Carol Cone On Purpose

What Carol Cone On Purpose does

Carol Cone On Purpose (CCOP) is a New York-based, founder-led social impact and sustainability consultancy that helps organizations define, activate, and measure corporate purpose as a business strategy. Founded by Carol Cone in 2015 as the successor to Cone, Inc. (established 1983), the firm serves Fortune 500 and large-enterprise clients across healthcare, technology, consumer products, financial services, and nonprofit sectors — including Johnson & Johnson, CVS Health, Google, The New York Times, Quest Diagnostics, Whirlpool, LG, and Kerry Group. CCOP delivers six core service lines: Purpose Discovery, Strategy & Programming, Partnerships, Thought & Issue Leadership, Employee Engagement, and Nonprofit Strategy.

The firm's underlying technology consists of proprietary consulting methodologies and research tools rather than a software platform. Its differentiated assets include the Employee Purpose iQ (EPiQ) assessment for measuring internal purpose experience, the Purpose x AI Framework for guiding purpose-led AI adoption, and the Corporate Social Action Tracker monitoring corporate social engagement trends. Delivery is augmented by the Purpose Collaborative — a global ecosystem of 40+ partner agencies across 20 countries that CCOP curates to assemble bespoke senior teams for each engagement. Thought leadership is produced through the Purpose 360 Podcast (225+ episodes), a bi-weekly newsletter, a research blog, and 30+ published studies.

CCOP generates revenue through customized, quote-based professional services engagements priced by scope, duration, and team composition, typically structured as multi-year contracts. The firm operates with 1-10 senior practitioners on a flat organizational structure, takes a direct enterprise field-sales go-to-market approach, and has not raised external institutional capital. Its primary customer segment is large corporations seeking purpose-strategy advisory, with secondary segments in nonprofits/foundations and cause organizations.

Name

Carol Cone On Purpose

Legal name

Carol Cone ON PURPOSE LLC

Website

https://carolconeonpurpose.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Carol Cone On Purpose is a New York-based social impact consultancy founded by Carol Cone that helps Fortune 500 enterprises and nonprofits define, activate, and measure corporate purpose through senior-led advisory engagements, proprietary research tools, and a global partner network of 40+ agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Impact Consulting

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG/Sustainability Reputation & Purpose Communications (MPAAAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cause/Sustainability & Purpose-Driven Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAL), Sustainability & Purpose Brand Design (ESG Narrative, Impact Branding) (MPAAAEAL), Cause, ESG & Sustainability Communications (MPAAADAL)

Keywords

• Social impact consulting
• Purpose strategy services
• Sustainability advisory
• Corporate purpose consulting
• ESG strategy services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Consulting Services: Customized consulting engagements for defining and activating corporate purpose, including purpose discovery, strategy development, programming, and measurement. Services are senior-led with hands-on execution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Carol Cone On Purpose is a senior-led social impact and sustainability consultancy that helps organizations discover, define, and activate their corporate purpose. Core services include purpose discovery, social impact and sustainability strategy, partnership structuring, employee engagement, nonprofit strategy, and thought leadership positioning, augmented by proprietary research tools (EPiQ, Purpose x AI) and the Purpose Collaborative global partner network.

Product overview

Carol Cone ON PURPOSE is a social impact and sustainability consultancy offering a unified portfolio of advisory services and research tools. The core offerings include Purpose Discovery, Strategy & Programming, Partnerships, Thought & Issue Leadership, Employee Engagement, and Nonprofit Strategy services. These are augmented by the Purpose Collaborative—a global network of 40+ partner firms—and complemented by proprietary research tools including Employee Purpose iQ (EPiQ) for measuring internal purpose experience and the Purpose x AI Guide for AI implementation. The company also produces thought leadership content through the Purpose 360 Podcast (225+ episodes) and publishes research reports including Purpose Under Pressure, B2B Purpose Paradox, Corporate Social Action Tracker, and Purpose at Work eBooks. The Purpose Proven Report documents the company's decade of impact work with clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Purpose 360: A masterclass podcast in unlocking the potential of purpose to ignite business and social impact, hosted by Carol Cone.
• Purpose Collaborative
• Employee Purpose iQ (EPiQ)
• Purpose x AI

Products and services

• Purpose Discovery A consulting engagement that helps organizations uncover and articulate their corporate purpose, moving teams from confusion to consensus around near-term priorities and long-term ambition. Targeted at enterprise leadership teams new to purpose or refreshing an existing purpose.
• Strategy & Programming Architectural services for social impact and sustainability strategies covering material issues, flagship programs, signature initiatives, benchmarking, target-setting, and measurement. Designed for large corporations executing purpose-driven strategies.
• Partnerships Identification, vetting, and structuring of cross-sector partnerships that align values, resources, and expertise to achieve outcomes no single organization could achieve alone. For corporations, nonprofits, and cause organizations seeking collaborative impact.
• Thought & Issue Leadership

Quantifiable outcome

• 58% stronger performance and revenue outcomes among companies that prioritize purpose (CECP, 2025)
• +4 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Purpose Collaborative Network MemberscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal network of 40+ best-in-class purpose and sustainability agencies in 20 countries. CCOP leads strategy and creative, then hand-picks custom teams from network members to provide capabilities each client needs. Members include 17 Sport, 18 Coffees, 3 Sided Cube, Accelerist, Allison + Partners, BBMG, Bruxton, Chuck Joe, Do Good Make Money, Dr. John Izzo, Elle Communications, Forward StoryStudio, Generous, Good Company, Greenberg Traurig, HMD, Haberman, Help Good, IN, Illumine.earth, KITH, Knight & Pawn, Love Your Mother, Love of Good, Matchfire, Mensch, Mission Partners, Occula Group, Oliver Russell, Passion Point Collective, Platypus Advisors, Positive Equation, Public, R&G Strategic, Reconsidered, Reputation Leaders, Ripple Strategies, Selfish Giving, Social Driver, The Giving Back Fund, The Nation of Artists, Upswing, Yulu.
• Keep America BeautifulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCOP joined Keep America Beautiful's Greatest American Cleanup initiative, a national movement ahead of America's 250th birthday. In 2024, the initiative engaged 300,000 volunteers who removed 10+ million pounds of litter and improved nearly 800,000 acres of parks, playgrounds, and trails.
• The Scotts Miracle-Gro CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor sponsor of Keep America Beautiful's Greatest American Cleanup initiative.
• The J.M. Smucker CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor sponsor of Keep America Beautiful's Greatest American Cleanup initiative.
• Choose Healthy LifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Quest Diagnostics' Quest for Health Equity initiative. Brought testing and vaccinations to hard-hit cities through trusted Black churches, enabling thousands of tests, 30,000+ vaccinations, and helped secure a $9.9 million federal grant.
• Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership with Whirlpool Corporation spanning 25 years. BuildBetter program launched in 2021 supports climate-resilient, energy-efficient homes. Total partnership includes $150M+ in contributions and 250,000 appliances donated across 45 countries.
• The Washing Machine ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandmark relationship with Whirlpool Corporation to distribute 150,000 Divya manual washing machines over five years, reclaiming time for women and girls who spend up to 20 hours weekly hand-washing clothes.
• KABOOM!minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured on Purpose 360 Podcast discussing playspace equity and community infrastructure for children.
• JUST Ice TeaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured on Purpose 360 Podcast discussing purpose-driven brand building and stakeholder capitalism.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Allison+Partners: Independent global communications firm with purpose, social impact, and ESG practice areas. Listed as a Purpose Collaborative partner and a directly comparable purpose-comms peer.
• GlobeScan: Sustainability insights and research firm tracking public expectations of business on social and environmental issues. Comparable for the research-driven, purpose-insights portion of CCOP's offering.
• SustainAbility (an ERM company): Sustainability strategy consultancy advising corporates on ESG strategy, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. Direct comparable for ESG/sustainability advisory work targeting enterprise clients.
• Futerra: Sustainability-focused communications and marketing agency that helps brands build purpose-driven strategy, campaigns, and narratives. Highly comparable to CCOP in offering, audience (purpose-led Fortune 500 brands), and boutique consultancy positioning.
• Purpose: Global campaign and strategy agency that builds movements, purpose-driven campaigns, and partnerships for brands and nonprofits. Direct peer in purpose strategy, partnerships, and social impact campaign execution.
• Porter Novelli: Purpose-led public relations and communications agency with a stated focus on 'purpose with impact' across corporate, nonprofit, and brand clients. Direct competitor for purpose strategy and ESG communications mandates.
• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Global nonprofit consultancy that helps enterprises develop sustainable business strategies, ESG advisory, and social impact programs. Direct peer in sustainability strategy consulting with comparable Fortune 500 client base.
• BBMG: Brand and marketing agency focused on sustainable consumers, purpose, and ESG-driven brand strategy. Listed as a Purpose Collaborative partner and a direct comparable in the purpose brand strategy niche.

Broad incumbents

• Kantar: Global insights and consulting firm with a dedicated Sustainability practice covering purpose, ESG strategy, and brand purpose measurement. Competes for the data/measurement side of CCOP's engagements at enterprise scale.
• Edelman: Largest global PR firm with a substantial purpose, ESG, and brand purpose practice (Trust Barometer, Edelman Trust Institute). Competes for the same Fortune 500 purpose mandates but at much larger scale and as part of broader communications offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@carolconeonpurpose
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carol-cone-on-purpose
• Xx.com/CC_ONPURPOSE

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 Carol Cone On Purpose