The Philanthropic Initiative

What The Philanthropic Initiative does

The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI) is a strategic philanthropy consulting firm founded in 1989 by Peter Karoff and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. TPI provides fee-for-service advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, families, private and family foundations, corporations, community foundations, and professional advisors (wealth managers, accountants, attorneys). Service offerings span strategy and planning, research, evaluation and learning, program design and implementation, grants management, governance and succession planning, scholarship and college success programs, advising and coaching, and facilitation and convenings. TPI also maintains specialized units including the Center for Global Philanthropy for international giving and Special Initiatives that incubate programs such as Invest for Better, Exhale (The Family Caregiver Initiative), and the Community Foundation Impact Initiative (CFii).

In 2012, TPI merged with the Boston Foundation, operating as a distinct operating unit while benefiting from the foundation's institutional infrastructure. TPI's business model is professional services: multi-year fee-for-service consulting engagements billed directly to clients without publicly disclosed pricing. The organization does not develop software or technology products; its intellectual capital comprises methodologies, frameworks, published research, and a network of Senior Advisors active since the firm's founding. TPI pursues a thought-leadership-driven go-to-market approach, anchored by longitudinal research (most notably the 25-year TPI Study of the Philanthropic Conversation), a content marketing presence (blog, resource library, newsletter), professional advisor referral partnerships, and field-building initiatives. Customer segments include Families & Individuals, Foundations & Other Philanthropies, Companies, Global & International Funders, Community Foundations, Professional Advisors, and Students (via scholarship administration). The organization employs approximately 19+ core staff including Managing Partner, Senior Partners, Partners, Senior Directors, and Senior Philanthropic Advisors, supplemented by a broader Senior Advisor network.

Name

The Philanthropic Initiative

Legal name

The Philanthropic Initiative

Website

https://tpi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI) is a Boston-based strategic philanthropy consulting firm, founded in 1989 and operating as a unit of the Boston Foundation since 2012. It provides fee-for-service advisory, program design, and field-building services to families, foundations, corporations, and community foundations globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy Consulting Services

NAICS

Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Charitable Giving & Philanthropic Trust Advisory (FSAEAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD), Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB)

Keywords

• Strategic philanthropy consulting
• Philanthropy advisory services
• Foundation management consulting
• Corporate philanthropy strategy
• Program design evaluation

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Philanthropy Consulting: TPI generates revenue through fee-for-service consulting engagements with families, individuals, foundations, corporations, and other philanthropists. Services include strategic planning, program design, implementation, grants management, governance consulting, and evaluation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Philanthropic Initiative provides fee-for-service strategic philanthropy consulting and program management to families, foundations, corporations, and community foundations. Services span philanthropic strategy and planning, research, evaluation and learning, program design and implementation, foundation and grants management, governance and succession planning, scholarship and college success program administration, advising and coaching, and facilitation and convenings. TPI complements these consulting engagements with field-building research, thought leadership, and incubates special multi-funder initiatives.

Product overview

The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI) operates as a strategic philanthropy advisory firm offering a unified suite of consulting and program management services. The core offering consists of Philanthropy Consulting & Program Management, which encompasses strategy & planning, research, evaluation & learning, program design, implementation & management, foundation & grants management, governance & succession planning, scholarships & college success programs, advising & coaching, and facilitation & convenings. This is complemented by Elevating Philanthropy (field-building, thought leadership, and research) and Special Initiatives (incubating visionary programs). TPI also maintains a Center for Global Philanthropy for international giving advisory services. The organization administers numerous named scholarship programs including Ann Theodore Foundation, Arisdine Krikorian, Barowsky Scholars, Janey Scholars, Yawkey Scholars, and others, offering comprehensive support beyond traditional scholarship disbursement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center for Global Philanthropy: TPI's specialized unit that catalyzes philanthropy’s impact across the globe through knowledge, engagement, and strategic practice.
• Exhale - The Family Caregiver Initiative
• Invest for Better
• Community Foundation Impact Initiative (CFii)

Products and services

• Philanthropy Consulting & Program Management Comprehensive strategic philanthropy consulting services including strategy and planning, research, evaluation and learning, program design, implementation and management, foundation and grants management, governance and succession planning, scholarships and college success, advising and coaching, and facilitation and convenings. Designed for families, foundations, corporations, and community foundations seeking to maximize philanthropic impact.
• Elevating Philanthropy Field-building offering including thought leadership, cutting-edge research, tools and resources development, philanthropic education programs, and convenings to advance strategic philanthropy as a discipline.
• Special Initiatives Incubator for multi-funder visionary initiatives including the Community Foundation Impact Initiative (CFii), Exhale - The Family Caregiver Initiative, Invest for Better, and Next Steps for Boston Dance.
• Center for Global Philanthropy Specialized division helping donors and impact investors navigate international philanthropy, conduct research, and identify key partners for cross-border giving initiatives.
• Scholarships & College Success Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of advisors believe discussing philanthropy with HNW clients is important (up from 90% in 2018)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• DAFgiving360coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 April 2026Co-sponsored the 2026 TPI Study of the Philanthropic Conversation along with Foundation Source, with additional support from the Boston Foundation. DAFgiving360 provides expertise on donor-advised funds.
• Foundation SourcecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 April 2026Co-sponsored the 2026 TPI Study of the Philanthropic Conversation. Foundation Source provides foundation management and philanthropy services.
• Boston FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026TPI merged with the Boston Foundation in 2012, operating as a distinct operating unit of the Boston Foundation. Provided additional support for the 2026 Study. The partnership created a unique model for philanthropic promotion, consulting, and support.
• Community Foundation Impact Initiative (CFii)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024A consulting practice made up of former community foundation CEOs and senior leaders. CFii combines executive-level insight with TPI's decades of experience in strategy, consulting, and field-building to support community foundations.
• Invest for BettercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021TPI launched Invest for Better in 2017 as a national campaign to empower women through impact investing. After tremendous success, IFB became an independent nonprofit in September 2021.
• Exhale - The Family Caregiver InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019A multi-funder initiative launched in 2019 serving Southeast Michigan and Western New York, reimagining respite for family caregivers of older adults. TPI supports this initiative to strengthen philanthropic impact through creative design and strategy.
• Boston FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Historic merger in 2012 that created a new model for philanthropic promotion, consulting, and support. TPI continues to operate as an operating unit of the Boston Foundation.
• Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998TPI helped launch CECP in 1998 to increase corporate philanthropy, believing that corporate citizenship can both achieve social impact and make good business sense.
• W.K. Kellogg FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994TPI and W.K. Kellogg Foundation co-hosted a national convening in 1994 exploring philanthropic opportunities offered by the intergenerational transfer of wealth.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Cambridge Associates: Cambridge Associates is a global investment advisory firm serving institutional clients and foundations — a broad incumbent that competes for foundation-level advisory mandates that TPI also pursues.
• Bessemer Trust: Bessemer Trust is a leading wealth management and family office firm serving ultra-high-net-worth families, with integrated philanthropy advisory capabilities — a broader incumbent serving TPI's buyer with overlapping philanthropy services from a wealth management base.

Others

• Exponent Philanthropy: Exponent Philanthropy is a membership association serving small-staffed foundations with resources, training, and peer learning. Co-publisher with TPI of a funder 'ramp up' guide; an ecosystem partner that reaches the same foundation buyer base.
• Council on Foundations: Council on Foundations is a national membership association for grantmaking foundations that provides research, education, and field leadership — an ecosystem participant and adjacent organization rather than a direct competitor, but addresses the same foundation buyer as TPI.

Direct peers

• La Piana Consulting: La Piana Consulting is a national nonprofit and philanthropy consulting firm supporting foundations and nonprofits with strategy, partnerships, and organizational development — a comparable consulting practice to TPI's foundation advisory services.
• Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors: Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is one of the largest philanthropy advisory and consulting firms globally, providing strategic philanthropic advisory, research, and program design for donors and foundations — directly comparable to TPI's core consulting offering.
• Foundation Source: Foundation Source provides outsourced foundation management and philanthropic services to private foundations. Co-sponsor with TPI of the 2026 Study of the Philanthropic Conversation; serves the same donor and family foundation buyer TPI targets.
• Arabella Advisors: Arabella Advisors is a philanthropy and impact advisory firm offering strategic consulting, program management, and field-building to foundations and donors — overlapping service portfolio and buyer profile with TPI's consulting and program management practice.
• National Philanthropic Trust: National Philanthropic Trust is one of the largest independent donor-advised fund sponsors, providing philanthropic advisory and grantmaking administration services to individuals and institutions — directly competitive in the HNW philanthropy advisory space.
• DAFgiving360: DAFgiving360 (a Fidelity Charitable affiliate) is a national donor-advised fund program providing donor-advised fund services and philanthropy expertise. Co-sponsor with TPI of the 2026 Study of the Philanthropic Conversation; competes for similar donor clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-philanthropic-initiative-tpi
• Xx.com/TPIPhilanthropy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Philanthropic Initiative