Board Member Connect

What Board Member Connect does

Board Member Connect, founded in 2010 by former nonprofit Executive Director David Lewis and operated through D&L Partners, LLC, is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based firm that provides human-centered nonprofit board recruitment services. The company operates three integrated service lines: Nonprofit Board Recruiting, which sources and vets senior-level executive candidates for nonprofit organizations; the Board Impact Initiative, a turnkey cohort-based program placing Fortune 500 executives on nonprofit boards (cohorts of 5-150+); and Serve on a Board, a candidate-facing service matching VP+ executives with mission-aligned nonprofit opportunities. All services share a unified methodology built on personal candidate interviews and mission-alignment assessment rather than algorithmic matching, with the underlying platform hosted on Knack for candidate profile management.

The firm serves three customer segments horizontally: nonprofits seeking executive-level board members, Fortune 500 corporations building CSR/DEI/leadership development programs, and individual executives pursuing board service. Revenue is generated through two primary mechanisms: professional services fees per nonprofit search engagement and recurring or cohort-based corporate program fees from Fortune 500 clients. Notable enterprise clients include KPMG, IBM, Medtronic, Salesforce, American Express, United Healthcare, and Cigna, alongside nonprofit clients such as Math Circles of Chicago. The company reports placing thousands of board members for hundreds of nonprofits, with 50%+ of nonprofit clients and 70%+ of corporate partners re-engaging for additional engagements.

Board Member Connect is a privately held, founder-owned firm with 17 employees and no disclosed external funding. Distribution is exclusively direct, relying on consultative sales, referrals, and thought leadership. The company has formed a partnership with NonprofitReady.org to provide board-readiness certification for corporate program participants. Operationally, the company is bootstrapped and profitable by appearance, with no acquisitions, no public revenue disclosure, and a stable service model centered on deep personal engagement rather than technology-led scaling.

Name

Board Member Connect

Legal name

D&L Partners, LLC

Website

https://boardmemberconnect.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Board Member Connect is a privately held, human-centered nonprofit board recruitment firm founded in 2010, serving nonprofits seeking board members, Fortune 500 corporations building executive placement programs, and VP+ executives pursuing mission-aligned board service through personal interviews and consultative matching.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Board Recruitment Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hospitality, Travel & Events Direct Hire (BPACAFAL)

Keywords

• Nonprofit board recruitment
• Board member matching
• Corporate board programs
• Executive board placement
• Nonprofit governance consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Corporate Board Placement Programs: Recurring revenue from Fortune 500 companies engaging Board Member Connect to build scalable nonprofit board placement programs. Programs typically involve cohorts of 5-150+ executives with full program management, matching, and impact tracking.
2. Nonprofit Board Recruitment: Professional services revenue from nonprofit organizations seeking executive-level board members. Revenue generated per search engagement with ongoing client relationships.
3. Executive Candidate Placement: Matching service for VP+ executives seeking mission-aligned nonprofit board opportunities. Revenue derived from corporate partnerships who sponsor executive placements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Board Member Connect provides human-centered nonprofit board recruitment services, connecting nonprofit organizations with vetted, executive-level board candidates through personal interviews and mission-aligned matching. The firm also operates a corporate board placement program that places Fortune 500 company executives onto nonprofit boards in cohort-based engagements, plus a candidate-side matching service for VP+ executives seeking meaningful board service. Founded in 2010, it is the first national firm focused exclusively on nonprofit board recruitment.

Product overview

Board Member Connect operates as a human-centered nonprofit board recruitment platform consisting of three integrated service lines: (1) Nonprofit Board Recruiting — a service for nonprofit organizations seeking vetted executive-level board members through a consultative sourcing, vetting, and introduction process; (2) Board Impact Initiative — a corporate program that matches Fortune 500 company executives with mission-aligned nonprofit boards through customized cohort-based placement, including optional board training via a partnership with NonprofitReady.org; and (3) Serve on a Board — a candidate-facing matching service that connects VP+ executives with nonprofit boards where their skills, passions, and values align. All three services share a unified human-centered matching methodology without algorithmic automation, emphasizing personal interviews and mission alignment over technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nonprofit Board Recruiting A recruitment service that connects nonprofit organizations with vetted, senior-level executive board candidates who are mission-aligned and prepared to contribute to governance and fundraising. The service includes a deep-dive consultation on the nonprofit's needs, nationwide executive sourcing and vetting, and personal candidate interviews before introduction. Targeted at nonprofit organizations seeking diverse, executive-level board members.
• Board Impact Initiative (Corporate Programs) A turnkey corporate program that matches Fortune 500 company executives with nonprofit boards for leadership development, including cohort-based placement of 5-150+ executives, custom program design, matching to mission-aligned nonprofits, full program management, and impact tracking and reporting. Targeted at Fortune 500 companies building CSR, DEI, and leadership development programs.
• Serve on a Board A matching service for accomplished executives (VP+ level) seeking nonprofit board opportunities, featuring personal interviews, mission alignment assessment, and concierge-style human-led placement. Targeted at VP, Director, C-suite, and Partner-level professionals seeking meaningful, mission-aligned nonprofit board service.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50%+ of nonprofit clients return for additional searches
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NonprofitReady.orgsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NonprofitReady.org to offer certificate programs that prepare corporate executives for effective nonprofit board service. Provides optional board training for corporate program participants.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• TheBoardlist: A digital marketplace connecting executives (often from underrepresented backgrounds) with board opportunities at companies and nonprofits. Directly comparable as a board-matching platform, though tech-enabled rather than human-centered, competing for the same corporate CSR and candidate-pool demand.
• BoardSource: A long-standing nonprofit organization focused on strengthening nonprofit governance, including board recruitment resources and consulting. Comparable as a competitor and ecosystem player in nonprofit board placement, though more nonprofit-facing and educational rather than executive-search-driven.
• Nonprofit HR: A consultancy specializing in HR, talent, and executive search services exclusively for the nonprofit sector. Comparable to BMC's nonprofit-facing search practice and competes for similar nonprofit executive and governance placement engagements.
• Compass Point Nonprofit Services: A nonprofit-focused organization providing consulting, training, and leadership services to nonprofits, including support for board development and recruitment. Comparable to BMC in the nonprofit governance and board-building segment, though with a broader capacity-building remit.

Broad incumbents

• Spencer Stuart: A global executive search and advisory firm with a dedicated board practice that places directors at both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Competes with BMC on the corporate and executive side of the marketplace, particularly for high-profile board assignments.
• Heidrick & Struggles: A global executive search firm with a strong board and CEO practice across industries. Overlaps with BMC's corporate board-placement services and competes for Fortune 500 mandates, though it operates across the full executive spectrum rather than exclusively nonprofit boards.
• Korn Ferry: A global organizational consulting firm with an executive search practice that places board members and senior executives. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same corporate CSR/board-impact mandates that drive BMC's cohort engagements.
• Egon Zehnder: A global executive search and leadership advisory firm with significant board placement work. Comparable to BMC as a competitor for Fortune 500 board-impact and executive placement mandates, though operating across all C-suite and board functions rather than exclusively nonprofits.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: A global executive search firm with a dedicated board and CEO practice. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for corporate board placement mandates and executive candidates who might otherwise engage BMC's Serve on a Board offering.
• DHR International: A global executive search firm with practices including nonprofit and board services. Comparable to BMC as a competitor for senior executive and board placements, particularly with nonprofits and associations, though operating across a wider range of search engagements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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 Board Member Connect