CEOs, and senior development leadership.
• Candidate Sourcing Focused retained search engagement covering sourcing and screening phases, delivering a curated, screened candidate pool while the board manages interview, selection, and onboarding phases internally. Retained (upfront fee) model; CapDev does not offer contingency arrangements.
• CapDev-On-Call Hourly consulting option for organizations not yet positioned for a full engagement, providing targeted development support on an as-needed, pay-as-you-go basis.
• Nonprofit Interim Executive Experienced outside leader temporarily placed at the helm during leadership transitions, typically serving four to eight months while the board conducts its nonprofit executive search.

Quantifiable outcome

• 225 executive searches completed since 1984
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Together SC Nonprofit NetworkminorOthersAffiliation with Together SC (formerly South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations), indicating regional nonprofit community engagement and peer network participation.
• North Carolina Center for NonprofitsminorOthersAffiliation with the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, indicating membership in and collaboration with the state's primary nonprofit association.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Nonprofit HR: Specialized HR, talent acquisition, and executive search firm focused exclusively on the nonprofit sector; an emerging niche competitor with comparable retained search and leadership advisory offerings.

Direct peers

• Campbell & Company: One of the largest U.S. fundraising and executive search consulting firms serving nonprofits; competes directly with CapDev in philanthropy consulting, feasibility studies, and executive search across multiple regions.
• The Alford Group: Nonprofit consulting and executive search firm providing campaign counsel, feasibility studies, and transition management to mission-driven organizations, directly comparable to CapDev's core offerings.
• Dini Partners: Mid-sized fundraising and executive search consulting firm serving nonprofit, healthcare, and education clients, with a comparable mix of campaign consulting and retained search services.
• Bentz Whaley Flessner: Boutique-to-mid-sized consulting firm focused on fundraising, campaign management, and executive search for nonprofit organizations, with overlapping service lines and similar client types to CapDev.
• KMA Consulting (Korn Ferry Affiliate / formerly KMA): Executive search firm exclusively serving nonprofits, foundations, and associations, closely matching CapDev's retained search methodology and one-on-one nonprofit executive placement focus.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with executive search capabilities across sectors including nonprofits; a broad incumbent that competes with CapDev on executive placements and talent advisory.
• BDO USA Nonprofit Practice: Top-tier accounting and advisory firm with a dedicated nonprofit industry group providing fundraising strategy, governance, and executive search-adjacent advisory services to mission-driven organizations.
• Marcum LLP Nonprofit & Social Sector Practice: National advisory firm (formed via merger with Raffa) serving nonprofits with tax, audit, and consulting services including executive search and fundraising strategy—broader scope but overlapping client base.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a dedicated nonprofit and social sector practice; competes with CapDev for senior nonprofit executive placements while serving a much broader set of industries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CapDev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capital-development-services

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 Capital Development Services