What 89up does

89up Ltd is a privately-held, founder-led global communications agency headquartered in London at 66-68 Pentonville Road, registered in England and Wales. Founded in 2014 (named after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall and launch of the World Wide Web), the firm positions itself as 'the global agency for non-profits,' serving foundations, NGOs, non-profits, civil society coalitions, and trade unions under an explicit ethical screen that excludes work for autocratic governments or regressive movements. The firm claims to be the world's largest independent agency serving foundations and NGOs, led by CEO Mike Harris.

The firm's offering is built around eight integrated service pillars: Advocacy & Politics (UK/EU public affairs, legislative affairs, regulatory counsel, policy development, political event management); Brand & Narrative Development; Creative & Content (graphic design, video, animation, motion design, social content, data visualisation); Digital Marketing & Influencers; Public Relations (media relations, crisis management, litigation PR, film impact distribution); Research & Insights (audience research, polling, focus groups, social listening); Strategy (campaign, content, digital, media strategy, coalition building); and Web & Technology. The technology stack is built primarily on Drupal and WordPress for client websites, supplemented by custom web applications, CRM integrations, SEO/GEO optimisation, and data visualisation dashboards. Notable proprietary builds include the Toyota Mobility Foundation Sustainable Cities Challenge platform (supporting the $9 million program), the World Benchmarking Alliance digital platform for 2,000 influential companies, and bespoke research and polling tools used in campaigns such as the EU Nature Restoration Law advocacy and Habitat for Humanity's Home Equals initiative.

Revenue derives from professional services — project-based fees and retainers — with no pricing publicly disclosed. The agency employs 40+ team members speaking 18 languages, supported by a global network of associates. The go-to-market motion is consultative and sales-led, executed through a 'Let's talk' contact page, direct outreach, industry awards, and referrals, with no public pricing transparency. The client base spans Toyota Mobility Foundation, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, World Benchmarking Alliance, IAPB, Save the Children, 38 Degrees, Finance Watch, and Defund Climate Chaos, alongside corporate coalition partners including Nestlé, Unilever and Coca-Cola. The firm earned Third Sector Awards Communications Agency of the Year 2023, PRWeek Best Environmental Purpose Campaign 2023, PURPOSE EMEA Purpose Agency of the Year 2023, and was named top UK ESG consultancy by PRWeek Top 150 in 2025.

Name

89up

Legal name

89up Ltd

Website

https://89up.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

89up is a London-headquartered global communications agency serving foundations, NGOs, non-profits, and civil society coalitions with integrated PR, creative, advocacy, digital, research, and web technology services. The firm employs 40+ staff across 18 languages and operates across EMEA, the Americas, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Communications and Public Relations

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820), Public Relations Agencies (54182), Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Cause, ESG & Sustainability Communications (MPAAADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG/Sustainability Reputation & Purpose Communications (MPAAAOAN), Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA), Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH)

Keywords

• Nonprofit communications agency
• Public relations services
• Advocacy campaign strategy
• Nonprofit web development
• Civil society communications

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Integrated Communications Services: Full-service agency offering PR, creative, websites, advocacy, insights and mobilisation. Services are delivered as integrated campaigns and projects for non-profits and foundations, likely through project-based fees, retainers, or per-campaign pricing.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

89up is a fully integrated global communications agency delivering PR, creative, websites, advocacy, insights and mobilisation for non-profits, foundations, NGOs, and civil society organisations. The agency operates across eight interconnected service pillars — Advocacy & Politics, Brand & Narrative Development, Creative & Content, Digital Marketing & Influencers, Public Relations, Research & Insights, Strategy, and Web & Technology — coordinated through an insight-led approach. Its work spans campaign strategy, media relations, policy influence, behavioural change, coalition building, and bespoke digital platforms for foundations and non-profits worldwide.

Product overview

89up is a fully integrated global communications agency for non-profits, charities, foundations, and civil society organisations. The agency operates as a unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core portfolio spans eight interconnected service pillars: Advocacy & Politics (legislative affairs, regulatory counsel, UK/EU public affairs, policy development, political event management); Brand & Narrative Development (brand audits, messaging, visual identity, editorial guides); Creative & Content (graphic design, video, animation, social content, print, experiential); Digital Marketing & Influencers (advertising, mobilisation, influencer engagement, email); Public Relations (media relations, crisis management, film distribution); Research & Insights (audience research, polling, social listening); Strategy (campaign, content, digital, media strategy); and Web & Technology (websites, UX, CRM integrations, hosting). All services are coordinated and streamlined using audience insights to shape brand narrative, visual identity, and campaign execution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advocacy & Politics Services Expertise in legislative affairs, regulatory counsel, UK and EU public affairs, policy development, and political event management, designed to help non-profits and civil society organisations influence policy change.
• Brand & Narrative Development Services Comprehensive brand identity establishment including audits, messaging frameworks, visual identity design, and editorial guidelines for foundations, charities, non-profits, and trades unions.
• Creative & Content Services Full-service creative studio delivering graphic design, video production, animation, motion design, social content, print design, stunts, experiential activations, and data visualisation for campaign needs.
• Digital Marketing & Influencers Services Data-driven campaigns including digital advertising, influencer engagement, message testing, channel management, and email marketing designed to expand reach and mobilisation impact.
• Public Relations Services Award-winning PR services including litigation PR, media relations, PR for good causes, press office, media training, monitoring, crisis management, and film impact distribution.
• Research & Insights Services Audience research, interviews, focus groups, polling, data analysis, and social media listening and mapping to inform campaign strategies.
• Strategy Services Campaign strategy, content strategy, corporate communications, coalition building, creative platform development, communications strategy, digital strategy, and media strategy.
• Web & Technology Services Bespoke websites for non-profits and campaigns, UX research and design, web copywriting, CRM integrations, web apps, SEO/GEO/analytics, and hosting with security and maintenance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 475+ pieces of international media coverage achieved for Sustainable Cities Challenge
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• OxfamcoreGTM or Marketing Partner89up partnered with Oxfam to amplify voices from the Global South at COP26, supporting climate justice campaigners from developing nations to gain media coverage and visibility at the global climate summit.
• Pacific Climate WarriorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoung activists from Pacific Islands fighting for climate justice. 89up worked with them on the Defund Climate Chaos campaign, providing media training, messaging development, and media placement support.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Edelman is the world's largest PR firm with a dedicated purpose and ESG practice serving foundations and NGOs — competes with 89up for the same cause-communications briefs but operates as a broad incumbent with a much wider client base beyond non-profits.
• FleishmanHillard: FleishmanHillard is a global PR and public affairs network with a purpose and social impact practice — competes for foundation and ESG mandates but does not specialise exclusively in non-profits, making 89up the more focused alternative.
• Weber Shandwick: Weber Shandwick is a global public affairs and communications agency with purpose and social impact capabilities — overlapping with 89up's policy-influence and ESG narrative work but as part of a much broader portfolio serving commercial and government clients.
• Hill+Knowlton: Hill+Knowlton is a global public affairs and communications consultancy with sustainability and purpose practices — competes for ESG and policy-influence briefs alongside 89up but serves a much broader commercial and government client base.
• Teneo: Teneo is a global advisory and communications firm with a public affairs and ESG advisory practice — competes for high-profile foundation and policy-influence mandates but operates as a broader strategic advisory across corporate, financial, and political clients.

Direct peers

• Burness: Burness is a PR and communications agency exclusively serving nonprofits, foundations and philanthropies, with global campaign capabilities — directly comparable to 89up's vertical specialisation in foundation and NGO communications.
• Purpose: Purpose is a purpose-driven agency and campaign consultancy that builds movements, narratives and communications strategies for progressive causes, foundations and brands — the closest like-for-like competitor to 89up's cause communications model, including EMEA presence and recognition as a Purpose Agency of the Year.
• Fenton: Fenton is a social impact communications firm serving foundations, nonprofits and progressive brands with PR, narrative and advocacy — closely comparable to 89up's purpose-driven, non-profit-specialist positioning and similar cause client roster.
• Blue State: Blue State is a digital agency for causes and nonprofits, delivering integrated campaigns combining creative, digital mobilisation, fundraising, and advocacy technology — directly comparable to 89up's integrated eight-pillar model and shared non-profit client base.

Emerging players

• DoSomething Strategic: DoSomething Strategic is the consultancy arm of youth-activism nonprofit DoSomething.org, offering cause-marketing and social-impact campaign services to brands and NGOs — comparable in mission and audience but smaller scale and US-centric versus 89up's global footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/89up

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 89up