association of chief executives of voluntary organisations

Name

association of chief executives of voluntary organisations

Legal name

ACEVO (the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations)

Website

https://acevo.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAFAC

Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Risk, Compliance & Governance Advisory

SECONDARYTHAHAMAD

Customer/User Conferences & Client Advisory Boards

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Corporate Meetings & Summits

Keywords

• Charity leadership association
• Professional membership body
• Civil society network
• Nonprofit leadership support
• Governance and advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership subscriptions: ACEVO generates revenue primarily through paid membership subscriptions for charity CEOs and civil society leaders. Membership provides access to the directory, community platform, events, workshops, coaching, mentoring, and governance support.
2. ACEVO Jobs platform: Recruitment platform for charity sector leadership positions, monetised through job posting fees and recruiter subscriptions.
3. Events and programmes: Revenue from paid events, workshops, training programmes, and the annual ACEVOFest conference.
4. Corporate partnerships and services: Partnership arrangements with corporate sponsors including Brewin Dolphin, CCLA, and others, providing services such as ACEVO Utilities and ACEVO SmartEnergy schemes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ACEVO is a UK membership association for chief executives of voluntary organisations and civil society leaders. It provides paid membership subscriptions that unlock access to a member directory, online community platform, leadership development programmes, workshops, coaching, mentoring, governance advice, confidential crisis support, and policy advocacy. The organisation also operates the ACEVO Jobs recruitment board and supplementary member services such as ACEVO Utilities and ACEVO SmartEnergy schemes.

Product overview

ACEVO is a membership organisation providing a comprehensive suite of services for charity and civil society leaders. The core offerings include the ACEVO Jobs board (a dedicated leadership recruitment platform), ACEVO Community (an online member networking hub), and the ACEVO Member Directory. Additional services include ACEVO Utilities and ACEVO SmartEnergy (energy schemes), DBS checks, and the CEO in Crisis confidential support service. Professional development is delivered through leadership development programmes, workshops, coaching, mentoring, and events including the annual ACEVOFest festival. The organisation also produces publications, reports, podcasts (including Leadership Worth Sharing series), and research on governance, policy, pay and equalities. The ACEVO Jobs platform offers an embeddable widget feature for external websites. These services work together to support civil society leaders throughout their careers, from new CEOs through experienced leaders, providing practical tools, peer networking, advocacy, and sector-specific guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACEVO Jobs: A job board service for the charity sector, operated by ACEVO at jobs.acevo.org.uk
• ACEVO Community
• ACEVO Utilities
• ACEVO SmartEnergy

Products and services

• ACEVO Jobs A dedicated leadership jobs board for the charity and civil society sector that allows recruiters to post vacancies and job seekers to search and apply for positions. Includes a recruiter directory, candidate search, and embedded widget feature for external websites.
• ACEVO Community An online digital hub for ACEVO members to connect, support and inspire one another. Members can ask questions, share learning and experiences, seek and offer advice, and network outside of programmes and events.
• ACEVO Member Directory An interactive area where members can view other members' profiles, search for other members, connect with others, and message them. Features connections and networking capabilities for members to collaborate.
• CEO in Crisis Confidential support service for members experiencing a crisis point and/or when their job is at risk. Provides guidance, support, and helps build a plan of action.
• DBS Checks Disclosure and Barring Service check processing service for members, facilitating background checks required for roles working with vulnerable groups.
• Leadership Development Programmes Programmes and resources supporting the development of leadership skills for civil society leaders, including workshops, coaching, and mentoring.
• ACEVO Utilities A utility scheme service available to members offering discounted rates for energy and utility services.
• ACEVO SmartEnergy Energy-related service offering additional benefits for members, integrated with the utilities scheme.
• Publications and Reports Research reports, member briefings, guides, tools and templates providing sector-specific guidance on governance, policy, pay and equalities, and leadership.
• ACEVO Podcast Audio content series featuring conversations on leadership topics, including the 'Leadership Worth Sharing' series with interviews with sector leaders.
• ACEVOFest Annual Leadership Festival Annual flagship leadership festival featuring member meetings, networking, and workshops. This is an established annual event for ACEVO members.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Brewin DolphinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting ACEVO, appearing on the supporters section of the website. Nature of partnership appears to involve sponsorship or marketing collaboration.
• CCLAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner (investment management organisation for charities) appearing on the supporters section. Partnership supports ACEVO's work with the charity sector.
• Hope & MayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing data protection and governance services to charities. Featured as a service provider in ACEVO's provider directory, offering sponsored content on data protection risks for charity CEOs.
• AnsvarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance provider featured as a corporate partner and advertiser on the ACEVO Jobs portal, providing insurance services to the charity sector.
• Green ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecruitment consultancy that collaborated with ACEVO to produce a guide for recruiting chairs, trustees, and chief executives. The guide provides a step-by-step process from planning through post-appointment phases.
• Cadence PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive search consultancy that supported ACEVO's rigorous selection process to identify Mark Norbury as successor to Rosie Ferguson as chair of the board of trustees.
• Association of ChairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe only UK membership association dedicated to supporting chairs and boards to lead their charities well. ACEVO references and promotes this organisation as a related body for governance support.
• NPC (New Philanthropy Capital)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Everyone's Environment initiative examining how climate crisis affects different communities. NPC led the initiative with participation from Race Equality Foundation and Disability Rights UK.
• Julie's BicycleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental organisation whose Creative Climate Justice Guide is recommended by ACEVO as a resource for civil society leaders starting their climate action journey.
• VONNE (Voluntary Organisations Network North East)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost of the Going Green Together initiative supporting the North East charity sector towards Net Zero. ACEVO references their sustainability resources.
• Climate OutreachminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganisation behind the Britain Talks Climate project, providing research on communicating climate issues across different audience segments. ACEVO references their work.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Cranfield Trust: UK charity providing pro bono management support and consultancy to other charities. Comparable as a UK support body for charity leaders but with pro bono delivery model rather than membership.
• Small Charities Coalition: UK support body focused on small charities, providing resources, training, and advocacy. Comparable in serving UK charity sector but targeting smaller organisations rather than CEOs specifically.
• Reach Volunteering: UK charity connecting professionals with charity trustee and leadership roles. Comparable overlap with ACEVO Jobs in the charity leadership recruitment space.
• The Foundation for Social Improvement: UK support body for small charities offering training, resources, and consultancy. Comparable as a UK capacity-building organisation for the voluntary sector, though focused on small charities.

Direct peers

• National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO): UK umbrella membership body for the voluntary sector, providing resources, research, and policy advocacy for charities. Direct peer as another large UK membership association serving the same charity sector.
• Institute of Fundraising: UK professional membership body for fundraisers, with similar subscription model, events, training, and policy advocacy. Comparable in structure and member-funded revenue model.
• NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action): Membership body for local voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisations in England. Comparable UK-focused membership association serving civil society intermediaries.
• Charity Finance Group: UK membership organisation for charity finance leaders, offering training, resources, and community for a specialist charity leadership persona. Similar membership-association operating model.
• Directory of Social Change: UK charity providing training, publications, and research for the voluntary sector. Comparable as a UK-focused provider of content, training, and resources to charity professionals.
• Association of Chairs: UK membership association dedicated to supporting chairs and boards of charities. Direct peer explicitly referenced in ACEVO's partnerships as a complementary body serving adjacent leadership personas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acevo

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 association of chief executives of voluntary organisations