Leadership Council for Nonprofits

What Leadership Council for Nonprofits does

Leadership Council for Nonprofits is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit membership organization founded in 1977 that serves as the primary regional convener for the Greater Cincinnati Tristate (Hamilton County OH, Northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana) nonprofit sector. The organization supports 200+ member nonprofit organizations representing 14,000+ employees and $1.4+ billion in combined member revenues, plus 100+ non-member program participants. Its core offerings span leadership development programs (Leaders Circles with 160+ participants across 18 circles in 2024-25, Leadership Challenge, Leader to Leader Mentoring, BOLD board training), the annual Securing the Future Conference (300+ attendees, 25th year in 2025), the biennial Nonprofit Compensation & Benefits Study, and a 2025-launched workforce initiative called A Force for Good. There is no proprietary technology platform; the digital stack is standard membership-association infrastructure comprising a website, members-only portal, job board, and email newsletter (5,000+ subscribers, 92,000+ annual website visits).

The business model combines four revenue streams: (1) annual membership dues scaled to each member's IRS Form 990 revenue, with new members offered a half-price introductory rate; (2) program fees on a sliding scale (Leaders Circles from $50 to $200 per participant based on organization revenue; Leadership Challenge offered at a heavily subsidized rate versus a $3,000+ market price through Wiley Publishing, International Leadership Associates, and Camp Joy); (3) conference sponsorship and ticket revenue across multiple tiers (Presenting, Keynote, Gold, Silver, Bronze); and (4) benefit-partnership revenue share from a curated vendor ecosystem covering workers' compensation (Sedgwick), unemployment cost management (UST), health plans (Assured Partners), retirement plans (Mutual of America), Medicare guidance (RetireMed), grant management (Instrumentl), and marketing services (Firespring). The compensation study adds a fifth, smaller stream: $150 for members/Dean Dorton clients and $300 for non-members. The organization is led by Executive Director Beth Benson, supported by 1-10 staff, and governed by an active board that expanded in August 2024.

Name

Leadership Council for Nonprofits

Legal name

Leadership Council for Nonprofits

Website

https://leadershipcouncil.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Leadership Council for Nonprofits is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit membership association serving 200+ Greater Cincinnati Tristate nonprofits with leadership development programs (Leaders Circles, BOLD, Leadership Challenge), the annual Securing the Future Conference, peer forums, and group-purchasing benefit partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Leadership Development Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Team & Group Executive Coaching (Leadership Teams) (EDABANAF), Executive Leadership Summits (C-Suite, Board, Strategy Offsites) (THAHAMAA), Nonprofit, Social Services & Community Development Congresses (THAHAJAO)

Keywords

• Nonprofit leadership development
• Board training programs
• Peer learning circles
• Nonprofit membership association
• Nonprofit workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from 200+ nonprofit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati Tristate region. Dues are scaled to each organization's annual revenue, with new members offered a half-price introductory rate. Membership provides access to all programs, member resources, cost-savings benefits, and the member-only portal.
2. Program Fees: Fees charged for signature programs including Leaders Circles (sliding scale based on organization revenue, ranging from $50 to $200 per participant), BOLD (board orientation and leadership development), and Leadership Challenge (three-day intensive). These are one-time or cohort-based fees per participant.
3. Conference Sponsorship and Tickets: The annual Securing the Future Conference attracts 300+ nonprofit decision-makers. Sponsorship packages at multiple levels (Presenting, Keynote, Gold, Silver, Bronze, etc.) and attendee tickets generate revenue. Barnes Dennig is a conference sponsor.
4. Benefit Partnership Revenue Share: Partnerships with vendors (e.g., Sedgwick for workers' comp, Assured Partners for health plans, Mutual of America for retirement plans, UST for workforce solutions, Instrumentl for grant management, Firespring for marketing/websites) provide cost-savings to members and likely generate referral or partnership revenue for Leadership Council.
5. Compensation & Benefits Study Sales: Biennial comprehensive nonprofit compensation and benefits study sold for $150 to members/Dean Dorton clients and $300 to non-members. Tristate nonprofits who complete the survey receive the report free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Leadership Council for Nonprofits is a member-supported nonprofit association that provides leadership development programs (Leaders Circles, Leadership Challenge, Leader to Leader Mentoring), board orientation and training (BOLD), an annual conference (Securing the Future), a workforce initiative (A Force for Good), and cost-saving member benefits (group purchasing, retirement, health plans, workers' comp, grant management tools, compensation benchmarking) to 200+ nonprofit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati Tristate region.

Product overview

Leadership Council for Nonprofits operates as a membership organization offering a portfolio of leadership development programs and member benefits to the nonprofit sector in the Greater Cincinnati/Tristate region. Core programs include Leaders Circles (peer coaching groups), BOLD (board training), Leadership Challenge (3-day workshop), Leader to Leader Mentoring, and the annual Securing the Future Conference. The A Force for Good initiative provides workforce development programming. Members-only portal offers cost-saving benefits including group purchasing, retirement plans, workers compensation, and health plan options, along with job board and compensation survey access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A Force for Good: Workforce initiative combining existing and new programming to position the nonprofit sector as a career of choice for jobseekers at all levels, with focus areas in Nonprofit HR Practice, Career Pathway Education, and Advocacy & Public Relations
• BOLD
• Leaders Circles
• Leadership Challenge
• Leader to Leader Mentoring
• Securing the Future Conference

Products and services

• Leaders Circles Monthly peer groups for nonprofit leaders, organized by role or responsibility (CFO, COO, Development Director, HR Director, etc.), facilitated by a skilled volunteer for peer coaching and shared problem solving; priced $50–$200 per participant on a sliding scale tied to organization revenue.
• BOLD (Board Orientation + Leadership Development)

Quantifiable outcome

• In 2024-25, 160+ people participated in 18 different Leaders Circles and rated the program as one of their best sources of support and professional development.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Barnes DennigcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2025Leadership Council for Nonprofits and Barnes Dennig joined forces in April 2025 to expand the annual Securing the Future conference. Barnes Dennig had been hosting a Nonprofit Leadership Summit since 2002. The combined event in fall 2025 became a full-day conference with Barnes Dennig as a conference sponsor and sharing 20+ years of event planning experience. Barnes Dennig is a CPA and advisory firm serving nonprofits.
• Soapbox MediacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 March 2025Partnership with Soapbox Media to produce the 'A Force for Good' content series, addressing the nonprofit workforce gap in career awareness, readiness, and training, along with best practices in recruitment, compensation, career pathways, workplace culture, and public awareness.
• Human Services Chamber of Hamilton CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-led a comprehensive economic and fiscal impact study with the Alpaugh Family Economics Center at the University of Cincinnati. The study measured the economic contribution of the nonprofit sector in the Cincinnati MSA.
• OneSource Center for Nonprofit ExcellenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-led an economic impact study with Human Services Chamber and Leadership Council. Also partners with Leadership Council on affordable health care options for members through Assured Partners and the Fortress Plans program.
• UST Workforce SolutionscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership since 2007 providing Leadership Council members with access to unemployment savings programs, HR management tools, workers' compensation cost reduction, and compliance services. UST offers multiple program tiers (Trust, Support, Secure, HR Workplace) tailored to nonprofit employers.
• SedgwickcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdministers Leadership Council's workers' compensation savings program for Ohio nonprofits. Offers alternative rating programs to significantly reduce annual workers' comp costs, plus safety services and OSHA compliance support.
• Assured PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorks with Leadership Council to offer an affinity health plan option to nonprofits — a self-funded plan with stop-loss coverage and an ICHRA alternative. Provides access to affordable health care options for member agencies with 5+ participating staff.
• Mutual of AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides Leadership Council members with a waiver of certain plan-related administrative charges for 401(k), 403(b), and TDA retirement plans. Mutual of America has served nonprofits since 1945.
• RetireMedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to provide Medicare guidance and individual health insurance plan support to member nonprofit employees age 60+. RetireMed provides personalized guidance at no cost, and organizations save an average of $6,584 per employee who switches from employer coverage to Medicare.
• Clark Schaefer Strategic HRcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHelped launch the quarterly Nonprofit HR Forum as part of the A Force for Good initiative. Also partners on the HR Question of the Week content series.
• Pro Bono Partnership of OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuarterly webinar series on nonprofit employment law topics, with sessions delivered by KMK Law experts on the latest legal developments, practical solutions, and live Q&A for nonprofit employers.
• UHY (formerly Flynn & Co, CPAs)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHelped launch the quarterly Nonprofit Executive Forum for CEOs and executive directors. UHY is a CPA firm that supports the forum as a way to serve the nonprofit executive community.
• Camargo InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the 2025 Annual Meeting.
• Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeed-stage investor in A Force for Good. Also serves as a media partner, publishing content about Leadership Council programs and nonprofit sector topics.
• InstrumentlminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrant management platform offered as a cost-savings benefit to Leadership Council members through the member-only portal.
• FirespringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing and website services offered as a cost-savings benefit to Leadership Council members through the member-only portal.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Center for Nonprofit Excellence (Louisville, KY): Regional nonprofit support center serving the Louisville metro and Kentucky nonprofits with similar programming (training, consulting, convening). Strongest adjacent-met comparable — same model applied in a different regional market.
• United Way of Greater Cincinnati: Major regional nonprofit infrastructure organization serving the same Greater Cincinnati tristate geography. Provides nonprofit capacity-building, convening, and funder perspective that overlaps with Leadership Council's role, though focused more on resource mobilization than peer leadership development.

Others

• Greater Cincinnati Foundation: Regional community foundation serving the same Greater Cincinnati tristate geography. Not a direct peer but operates in the same regional nonprofit ecosystem, often collaborating with Leadership Council and reaching overlapping nonprofit leadership audiences.
• Candid (Foundation Center + GuideStar): National nonprofit data and research organization providing tools like GuideStar, Foundation Directory, and nonprofit transparency resources. Not a direct peer but provides complementary infrastructure (grant research via Instrumentl partner, nonprofit benchmarking) used by Leadership Council members.

Direct peers

• BoardSource: National nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing board leadership and governance. Directly comparable to Leadership Council's BOLD (Board Orientation + Leadership Development) program — both train and recruit nonprofit board members and provide governance resources.
• Human Services Chamber of Hamilton County: Cincinnati-area chamber serving human services nonprofits; explicitly named as a co-research partner with Leadership Council on the 2022 economic impact study. Comparable member-driven structure serving a partially overlapping nonprofit constituency in the same regional market.
• OneSource Center for Nonprofit Excellence: Cincinnati-based nonprofit support organization explicitly named as a co-partner with Leadership Council on economic impact research and affordable health care access for members. Same regional geography, same member base (Tristate nonprofits), overlapping programmatic offerings in capacity building and HR resources.

Emerging players

• Nonprofit Ready: Online learning platform providing free training and credentialing for the nonprofit workforce — closely aligned with the A Force for Good workforce initiative. Comparable mission around nonprofit workforce/career development but delivered via online courses rather than regional convening.

Broad incumbents

• National Council of Nonprofits: National network of nonprofit membership organizations that operates at the macro/federal advocacy level. Comparable in membership-association business model and serves as the national umbrella of which regional councils (including Leadership Council) are affiliates.
• Independent Sector: National membership organization of nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs that produces research and policy advocacy on the nonprofit sector. Comparable mission around strengthening the nonprofit sector; operates at a national scale rather than regional.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/leadershipcoun
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leadership-council-for-nonprofits/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/leadershipcouncilcincy
• Xx.com/leadershipcoun

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 Leadership Council for Nonprofits