Satell Institute
Satell Institute is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit membership organization connecting 300+ corporate CEOs with 400+ vetted nonprofits for multi-year CSR commitments exceeding $200M, funded by founder Ed Satell's $15M endowment and operating without dues.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersMalvern, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Satell Institute does
Satell Institute is a private nonprofit membership organization (a self-described "Think and Do Tank") that connects corporate CEOs and business leaders with vetted nonprofit organizations to advance Corporate Social Responsibility. Founded by Ed Satell with a $15M endowment (the organization cites both 2015 and 2016 founding dates in different sources) and headquartered in the Philadelphia area, the Institute operates without collecting membership dues; instead, corporate and foundation members commit a minimum of $100,000 over four years directly to nonprofits of their choice, with average contributions exceeding $400,000 and some exceeding $1 million. Members include 300+ enterprises and 400+ nonprofit affiliates across 28 mission areas, generating 500+ productive partnerships and over $200M in cumulative pledges to nonprofits as of March 2026.
The Institute's product surface spans Corporate Membership, Nonprofit Affiliation, invitation-only CEO Conferences (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington D.C., New York, and other cities), closed-door Executive Roundtables limited to 25 executives, an annual Nonprofit Leadership Summit, the Executive Session Podcast, and a Think Tank of academic research and whitepapers. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations run through a Squarespace-hosted website (satellinstitute.org) with searchable member and nonprofit affiliate directories. Delivery is anchored by three regional market leaders (Jake Dawson in D.C., Paul Howard, Jason Riley in Pittsburgh) and CEO-to-CEO referral networks, with no paid advertising. The organization has expanded to 11+ regional chapters across the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Southeast with a stated goal of 50 chapters in 17 regions.
The business model is structurally unusual for a membership organization: 100% of member contributions flow directly to nonprofits, and the Institute itself is funded by investment earnings from founder Ed Satell's $15M endowment. As of the available data, the Institute reports 1-10 employees, no traditional revenue, no parent company, and no government funding, with operations sustained by endowment returns and in-kind event hosting from members and partners (e.g., National Constitution Center, Franklin Institute, United Way).
Satell Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Satell Institute
- Legal name
- Satell Institute
- Website
- https://satellinstitute.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Satell Institute is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit membership organization connecting 300+ corporate CEOs with 400+ vetted nonprofits for multi-year CSR commitments exceeding $200M, funded by founder Ed Satell's $15M endowment and operating without dues.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Satell Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corporate Social Responsibility Membership Organization
- NAICS
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Business Associations (81391), Professional Organizations (813920)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate & Foundation Relations (Sponsorships, Grants, Partnerships) (EDALAOAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH), Functional Summits (HR, Finance, IT, Marketing, Procurement, Legal) (THAHAMAJ)
Keywords
Where Satell Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Malvern
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Satell Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Member Philanthropic Contributions: The Satell Institute facilitates charitable giving from corporate and foundation members to nonprofit organizations. Members commit minimum $100,000 over four years ($25,000/year) to nonprofits of their choice. The organization itself does not collect membership dues—100% of member support goes directly to their chosen nonprofits. The Institute is funded by an initial $15 million endowment from founder Ed Satell, whose investment earnings support operations.
- Event Sponsorships: CEO conferences and events are hosted by members and potential members at little or no additional cost to the Institute, reducing operational expenses while providing networking value.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Corporate Membership - Minimum 4-year commitment to nonprofits |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Nonprofit Affiliate Membership - Free membership with guaranteed funding |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Satell Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Satell Institute is a nonprofit Think and Do Tank that runs a corporate membership program: CEOs and business leaders commit a minimum of $100,000 over four years to nonprofits of their choice, with 100% of member contributions passing through directly to those nonprofits. The institute also operates a nonprofit affiliate program, CEO conferences, executive roundtables, an "Executive Session" podcast, and an annual Nonprofit Leadership Summit to convene members and nonprofit partners.
Product overview
Satell Institute is a membership-based nonprofit organization that connects business leaders with nonprofits to advance Corporate Social Responsibility. Rather than a product company, it offers a suite of membership services including Corporate Membership for CEOs and business leaders, Nonprofit Affiliation for organizations seeking support, and signature event programs such as CEO Conferences, Executive Roundtables, and an Executive Session Podcast. Additional offerings include a Think Tank with research and whitepapers, searchable Member and Nonprofit Affiliate directories, and an annual Nonprofit Leadership Summit. Members commit to multi-year financial pledges (minimum $100,000 over four years for nonprofits) and gain access to peer networking and CSR strategy exchanges.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Corporate & Foundation Membership
- Nonprofit Affiliate Program
- CEO Conferences
- Executive Roundtables
- Executive Session Podcast
Quantifiable outcome
- $200+ million in member commitments to nonprofits as of March 2026
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Satell Institute
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Satell Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Satell Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- United Way WorldwidecoreHost venue for 'In the Spirit of Service' CEO Roundtable in Washington D.C. region. United Way chapters across multiple SI markets collaborate on CSR programming and community impact initiatives.
- Colebrookdale RailroadcoreColebrookdale Railroad is a Nonprofit Affiliate working with Switchpoint Foundation on community revitalization in Pottstown, PA. Projects include converting a hotel into a homeless shelter, workforce training facilities, and economic development initiatives. The railroad runs tourist excursions between Boyertown and Pottstown, generating $13 million in annual economic impact. Nathaniel Guest serves as the railroad's leader.
- Switchpoint FoundationcoreFounded by Scott Bentley (Bentley Systems/VideoRay) and his wife Susan, Switchpoint Foundation works with existing nonprofit organizations in Pottstown to build community capacity. Partnered with Colebrookdale Railroad on homeless shelter conversion and workforce development. Chris Tomlin leads the foundation as veteran nonprofit executive.
- The Pittsburgh FoundationcoreHost of CEO Conference and co-host of Corporate Community Conversation on nonprofit sector challenges. CEO Lisa Schroeder actively participates in SI programming and media segments discussing CSR leadership.
- The Franklin InstitutemajorHost venue for 2025 Nonprofit Leadership Summit in Philadelphia. Major science museum that provides event space for SI programming.
- Greater Washington FoundationcoreHost venue for 2025 Fall CEO Conference in Washington D.C. Partnership supports SI's expansion into the D.C. market.
- Junior Achievement of Greater WashingtonmajorHost venue for Executive Roundtable in Fairfax, VA. Provides space for SI's regional programming in the D.C. market.
- National Constitution CentercorePrimary venue for Satell Institute CEO conferences in Philadelphia. Hosts both Spring and Fall 2025 conferences. Major civic institution in Philadelphia.
- Jackie Robinson FoundationcoreNew York City FC partners with the Jackie Robinson Foundation on scholarship programs for Black students. NYC FC sponsors a scholar from the five boroughs and provides executive mentors. Jackie Robinson Foundation hosts SI's first New York CEO Conference in March 2026.
- Citizens BankcoreCitizens Bank has been an SI member for several years, supporting Pittsburgh community initiatives including workforce development and financial empowerment. Mark Rendulic serves as market president for Western Pennsylvania. The bank has 10,000 colleagues who contributed 250,000 hours volunteering last year, with 24,000 hours in Pittsburgh alone.
- EsperanzacoreEsperanza is a large Latino and underserved communities nonprofit in Philadelphia. Vanguard has had a robust relationship with Esperanza for over a decade, focusing on early childhood centers, teacher training, and neighborhood economic development. Rev. Luis Cortés leads Esperanza, which has annual revenue of $80 million and provides stability to the neighborhoods it serves.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Satell Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Global nonprofit consultancy working with corporations on sustainability and CSR strategy. Comparable in audience (Fortune 500 CSR leaders) and mission, though BSR is consultancy-driven while SI is peer-convening-driven.
- Points of Light: Nonprofit membership and convening organization focused on volunteerism and civic engagement, with a corporate service arm. Comparable to SI in mobilizing corporate-led community impact, but emphasizes volunteer hours rather than multi-year financial pledges.
- Philanthropy Roundtable: Membership association for individual and corporate donors and foundations focused on strategic philanthropy. Comparable in providing a peer-convening platform and curated nonprofit partner access, but with donors rather than operating CEOs as the primary audience.
- Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP): CEO-led coalition that convenes corporations around strategic philanthropy and CSR benchmarking. Directly comparable to SI in audience (C-suite), mission (corporate giving), and programming (CEO convenings and research), though CECP is larger and research-focused.
- Aspen Institute: Nonpartisan think tank and leadership convening organization with programs on business and society. Comparable as a values-driven, founder-style nonprofit convener of senior leaders with a think-and-do tank identity similar to SI.
- Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP): CEO-led coalition benchmarking and convening corporate societal investments. Nearly identical in audience, mission, and programming to SI, with a longer operating history and significantly larger member base; the closest direct competitor.
Emerging players
- JUST Capital: Nonprofit that ranks and convenes corporations around stakeholder-focused business practices. Comparable CSR convening mission with a research-and-rankings angle that differentiates it from SI's giving-focused model.
- Net Impact: Membership community for students and professionals pursuing careers with social and environmental impact. Overlaps with SI's CSR mission but serves a younger, more career-oriented audience rather than sitting CEOs.
Broad incumbents
- United Way Worldwide: Long-standing nonprofit federation convening corporate workplace giving campaigns for community impact. Comparable in connecting corporations with vetted nonprofits, but at far larger scale and with a workplace-giving model rather than CEO peer pledge model.
- The Conference Board: Long-established business membership organization serving CEOs and senior executives across functional areas including ESG and sustainability. Comparable convening model but much broader scope and substantially larger scale than SI.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Satell Institute social profiles
Digital presenceSatell Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Satell Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Satell Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Satell Institute 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 Satell Institute
What does Satell Institute do?
The Satell Institute is a nonprofit Think and Do Tank that runs a corporate membership program: CEOs and business leaders commit a minimum of $100,000 over four years to nonprofits of their choice, with 100% of member contributions passing through directly to those nonprofits. The institute also operates a nonprofit affiliate program, CEO conferences, executive roundtables, an "Executive Session" podcast, and an annual Nonprofit Leadership Summit to convene members and nonprofit partners.
Is Satell Institute a public or private company?
Satell Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Satell Institute founded?
Satell Institute was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Satell Institute based?
Satell Institute is headquartered in Malvern, United States, in the North America region.
How does Satell Institute make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Member Philanthropic Contributions are the primary driver. The others are event Sponsorships.
Who are Satell Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BSR (Business for Social Responsibility), Points of Light, Philanthropy Roundtable, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), Aspen Institute and Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP). Emerging players are JUST Capital and Net Impact. Broad incumbents are United Way Worldwide and The Conference Board.
Does Satell Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Satell Institute.
What industry is Satell Institute in?
Satell Institute's product category is Corporate Social Responsibility Membership Organization. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAOAE, Corporate & Foundation Relations (Sponsorships, Grants, Partnerships), with a secondary code of THAHACAA, Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies). Its NAICS code is 8139 and its SIC code is 8600.