What The Wakeman Agency does

The Wakeman Agency is a founder-owned strategic communications consultancy established in 2003 by Vanessa Wakeman, headquartered in New York City with a secondary office in White Plains, NY. The firm serves three primary segments — nonprofits, foundations, and socially responsible / ESG-committed companies — and operates exclusively in the social change sector, delivering engagements that go beyond traditional public relations to include narrative strategy, foresight, and language innovation.

The agency's core technology is a set of proprietary, named methodologies built on ethnographic and behavioral science foundations: the Narrative Justice Framework, The Lexicon Project® (a registered service mark offering organization-wide language strategy), the Narrative Resilience Program, the Communications Innovation Lab (combining ethnographic principles with neuroscience), and the Risk Register crisis-prevention tool. Its product portfolio spans 15+ service lines — including public relations for nonprofits, brand journalism, crisis and reputation management, media coaching, executive visibility, special events, research and data analytics, and a recurring Media Digests subscription — delivered as professional services engagements rather than software.

The revenue model is fee-for-service professional consulting: quote-based, multi-year engagements with confidential pricing, acquired through direct relationship-based sales supplemented by thought leadership channels (the Social Change Diaries podcast, white papers, earned media). The firm maintains a core team of approximately 10 specialists plus an extended network of consultants, has served 60+ client organizations over 20+ years, and has no institutional capital, M&A activity, or public financial disclosures.

Name

The Wakeman Agency

Legal name

The Wakeman Agency

Website

https://thewakemanagency.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Wakeman Agency is a founder-owned strategic communications consultancy, founded in 2003, that helps nonprofits, foundations, and socially responsible companies shape narratives, build communications strategy, and manage crisis and reputation through proprietary frameworks including the Narrative Justice Framework, The Lexicon Project®, and the Narrative Resilience Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Communications Consulting

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Public Relations Agencies (54182)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Channel Networks (MCNs) & Creator Management Platforms (MPACABAH)

Keywords

• Strategic communications consulting
• Nonprofit public relations
• Crisis communications management
• Narrative strategy services
• Media relations consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

White Plains

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Consulting: Fee-for-service professional services engagements including strategic advisory, communications planning, crisis communications, media relations, thought leadership development, and organizational lexicon development. Engagements vary in scope from short-term projects to multi-year comprehensive partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Wakeman Agency is a strategic communications consultancy that helps nonprofits, foundations, and socially responsible companies craft narratives, earn media coverage, manage crises, and build long-term communications capacity. It sells fee-for-service consulting engagements spanning public relations, narrative and lexicon strategy, crisis and reputation management, executive visibility, media coaching, research and analytics, and special event production. Engagements range from short-term advisory projects to multi-year comprehensive partnerships, with pricing determined through confidential consultation and services scaled to client budgets.

Product overview

The Wakeman Agency is a strategic communications agency for social change, not a unified software product. The agency offers a comprehensive suite of professional services organized around strategic communications for nonprofits, foundations, and socially responsible companies. Core service offerings include Public Relations for Nonprofits, Brand Journalism/Nonprofit Newsroom Model, The Lexicon Project® and Mini Lexicon (organizational language strategy), Communications Innovation Lab, Communications Planning, Crisis & Reputation Management with Risk Registers, Crisis Drills, Executive Visibility & Thought Leadership, Media Coaching, Media Digests Subscription, Narrative Resilience Program, Research & Data Analytics, Special Events, and Strategic Advisory. These services are delivered through consulting engagements rather than software modules, with complementary content offerings including the Social Change Diaries Podcast and white papers on Narrative Justice and Identity and Culture in Nonprofit Communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Social Change Diaries: A podcast hosted by CEO Vanessa Wakeman exploring pivotal aspects of the social change sector, featuring conversations with experts and practitioners dedicated to advancing social change.

Products and services

• Public Relations for Nonprofits Strategic public relations service that crafts narratives and stories to build emotional connections and catalyze action for nonprofits and foundations, going beyond awareness creation.
• Brand Journalism / Nonprofit Newsroom Model Strategic storytelling approach blending journalistic techniques with brand messaging, enabling organizations to produce credible, fact-based content and serve as their own media source.
• The Lexicon Project Research-based organizational language and communication strategy development that helps organizations find the right words to share their mission through social and political shifts, including a comprehensive glossary, protocols for rollout, and strategic support.
• Mini Lexicon Project Streamlined version of the Lexicon offering delivering critical analysis to support shifts in language through focus groups, language audit, and competitor analysis for organizations with limited time or resources.
• Communications Innovation Lab Collaborative space combining communications, ethnographically inspired principles, and neuroscience to help organizations amplify their voice, catalyze audiences into action, and develop or evolve communications strategies for maximum impact.
• Communications Planning Strategic framework service that helps organizations clearly communicate, manage unpredictability, and maintain trust with key audiences through alignment of vision, anticipation of audience questions, and identification of right moments and channels.
• Crisis & Reputation Management Comprehensive crisis communications support including real-time strategic advisory, messaging strategy development, tactical planning, press releases, media coaching, and after-action planning to navigate reputational damage.
• Risk Register Proactive crisis prevention tool that assesses and maps out themes and issues representing risk levels an organization faces, including narrative, language use, positioning, stakeholder perspectives, and emerging changes analysis.
• Crisis Drills Crisis simulation and preparedness exercises that help organizations anticipate challenges during emergencies and train teams on tactical responses, including scenario development, facilitation, real-time challenges, and feedback.
• Executive Visibility & Thought Leadership Positioning service for CEOs and executives to become trusted voices on critical social issues, including thought leadership platform development, media placement, speaking engagement identification, and leadership positioning.
• Media Coaching Personalized training service preparing leaders and spokespeople to confidently engage with media through group or one-on-one sessions, message development, mock interviews, and feedback on body language and tone.
• Media Digests Subscription Subscription service providing monthly or bi-monthly curated reports with concise summaries of recent events, key patterns, and opportunities for media engagement on specific topics relevant to clients' work.
• Narrative Resilience Program Program that helps organizations stress-test narratives, anticipate how they might shift, and build infrastructure to evolve in real time through assessment, vulnerability identification, horizon scanning, and guided workshops.
• Research & Data Analytics Custom-designed research services including narrative analysis, lexical research, commissioned reports, audience research, and message testing using methods such as surveys, focus groups, interviews, and historical analysis.
• Special Events Full-service event planning and production including experience development, revenue strategy, audience development, event production, logistics, vendor management, sponsorship support, and staffing for small and large scale events.
• Strategic Advisory Communications partnership offering subject-matter expertise, strategic counsel, and critical insights to help organizations make informed communications decisions through experienced guidance and flexible advisory support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 160 media placements achieved for Echoing Green and its Fellows in national, local, and international media outlets
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Burness: Strategic communications firm specializing in serving nonprofits, foundations, and social impact organizations. Directly comparable on client base, strategic advisory model, and emphasis on measurable mission outcomes.
• GMMB: Public affairs and communications firm with deep social impact practice serving nonprofits, foundations, and health/education causes. Comparable on cause-driven client portfolio and integrated strategic communications approach.
• Fenton Communications: Mission-driven public relations and communications firm focused on social justice, public health, education, and the environment. Closely comparable to Wakeman in serving progressive nonprofits, foundations, and cause-driven clients with strategic communications.
• Spitfire Strategies: Strategic communications firm focused on helping nonprofits, foundations, and advocacy groups develop winning messages and campaigns. Comparable on methodology, sector specialization, and commitment to social change outcomes.
• Hattaway Communications: Strategic communications consultancy that helps mission-driven organizations, foundations, and nonprofits use narrative and research to advance social change. Closely comparable on methodology, sector focus, and proprietary narrative frameworks.
• SKDK (Stanton Public Relations): Public affairs and strategic communications firm serving nonprofits, advocacy organizations, foundations, and corporate clients navigating complex social issues. Comparable on cause-based positioning and stakeholder communications expertise.
• Purpose: Strategic communications and campaigns agency that works with nonprofits, foundations, and social enterprises on narrative strategy, brand journalism, and movement building. Comparable on social change sector focus and narrative-driven methodology.
• BerlinRosen: Communications and public affairs firm with strong practice serving nonprofits, foundations, advocacy groups, and progressive causes. Comparable on mission-driven client focus and strategic communications capabilities, though at significantly larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Global public relations leader with dedicated social impact, ESG, and nonprofit practices. Comparable on social change communications offerings but operates at vastly larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Wakeman.
• Blue State: Digital communications and strategy agency serving nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and progressive brands. Comparable on mission-driven focus and strategic communications for social impact, though with stronger digital and creative production capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-wakeman-agency
• Xx.com/wakemanagency
• Facebookfacebook.com/wakemanagency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 The Wakeman Agency