Graham-Pelton Consulting

What Graham-Pelton Consulting does

Graham-Pelton Consulting is a privately held, founder-controlled fundraising consultancy founded in 1998 by Craig Leach and headquartered in Summit, New Jersey. The firm exclusively serves large nonprofit organizations across five verticals: higher education, hospitals and healthcare, independent schools, social and global impact organizations, and (via its GP Catholic Services subsidiary) Catholic dioceses and faith-based institutions. Its service model spans the full capital campaign lifecycle — feasibility studies, campaign planning (including the trademarked CAPS™ accelerated planning system), capital campaign management offered through three flexible engagement models (Complete Execution, Collaborative Partnership, and Trusted Counsel), data intelligence and fundraising analytics, fundraising communications, strategic growth planning, transitional and interim staffing, and tailored training workshops. Underlying its methodology is a stack of four registered proprietary frameworks: Case IN5™ for case-for-support development, Beyond Gratitude™ for healthcare grateful-patient programs, and Inspiring Humans, Not Donors™ for visioning sessions, in addition to CAPS™.

The firm's commercial model is professional services, quote-based and project-tied, with multi-year contract structures typical of capital campaign work. Pricing is engagement-scoped — staff count, duration, and scope are the primary cost drivers — and the firm has publicly cited an industry benchmark of approximately $0.10–$0.12 spent per dollar raised across all campaign costs. Geographic reach spans North America, Europe (via wholly-owned UK subsidiary Graham-Pelton (UK) Ltd. in London), and Australia. Distribution is direct enterprise sales into nonprofit leadership and boards, supported by a content-marketing engine ("Insights with Impact" blog, LinkedIn, email newsletter) and industry conference presence. The firm reports 500+ major nonprofit clients and publicized outcomes including $630M+ raised for Stony Brook University, $1B raised in the quiet phase at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and $85M for The Madeira School. The firm operates with 51–100 employees, has no disclosed external investors or parent company, and is led by founder/CEO Craig Leach.

Name

Graham-Pelton Consulting

Legal name

Graham-Pelton Consulting, Inc.

Website

https://grahampelton.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Graham-Pelton Consulting is a US-headquartered, founder-controlled fundraising consultancy founded in 1998 that exclusively serves large nonprofit organizations across higher education, healthcare, independent schools, social impact, and diocesan verticals, offering end-to-end capital campaign and analytics services through trademarked proprietary methodologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Fundraising Consulting

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Management & Performance Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD)

Keywords

• Fundraising consulting services
• Capital campaign management
• Nonprofit feasibility studies
• Grateful patient programs
• Donor data analytics

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fundraising Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for nonprofit organizations including feasibility studies, capital campaign management, interim staffing, data analytics, communications, and training. Services are tailored to engagement size, staff requirements, and project timeframe. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Graham-Pelton Consulting provides end-to-end fundraising consulting services exclusively to nonprofit organizations, including campaign feasibility studies, capital campaign management, data intelligence and analytics, fundraising communications, strategic growth planning, interim staffing, and tailored training. The firm offers three flexible engagement models — Complete Execution, Collaborative Partnership, and Trusted Counsel — supported by proprietary frameworks such as Case IN5, CAPS, Beyond Gratitude, and Inspiring Humans, Not Donors, combining human fundraising expertise with AI-enhanced donor analytics. Services are tailored to each client's sector, campaign size, staffing requirements, and timeframe.

Product overview

Graham-Pelton is a fundraising consulting firm offering a comprehensive suite of services exclusively to nonprofits. The firm's offerings include Campaign Feasibility and Planning (with CAPS™ Accelerated Planning System), Capital Campaign Management (three flexible models), Data Intelligence & Fundraising Analytics (AI-enhanced), Fundraising Communications (with proprietary How to Inspire Humans, Not Donors™ and Case IN5™ frameworks), Strategic Growth Planning, Beyond Gratitude™ (healthcare-specific), Transitional and Interim Staffing, and Training and Workshops. These services work together as an integrated consulting approach to help nonprofits plan, execute, and optimize their fundraising efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Campaign Feasibility and Planning Feasibility studies to assess donor readiness and creation of detailed roadmaps to navigate each phase of capital campaigns, including the Campaign Accelerated Planning System (CAPS) for organizations needing accelerated planning. Targeted at large nonprofit organizations planning or evaluating major fundraising campaigns.
• Capital Campaign Management Three distinct campaign management engagement models — Complete Execution (full-service), Collaborative Partnership (staff extension), and Trusted Counsel (advisory role) — providing flexible support for nonprofit capital campaigns. Available to large nonprofit organizations across higher education, healthcare, independent schools, and social impact sectors.
• Data Intelligence & Fundraising Analytics AI-enhanced predictive modeling, major/principal gifts portfolio management, capacity and wealth screening, annual fund and cohort segmentation, and peer/aspirant group analysis to identify high-potential donors. Targeted at nonprofit development teams seeking data-driven prospect identification and portfolio optimization.
• Fundraising Communications Campaign messaging strategy and brand identity development including Inspiring Humans, Not Donors visioning sessions and the Case IN5 framework for building compelling cases for support. For nonprofit organizations seeking emotionally resonant donor communications.
• Strategic Growth Planning Development of custom Growth Plans articulating the value and impact of strategic goals, providing nonprofits with the pitch needed for board buy-in and funding decisions. For nonprofit leadership teams pursuing strategic expansion.
• Beyond Gratitude Proprietary trademarked approach for hospitals and healthcare organizations to develop comprehensive, compliant grateful patient programs covering relationships, data analysis, and operations. Targeted at community hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, and disease-specific organizations.
• Transitional and Interim Staffing Short-term coverage and long-term transitional support placing skilled professionals into critical positions including Director of Development, VP of Advancement, Major Gift Officers, and Campaign Directors. For nonprofit organizations in leadership transitions.
• Training and Workshops Tailored workshops including Campaign Readiness for Boards, How to Inspire Humans Not Donors Visioning, Unlocking AI for Fundraising, Major Gift Officers Training, and Beyond Gratitude Physician Engagement. For nonprofit boards, development staff, and physician engagement teams.

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• International Coalition of Girls' SchoolsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGraham-Pelton sponsored and presented at the International Coalition of Girls' Schools Educating Girls Symposium at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. Consultants shared Graham-Pelton's framework for assembling and retaining fundraising development teams during capital campaigns.
• New England Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (NEAHP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGraham-Pelton is proud to sponsor and participate in NEAHP's 2026 Annual Educational Conference. The firm has long supported NEAHP's mission to advance healthcare philanthropy across New England.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Curtis Group: Capital campaign and fundraising consulting firm for higher education, healthcare, and arts/culture — comparable service scope and vertical coverage.
• Bentz Whaley Flessner: One of the largest US fundraising consulting firms serving higher education, healthcare, and nonprofit clients with capital campaigns, feasibility studies, and advancement services — directly comparable offering and client base to Graham-Pelton.
• Campbell & Company: Consulting firm providing fundraising strategy, campaign management, and executive search for nonprofits — comparable scope and sector focus to Graham-Pelton.
• CCS Fundraising: Large-scale fundraising consulting and managed services firm providing campaign counsel and interim staffing for nonprofits — closely comparable operating model and service menu to Graham-Pelton.
• Marts & Lundy: Long-established nonprofit fundraising counsel focused on campaigns, planned giving, and development assessments for higher education and healthcare — overlapping service portfolio and client verticals with Graham-Pelton.
• Hollier & Associates: Boutique fundraising consulting firm focused on capital campaigns and feasibility studies for nonprofits — comparable service offering in a smaller competitive footprint.
• Johnson, Grossnickle & Associates (JGA): Nonprofit consulting firm offering campaign counsel, feasibility studies, and strategic planning — overlapping offering in the same vertical markets.
• Grenzebach Glier & Associates (GG+A): Major fundraising and advancement consulting firm serving universities, hospitals, and nonprofits with campaign counsel, prospect research, and analytics — direct competitor with similar service mix and vertical focus.

Broad incumbents

• Russ Reid: Direct response and fundraising agency serving faith-based and nonprofit clients — adjacent offering with overlap in donor acquisition and fundraising strategy for nonprofits.
• K2K (Ketchum/K2 Intelligence Fundraising Practice): Broader professional services and investigations firm with a fundraising and philanthropy advisory practice — adjacent but wider portfolio, partially overlapping with Graham-Pelton's nonprofit advisory work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/116355
• Xx.com/graham_pelton
• Facebookfacebook.com/grahampeltonconsulting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Graham-Pelton Consulting