What Third Plateau does

Third Plateau is a private, full-service impact consultancy founded in 2011 in the San Francisco Bay Area by Mike Berkowitz, Daniel Kaufman, and Jonathan Kaufman. The firm delivers professional services — not a technology platform — across two integrated practice areas: "Transformative Philanthropy" (advisory, grantmaking, program design, foundation financial management, board governance, impact evaluation, spend-down strategy, funder collaboratives, grantee capacity building, multi-generational engagement) and "Impactful Organizations" (strategy and planning, research and evaluation, organizational design, leadership development and coaching, facilitation, sabbatical and succession planning, in-house/embedded support). The firm reports having managed over $2 billion in philanthropic investments for families, individuals, and foundations, and operates subsidiary or stewarded programs including the O2 Sabbatical Award (since 2014), Democracy Funders Network, and Patriots & Pragmatists.

The revenue model is professional services consulting with custom engagement structures; pricing is not publicly disclosed and clients are directed to contact the firm directly. Distribution is entirely direct, relationship-driven, and predominantly referral-based — no intermediaries, resellers, or digital channels. GTM is sales-led and targets three horizontal segments: foundations/families/philanthropists (primary), nonprofits and social sector organizations (primary), and government/public sector (secondary). The firm is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of roughly 11–50 employees spanning strategists, researchers, evaluators, executive coaches, grants managers, and a dedicated client-facing CFO/accounting function, with offices in San Francisco (595 Market Street, headquarters) and Sacramento (1610 R Street, regional).

The firm is privately held with no disclosed institutional or venture capital ownership. In November 2023, Third Plateau merged with Hirsch Philanthropy Partners (founded 1999), absorbing founder Susan Mayer Hirsch and her team as Principals and adding depth in family philanthropy and public-private partnerships. Recognitions include Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators 2025 (Small and Mighty), two Anthem Awards in 2025 for the U.S. Democracy Hub (Best Use of Data), and inclusion of Susan Mayer Hirsch on the San Francisco Business Times Power 100 in 2024. The firm has no disclosed AI/ML platform capabilities, no patents, and no proprietary technology product — its value is delivered entirely through human expertise and managed relationships.

Name

Third Plateau

Legal name

Third Plateau

Website

https://thirdplateau.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Third Plateau is a private impact consultancy that partners with philanthropists, foundations, nonprofits, and public sector organizations to design philanthropic strategies, manage grants and foundation finances, and strengthen social sector organizations through advisory, research, and leadership services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Advisory & Nonprofit Consulting

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH), Advancement Services & Donor Operations (CRM, Gift Processing, Stewardship) (EDALAOAD)

Keywords

• Philanthropic advisory services
• Nonprofit consulting
• Foundation management services
• Impact consulting
• Grants management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Advisory & Management Services: Third Plateau generates revenue through professional service engagements with philanthropists, foundations, families, and nonprofit organizations. Services include philanthropic advising, foundation financial management, program design, grants management, board governance, impact evaluation, and organizational consulting. The firm operates on a consulting/delivery model with custom engagement structures.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Third Plateau is an impact consultancy that delivers custom professional services to philanthropists, foundations, families, and nonprofit organizations. Its two practice areas—Transformative Philanthropy and Impactful Organizations—cover philanthropic advising, grantmaking, program design, foundation financial management and accounting, board governance, impact evaluation, organizational strategy, research, leadership development, and embedded in-house support. The firm has managed over $2 billion in philanthropic investments on behalf of clients.

Product overview

Third Plateau is an impact consultancy offering integrated consulting services through two main practice areas: Transformative Philanthropy and Impactful Organizations. The Transformative Philanthropy practice provides services including philanthropic advising, program design, grants management, foundation financial management and accounting, board governance, impact evaluation, grantee capacity building, spend-down and succession strategy, funder collaboratives, and multi-generational engagement. The Impactful Organizations practice offers strategy and planning, research and evaluation, nonprofit financial management, organizational design, leadership development and coaching, organizational health, facilitation, sabbatical and succession planning, and in-house support. Notable program offerings include the O2 Sabbatical Award and Democracy Funders Network. The firm operates as a consulting practice rather than a software product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• O2 Initiatives: A nonprofit sabbatical award program that provides three-month sabbaticals for exceptional nonprofit leaders in San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa Counties, along with coaching and peer network support.
• Democracy Funders Network

Products and services

• Transformative Philanthropy
• Impactful Organizations
• Democracy Funders Network
• O2 Sabbatical Award

Quantifiable outcome

• Managed over $2 billion in philanthropic investments for families, individuals, and foundations
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hirsch Philanthropy PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn November 2023, Hirsch Philanthropy Partners merged with Third Plateau. Founded in San Francisco in 1999 as one of the first philanthropic advising firms in the U.S., Hirsch brought deep expertise in family philanthropy and public-private partnerships. Susan Mayer Hirsch, the founder, joined as Principal at Third Plateau.
• Contina ImpactcoreOthersContina Impact administers the San Francisco Neighborhoods & Parks Fund created by Third Plateau following the collapse of the San Francisco Parks Alliance. Contina provides affordable Model C Fiscal Sponsorship for emerging projects and collaborative philanthropic initiatives.
• National Center for Family PhilanthropyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird Plateau is a Network Partner of the National Center for Family Philanthropy, connecting with the broader family philanthropy community.
• Democracy Funders NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird Plateau designed and serves as the long-term steward of the Democracy Funders Network, a cross-ideological learning and action community for funders concerned about the health of American democracy. Mike Berkowitz serves as Executive Director.
• Patriots & PragmatistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMike Berkowitz is co-founder of Patriots & Pragmatists, a network co-staffed by Third Plateau that brings together civic leaders from across the political spectrum to explore new ideas for strengthening American democracy.
• Pritzker Innovation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMike Berkowitz serves as Senior Advisor to the Pritzker Innovation Fund, which supports paradigm-shifting ideas with primary focus on climate/energy and U.S. democracy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FSG: Global social impact consulting firm advising foundations, nonprofits, and corporations on strategy, evaluation, and collective impact. Most direct competitor on multi-year philanthropic and nonprofit strategy engagements, with overlapping senior talent (multiple Third Plateau VPs previously worked at FSG).
• The Bridgespan Group: Nonprofit and philanthropy strategy consulting firm advising funders on grantmaking strategy, organizational design, and impact. Overlaps directly on foundation advising and nonprofit strategy engagements, with shared alumni across senior Third Plateau and Bridgespan teams.
• Arabella Advisors: Philanthropic advisory firm providing strategic consulting, impact investing, and operational support to foundations and donors. Direct competitor on donor-advised fund advisory, foundation operations, and philanthropic advising engagements.
• La Piana Consulting: Nonprofit strategy consulting firm focused on strategic planning, mergers and collaborations, and capacity building for nonprofits and foundations. Directly comparable on Impactful Organizations practice offerings (strategy, planning, organizational design, facilitation).
• TCC Group: Nonprofit and philanthropic consulting firm offering strategy, evaluation, and capacity-building services to foundations and nonprofits. Direct competitor on research & evaluation and organizational health practice areas, including fractional evaluation officer engagements.
• The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI): Philanthropy advisory and consulting firm serving individuals, families, foundations, and corporations on strategic giving. Overlaps with Third Plateau's Transformative Philanthropy practice, particularly philanthropic advising, multi-generational engagement, and funder collaboratives.
• Foundation Strategy Group: Philanthropic advisory firm serving high-net-worth families and foundations on strategy, governance, and next-generation engagement. Direct competitor on multi-generational philanthropy and family foundation advisory work.

Regional players

• Mission Capital: Austin/San Antonio-based nonprofit and philanthropic consulting intermediary that builds, connects, and strengthens the nonprofit ecosystem. Comparable on capacity-building and intermediary-style work, but focused on the Central Texas region rather than California/national markets.

Emerging players

• BoardSource: Nonprofit organization providing consulting, training, and resources on nonprofit board governance and leadership. Comparable to Third Plateau's Board Governance and Leadership Development practice, though BoardSource is more productized (training, certification) and less bespoke than Third Plateau's advisory engagement model.

Others

• National Center for Family Philanthropy: Membership-based network serving family philanthropists with research, peer learning, and convenings; Third Plateau is an active Network Partner. Comparable ecosystem connection but positioned as an association/peer-learning body rather than a competing consulting firm.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/third-plateau-social-impact-strategies
• Xx.com/thirdplateau
• Facebookfacebook.com/thirdplateau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Third Plateau