Mission Partners
Mission Partners is a women-owned Certified B Corporation strategic communications firm serving nonprofits, foundations, and social impact organizations with strategic planning, branding, PR, campaign development, and equity-centered communications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersRockville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Mission Partners does
Mission Partners is a women-owned, Certified B Corporation strategic communications firm founded by Carrie Fox in 2016 (with 2017 often cited as the first operating year) and headquartered in the Rockville/Washington D.C. area. The firm serves nonprofits, philanthropic foundations, and social-impact organizations — spanning policy, public health, civic engagement, affordable housing, community development, and journalism — providing strategic planning, messaging and branding, public relations and campaign development, partnerships and program development, design services, and training and facilitation. Its differentiation rests on an equity-centered methodology branded as "More Than Words" (also the title of Carrie Fox's bestselling book), explicit anti-racist commitments and a published Race Equity Action Plan, and a proprietary "Mission Forward" national education platform comprising a podcast, weekly column, books, workshops, and community events that functions as both thought leadership and a top-of-funnel demand engine.
The business is a fee-based professional services operation: engagements are sold directly by the leadership team on a project or retainer basis, with multi-year contracts common and no public rate card. Distribution is entirely relationship-driven — direct outreach, referrals, and sector reputation — with no resellers or marketplaces. A second revenue stream, classified as subscription/recurring, runs through Mission Forward via book sales, workshop fees, and event revenue. The team numbers 11-50 employees, including partners, strategists, designers, and Social Impact Fellows distributed across the Mid-Atlantic, Minnesota, and New York. In January 2023, the firm expanded its ownership structure to add three senior leaders (Bridget Pooley as COO, Deb Ferrin as CFO, Anne Kerns as Creative Director) as employee-owner Partners alongside Carrie Fox.
From a positioning standpoint, the firm has accumulated multiple external validations — Inc. 2026 Fastest Growing Companies in the Mid-Atlantic, PRNEWS Top Corporate Social Responsibility Program (2024), two Real Leaders Impact Awards (2021, 2023), Mental Health America Gold Bell Seal (2022), and Inc. Best Workplace (2022) — and a B Corp recertification score of 125.5 (up 30+ points from founding). Notable historical project work includes Carrie Fox serving as lead communications strategist on a $10 million global prize competition to advance fuel-efficient vehicles. There is no indication of venture capital or private equity backing, no parent company, and no disclosed revenue; the firm operates as a closely held professional services partnership.
Mission Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mission Partners
- Legal name
- Mission Partners
- Website
- https://mission.partners
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Mission Partners is a women-owned Certified B Corporation strategic communications firm serving nonprofits, foundations, and social impact organizations with strategic planning, branding, PR, campaign development, and equity-centered communications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mission Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Strategic Communications Consulting
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate & Foundation Relations (Sponsorships, Grants, Partnerships) (EDALAOAE)
Keywords
Where Mission Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rockville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Mission Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Strategic Communications Consulting: Mission Partners generates revenue through fee-based consulting engagements with nonprofits, foundations, and social impact organizations. Services include strategic planning, messaging and branding, public relations, campaign development, design services, and training and facilitation. engagements are project-based or retainer arrangements.
- Mission Forward Education Platform: Mission Forward is a national public education platform operated by Mission Partners, offering a podcast, CEO weekly column (Finding The Words), books, resources, and workshops. Revenue from this platform may include book sales, workshop fees, and event revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom consulting engagements — no public tiered pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Mission Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mission Partners provides fee-based strategic communications consulting services to nonprofits, foundations, and social impact organizations, encompassing strategic planning, messaging and branding, public relations, campaign development, design services, partnerships and program development, and training and facilitation. Engagements are project-based or retainer arrangements, led by senior strategists and supported by the firm's proprietary 'More Than Words' courageous communication methodology. The Mission Forward education platform (podcast, books, workshops, weekly column) extends the firm's thought leadership and serves as a complementary offering.
Product overview
Mission Partners is an award-winning strategic communications firm and Certified B Corporation that operates as a single integrated offering rather than a modular platform. The core product is strategic communications consulting services for nonprofits, foundations, and social impact organizations, encompassing strategic planning, messaging and branding, public relations and campaign development, design services, and training and facilitation. Supporting this core offering are educational products including the Mission Forward platform (which provides podcasts, workshops, books, and community events), the More Than Words book on courageous communication methodology, and the Adventures in Kindness children's book. The company also publishes annual Social Impact Reports documenting its B Corp commitments and equity initiatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mission Forward: A national education platform that equips purpose-driven leaders to lead with care, courage, and clarity. Features a podcast, CEO's weekly column, books, resources and workshops.
Products and services
- Strategic Communications Consulting Fee-based strategic communications consulting services delivered to nonprofits, foundations, and social impact organizations. Engagements cover strategic planning, messaging and branding, public relations and campaign development, design services, partnerships and program development, and training and facilitation, typically structured as project-based or retainer arrangements.
- Mission Forward Education Platform A national public education platform operated by Mission Partners that equips purpose-driven leaders with podcast episodes, books, workshops, resources, and community gatherings focused on communications, leadership, and social impact.
- More Than Words Book Bestselling book by Carrie Fox titled 'More Than Words: Communications With Courage, Care and Clarity' that serves as the foundation for the firm's proprietary courageous communication methodology.
- Adventures in Kindness Book Children's book co-authored by Carrie Fox and her daughter Sophia, featuring 52 adventures for kids to build a better world. Book design led by Anne Kerns.
Quantifiable outcome
- $617,000 in capital moved to Black- and women-led organizations in 2021 alone; $130,000 in pro bono services delivered toward a multimillion-dollar commitment
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Mission Partners
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mission Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Mission Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CommonHealth ACTIONcorePartnered with CommonHealth ACTION to deliver Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Training to Mission Partners and its network. Natalie S. Burke, founder of CommonHealth ACTION, is a recurring featured speaker and collaborator on Mission Forward events. Mission Partners doubled down on its equity commitment by partnering with CommonHealth ACTION to bring training experiences to its broader network.
- Montgomery CollegeminorPresented the Narrative Change Fall gathering in partnership with Montgomery College in November 2018. The event centered stories of immigration and people's lives in the United States.
- Greater Washington Community FoundationminorPresented the Narrative Change Fall gathering in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation in November 2018, alongside Bethesda Magazine.
- Bethesda MagazineminorPresented the Narrative Change Fall gathering in partnership with Bethesda Magazine in November 2018, alongside Montgomery College and Greater Washington Community Foundation.
- Greater Washington Board of TradecoreMission Forward 2017 series launched at the Greater Washington Board of Trade on April 20, 2017. The event featured MacArthur Genius Award Winner Mauricio Lim Miller and national leader Natalie S. Burke of CommonHealth ACTION.
- Chronicle of PhilanthropycoreMission Forward series was conducted in partnership with the Chronicle of Philanthropy in 2016. Carrie Fox co-hosted the series with Stacy Palmer of the Chronicle, providing editorial coverage and hosting candid conversations with social innovators and philanthropists in New York and Washington, D.C.
- The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc.minorFeatured as a key philanthropy partner in the 2016 Mission Forward series at the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Donn Weinberg represented the foundation as a featured panelist discussing social innovation with Plinio Ayala of Per Scholas.
- America The Beautiful FoundationminorMission Partners is listed as a partner in news coverage of the America The Beautiful Foundation's nationwide campaign, suggesting a client relationship for strategic communications support.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Mission Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fenton Communications: Fenton is one of the largest independent social-change PR and communications firms in the US, serving nonprofits, foundations, and advocacy organizations. Directly comparable to Mission Partners in client base (foundations, advocacy groups) and core offerings (PR, campaign development, strategic communications), though operating at a much larger scale.
- Burness: Burness is a communications firm supporting nonprofits, foundations, and social impact organizations with PR, narrative, and campaign work. Closely mirrors Mission Partners' client mix and service set, including foundations and policy nonprofits, and is a frequent co-bidder on the same RFPs.
- Spitfire Strategies: Spitfire is a strategic communications firm that works with nonprofits, foundations, and philanthropies on messaging, campaign strategy, and narrative change. Highly comparable to Mission Partners in target market (foundation and nonprofit communications), service mix (messaging, campaign development), and equity-centered positioning.
- Hattaway Communications: Hattaway is a strategic communications firm that helps purpose-driven organizations sharpen their narrative and strategy. Comparable to Mission Partners in serving foundations and nonprofits with strategic communications, narrative change, and audience research engagements.
- Big Duck: Big Duck is a branding and communications firm that specializes exclusively in serving nonprofits. Direct peer in niche positioning (nonprofit-only), service set (branding, messaging, campaign work), and target buyer (nonprofit leadership teams).
- Resonance Agency: Resonance is a women-owned, B Corp-certified communications firm serving mission-driven brands, nonprofits, and social enterprises. Directly comparable to Mission Partners in B Corp positioning, women-owned ownership, and target client base of purpose-driven organizations.
Broad incumbents
- GMMB: GMMB is a large full-service communications and advocacy firm that serves nonprofits, foundations, advocacy groups, and political causes. Overlaps with Mission Partners on nonprofit and foundation communications but operates at much larger scale and with broader paid-media, digital, and direct-response capabilities.
- BerlinRosen: BerlinRosen is a major progressive public relations and strategic communications firm. Comparable to Mission Partners in serving mission-driven organizations and advocacy work but is a broad incumbent with significantly larger headcount and a wider service portfolio.
Others
- The Communications Network: The Communications Network is a membership organization for nonprofit communicators. Adjacent rather than directly competitive: it serves as a professional community and learning network for the same buyer audience that Mission Partners sells to, making it a useful ecosystem comparator for buyer-side benchmarking.
Emerging players
- Casa Employment Strategies: A smaller emerging player focused on strategic communications and consulting for nonprofit and social impact organizations. Comparable to Mission Partners in size and niche focus on the social impact sector, though with narrower service breadth.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mission Partners social profiles
Digital presenceMission Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mission Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Mission Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mission Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mission Partners
What does Mission Partners do?
Mission Partners provides fee-based strategic communications consulting services to nonprofits, foundations, and social impact organizations, encompassing strategic planning, messaging and branding, public relations, campaign development, design services, partnerships and program development, and training and facilitation. Engagements are project-based or retainer arrangements, led by senior strategists and supported by the firm's proprietary 'More Than Words' courageous communication methodology. The Mission Forward education platform (podcast, books, workshops, weekly column) extends the firm's thought leadership and serves as a complementary offering.
Is Mission Partners a public or private company?
Mission Partners is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Mission Partners founded?
Mission Partners was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mission Partners based?
Mission Partners is headquartered in Rockville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mission Partners make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Strategic Communications Consulting is the primary driver. The others are mission Forward Education Platform.
Who are Mission Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fenton Communications, Burness, Spitfire Strategies, Hattaway Communications, Big Duck and Resonance Agency. Broad incumbents are GMMB and BerlinRosen. The Communications Network is listed as an others. Casa Employment Strategies is listed as an emerging player.
Does Mission Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mission Partners.
What industry is Mission Partners in?
Mission Partners's product category is Strategic Communications Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAOAE, Corporate & Foundation Relations (Sponsorships, Grants, Partnerships). Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 7311.