What Proof Strategies does

Proof Strategies is a senior-led communications and public affairs firm founded in 1994 by Bruce MacLellan, who now serves as Chair. The firm operates a North American network across Washington, D.C., Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, with international reach supported by trusted partner relationships. It serves nonprofits and mission-driven organizations, federal and state government agencies, and consumer brands, with vertical depth in healthcare and life sciences, energy and environment, transportation, technology, philanthropy, civic engagement, education, and international affairs.

The firm's service portfolio spans seven core practices: Public Relations and Executive Profiling, Public Affairs and Policy Communications, Stakeholder Engagement, Digital and Social Strategy, Research and Data-Driven Strategy, Crisis and Reputation Management, and AI Optimization. Service delivery is structured around direct senior engagement — clients work with former Tier 1 journalists, C-suite advisors, and ex-in-house communication leads — and is supported by proprietary research outputs including the Trust and AI in the United States report and the U.S. Nuclear Policy Report. The AI Optimization practice, offering visibility audits and AI-informed content strategy, is the most recent service addition and the firm's primary technical differentiator.

Proof generates revenue through professional services engagements priced on a quote basis with multi-year contract cadences, structured scopes, and predictable budgets. The go-to-market motion is enterprise and direct, with no disclosed third-party distribution, no public funding events, and no subsidiaries. The firm remains privately held and operates with 101–250 employees across North America.

Name

Proof Strategies

Legal name

Proof Strategies Inc.

Website

https://getproofusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Proof Strategies is a senior-led, North American communications and public affairs firm serving nonprofits, government agencies, and consumer brands across healthcare, energy, transportation, technology, and policy verticals with PR, public affairs, crisis, and AI optimization services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Cause, ESG & Sustainability Communications (MPAAADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

Keywords

• Public relations services
• Strategic communications consulting
• Public affairs strategy
• Crisis reputation management
• AI reputation optimization

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Consulting: Professional services firm providing communications counsel, public relations, public affairs, digital strategy, crisis management, and AI optimization services. Structured with clear scopes, senior engagement, and transparent budgeting with programs built around predictable budgets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Proof Strategies is a senior-led communications and public relations firm that delivers strategic media engagement, public affairs and policy communications, stakeholder engagement, digital and social strategy, research and data-driven messaging, crisis and reputation management, and AI optimization services. Its offerings are tailored to nonprofits, government agencies, consumer brands, and mission-driven organizations operating in trust-sensitive sectors such as health care, energy, transportation, education, philanthropy, civic engagement, technology, and international affairs.

Product overview

Proof Strategies is a senior-led communications firm offering a full-service portfolio of strategic communications services. The core service offerings include Public Relations & Executive Profiling, Public Affairs & Policy Communications, Stakeholder Engagement, Digital & Social Strategy, Research & Data-Driven Strategy, Crisis & Reputation Management, and AI Optimization. The firm also produces proprietary research reports including the Trust and AI in the United States: Special Report and U.S. Nuclear Policy Report. These services are delivered across sectors including Health Care & Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, Transportation, Education, Philanthropy, Civic Engagement, Technology, and International Affairs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations & Executive Profiling Strategic media engagement service that shapes coverage and elevates leadership voices, including targeted media strategy, reporter engagement, executive positioning, and thought leadership for nonprofits, government agencies, consumer brands, and mission-driven organizations.
• Public Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement Strategies connecting policy, media, and stakeholder influence, covering policy positioning, state and federal campaign support, legislative communications, stakeholder mapping, audience analysis, and engagement strategies for policymakers, communities, and partners.
• Research & Messaging Insights-driven research and messaging service that goes beyond polling and interviews, covering landscape and media analysis, audience research, message testing, and share-of-voice and narrative tracking for organizations operating in trust-sensitive sectors.
• Social Media & Digital Marketing Integrated digital programs that extend influence and reinforce narrative, including platform strategy, content development, real-time engagement, and LinkedIn/executive visibility programs for nonprofits, government agencies, consumer brands, and mission-driven organizations.
• Crisis & Reputation Management Counsel services for high-stakes situations including risk assessment, scenario planning, rapid response coordination, and ongoing reputation management and recovery strategy for organizations facing reputational or operational crises.
• AI Optimization

Quantifiable outcome

• Record media coverage for AmeriCorps in national outlets including Associated Press, The Guardian, PBS, and Federal News Network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• International Partner NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrusted partners around the world extend the firm's reach beyond its North American office locations (Washington D.C., Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa) to serve global client needs. These partnerships enable the firm to provide international experience and global perspective while maintaining the responsiveness of a boutique firm.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PLUS Communications: Washington, D.C.-based public affairs and public relations firm focused on issue advocacy, coalition building, and strategic communications for nonprofits, trade associations, and corporations. Directly comparable to Proof in size, sector focus, and senior-led DC public-affairs positioning; Proof team member Melanie Goossens previously worked at PLUS.
• Seven Letter: Boutique strategic communications and public affairs firm in Washington, D.C. serving corporate, nonprofit, and government clients with senior-led engagements. Closely comparable to Proof in operating model, size, and DC-centric positioning across regulated and policy-sensitive verticals.
• Hamilton Place Strategies: Washington-based strategic advisory and public affairs firm serving corporate and nonprofit clients navigating complex policy, regulatory, and reputational issues. Comparable to Proof in senior-led boutique model and public-affairs focus on regulated industries.
• S-3 Group: Washington, D.C. public affairs and strategic communications firm serving Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, and nonprofits. Comparable to Proof in senior-led model, DC public-affairs focus, and cross-sector regulated client base; Proof team member Melanie Goossens previously worked at S-3.
• Bullpen Strategy Group: Boutique political consulting and public affairs firm in Washington, D.C. delivering campaign-style communications for corporate and advocacy clients. Comparable to Proof in senior-led political/public affairs delivery and DC-centric operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: World's largest independent public relations firm with a deep Public Affairs and ESG/Sustainability practice that overlaps directly with Proof's sector mix. Overlap in healthcare, energy, and technology communications; differs in scale (global, thousands of employees) and brand portfolio breadth.
• Weber Shandwick: Global public relations and communications agency with strong public affairs, healthcare, and corporate reputation practices. Overlaps with Proof's regulated-sector communications work; differs in scale, geographic footprint, and broader portfolio of services.
• FGS Global: Global strategic communications and public affairs firm formed from the merger of Finsbury, Glover Hering, and Sard Verbinnen. Directly comparable in senior-led public affairs and crisis/reputation work for corporate, government, and nonprofit clients; differs materially in scale and global reach.

Emerging players

• Bully Pulpit Interactive: Washington, D.C.-based digital-first communications, creative, and public affairs firm serving nonprofits, foundations, and advocacy clients. Comparable to Proof in DC public-affairs focus and mission-driven client base; differentiated by digital/creative production orientation.
• Penta Group: Washington, D.C.-based strategic communications, public affairs, and brand marketing firm serving corporate, nonprofit, and association clients. Comparable to Proof in DC positioning and senior-led model across regulated and mission-driven verticals; more recently established.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/get_proof
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/get-proof
• Instagraminstagram.com/get_proof

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 Proof Strategies