The Napa Group

What The Napa Group does

The Napa Group is a privately-held US strategic consulting firm that has counseled educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and businesses for over 25 years on change dynamics, strategy, leadership, and growth. The firm partners directly with executives, senior leaders, boards, and stakeholders to deliver strategic planning, leadership development, organizational design, and advancement consulting — with sector-specific practices for higher education, nonprofits, and entrepreneurial or emerging-growth companies. Its flagship methodology is a signature strategic planning model paired with an enterprise strategic communications practice, complemented by a 'platform engagement strategy for higher education' under its Organizational Design offering, and a dedicated Advancement Services line covering alumni relations, fundraising, and strategic communications.

The firm's go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, relying on thought leadership content (annual 'Trends in Advancement' whitepapers, higher education trend reports, blog posts), industry conference participation, and a strong referral network from institutional clients to generate demand. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting fees and retainer arrangements, with named client engagements including the University of Miami Alumni Association, Oregon State University, the University of Tennessee, Golden Gate University, Saint Mary's College of California, Regis University, Arkansas State University, the University of Hartford, Alumni UBC, Lumina Hospice & Palliative Care, and Grimmway Schools. The firm also facilitated a year-long strategic planning process for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), an international organization serving more than 3,600 institutions across 82 countries.

There is no proprietary technology platform underpinning the business; the firm's core deliverable is senior-led consulting expertise. No AI/ML products, APIs, mobile applications, patents, certifications, or funding rounds are disclosed in available source material. The firm appears founder-led, with RJ Valentino identified as President, and operates with a US-only footprint, distributing services exclusively through direct consulting engagement.

Name

The Napa Group

Legal name

The Napa Group

Website

https://napagroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Napa Group is a US-based, privately-held strategic consulting firm with 25+ years of experience advising higher education institutions, nonprofits, and emerging-growth businesses on strategic planning, leadership development, organizational design, and advancement services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Operations & Process Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Organization Design & Operating Model Consulting (BPAHAGAB)

Keywords

• Strategic consulting services
• Higher education advisory
• Leadership development consulting
• Organizational design services
• Nonprofit strategic planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Strategic Consulting Services: The Napa Group generates revenue through strategic consulting engagements with educational institutions, nonprofits, and businesses. Services include strategic planning, leadership development, organizational design, and advancement consulting. Revenue is derived from project-based consulting fees and retainer arrangements with client organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Napa Group is a strategic consulting firm that partners with executives, senior leaders, and stakeholders of educational institutions, nonprofits, and businesses to deliver strategic planning, leadership development, organizational design, and advancement (alumni relations, fundraising, communications) consulting. Engagements are delivered through collaborative, interactive planning processes that produce custom solutions, resource plans, implementation roadmaps, and performance metrics.

Product overview

The Napa Group is a strategic consulting firm offering a portfolio of advisory services rather than a software product platform. Their core offerings include Strategy Consulting (using their signature strategic planning model), Leadership Development, Organizational Design, and sector-specific advisory services for Education, Business, and Nonprofits. Additionally, they offer specialized Advancement Services covering alumni relations, fundraising, and strategic communications. These services are delivered through collaborative planning processes, custom solution development, and enterprise integration methodologies. The firm positions itself as a partner for organizations seeking competitive advantage and sustained success in changing environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategy Consulting
• Leadership Development
• Organizational Design
• Education Sector Advisory
• Business Sector Advisory
• Nonprofits Sector Advisory
• Advancement Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Lumina Hospice & Palliative Care achieved 30% increase in average daily census within two years of strategic planning engagement
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 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.

• Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Napa Group facilitated CASE's year-long strategic planning process to define vision and aspirations for the next 10-15 years and create a five-year roadmap. The engagement involved CASE's executive team, board of trustees, and special project steering committee. CASE is an international higher education advancement organization serving more than 3,600 institutions and organizations globally in 82 countries.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Scoville & Associates: Boutique consulting firm focused on strategic planning, organizational design, and advancement for educational institutions. Directly comparable to The Napa Group because both serve as long-tenured higher ed strategy boutiques with similar service lines and target buyers.
• Lipman Hearne: Marketing and branding agency focused exclusively on higher education and nonprofit clients. Comparable to The Napa Group because both serve the same institutional buyer set, sell strategic positioning work, and compete for advancement and enrollment-driven mandates.
• CCS Fundraising: Fundraising consulting and outsourced services firm serving nonprofits and educational institutions. Comparable to The Napa Group because both provide strategic advancement services to the same nonprofit and higher ed buyer base.
• Marts & Lundy: Boutique fundraising and advancement consulting firm specializing in campaign planning, feasibility studies, and advancement strategy. Comparable to The Napa Group because both sell advancement and strategic communications work into university advancement offices.
• Grenzebach Glier & Associates: International consulting firm focused on philanthropic fundraising, advancement strategy, and campaign counsel for education and nonprofit clients. Comparable to The Napa Group because both serve the same institutional advancement buyer and compete for campaign strategy engagements.
• Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL): Enrollment, fundraising, and student success consulting firm serving colleges and universities. Comparable to The Napa Group because both deliver strategic planning and advancement services to higher ed institutions and compete for the same strategic planning RFPs.

Broad incumbents

• EAB: Research and advisory firm serving higher education institutions on enrollment, student success, and advancement. Comparable to The Napa Group because both advise universities on strategy and institutional advancement, with overlapping buyer personas in presidents, provosts, and advancement VPs.
• Accenture: Global consulting leader with higher education and nonprofit industry groups. Comparable to The Napa Group as a competitor for large-scale strategy and operating model engagements with university and nonprofit clients.
• Baker Tilly: Large advisory, tax, and consulting firm with a higher education practice. Comparable to The Napa Group because both sell strategy and organizational consulting to colleges, universities, and nonprofits, though Baker Tilly offers a much broader service portfolio.
• Huron Consulting Group: Large consulting firm with a dedicated Higher Education practice spanning strategy, operations, and technology. Comparable to The Napa Group because both sell strategic planning and organizational advisory services into colleges and universities, though Huron operates at much greater scale and breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thenapagroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheNapaGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-napa-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 The Napa Group