What Bearing Tree does

Bearing Tree is a privately-held, Chicago-headquartered Professional Employer Organization (PEO) and managed services firm founded in 2018 that provides integrated back-office operational support exclusively to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations across the United States. The company operates six interconnected service lines: Payroll & Benefits (PEO co-employer arrangement administering multi-state payroll, benefits via Blue Cross Blue Shield, Principal Financial, and Voya, plus workers' compensation), Finance & Accounting (NetSuite-based reporting, monthly close, Form 990 preparation, CFO-level management), Development Operations & Research (Salesforce NPSP customization, donor research, wealth screening, and a proprietary Donor Intelligence Profiles offering), Board Administration & Compliance (governance, charitable registration across 41+ states), IT Support & Cybersecurity (delivered through Complete Computer Solutions, Inc. for asset management, endpoint detection, and security training), and Startup Solutions (turnkey nonprofit incorporation and fiscal sponsorship). The technology stack is anchored on Salesforce NPSP for CRM and donor management, NetSuite for finance, Paypro for payroll, and Freshdesk for client support, with integrated AI-augmented donor intelligence layering predictive analytics, NLP-based engagement monitoring, and generative AI outreach templates on top of the development stack. Bearing Tree generates revenue primarily through recurring managed-services contracts and PEO service fees on payroll/benefits, with a sales-led go-to-market targeting executive leadership and boards of nonprofits nationwide via direct outreach and relationship-based selling. The firm is led by President Mark Miller (former partner at Ernst & Young and A.T. Kearney, with prior senior executive roles at two NYSE-listed companies), COO Samantha Wright, and CFO Tina Maue, supported by a ~20-person team of certified professionals (CPA, SHRM-CP) with deep nonprofit sector expertise.

Name

Bearing Tree

Legal name

Bearing Tree

Website

https://bearingtree.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bearing Tree is a Chicago-based PEO and managed services firm that delivers integrated back-office operations — payroll, benefits, finance, development operations, board administration, IT, and cybersecurity — exclusively to U.S. nonprofit and mission-driven organizations nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Employer Organization (PEO) Services: Bearing Tree operates as a PEO utilizing a co-employer arrangement to provide payroll, benefits, HR compliance, and administrative services to nonprofit organizations. Revenue is generated through service fees charged for comprehensive HR and operational support services, including payroll processing, benefits administration, and compliance management. The co-employer model provides access to advanced payroll systems and cost-effective benefits that organizations typically cannot achieve independently.
2. Comprehensive Nonprofit Back-Office Services: Full outsourcing of finance & accounting, development operations, board administration, and IT/cybersecurity functions. Services range from transactional activities to full CFO-level financial management. Revenue generated through service contracts for ongoing operational support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Bearing Tree is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) that sells integrated back-office operational support to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations across the United States. Its core offerings are six contracted service lines—Payroll & Benefits, Finance & Accounting, Development Operations & Research, Board Administration & Compliance, IT Support & Cybersecurity, and Startup Solutions—delivered through co-employment arrangements and supported by enterprise platforms such as Salesforce NPSP, NetSuite, and Paypro. Revenue is earned through recurring service fees and customized professional services contracts sized to each nonprofit partner.

Product overview

Bearing Tree operates as a nonprofit operational support company offering six interconnected service lines. The core portfolio consists of Payroll & Benefits (PEO services for payroll and benefits administration), Finance & Accounting (NetSuite-based financial management), Development Operations & Research (Salesforce NPSP administration and donor intelligence), Board Administration & Compliance, IT Support & Cybersecurity, and Startup Solutions (turnkey nonprofit formation). These services are designed to work together as an integrated operational infrastructure, where Finance & Accounting provides the financial backbone, Payroll & Benefits handles HR and employee administration, Development Operations manages fundraising through Salesforce, Board Administration ensures governance compliance, IT Support secures technology systems, and Startup Solutions enables new nonprofits to launch. The company also offers a Partner Support Desk powered by Freshdesk and proprietary Donor Intelligence Profiles for wealth screening and donor research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Payroll & Benefits (PEO) Professional Employer Organization service providing comprehensive payroll administration and employee benefits management for nonprofit partners. Handles onboarding to offboarding, multi-state compliance, payroll tax reporting, and administers health, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, 401(k), disability, life insurance, and workers' compensation benefits.
• Finance & Accounting Full-service financial management for nonprofit partners ranging from transactional bookkeeping to CFO-level financial leadership, leveraging the NetSuite platform for reporting and analytics. Includes bank account management, credit card reconciliation, accounts payable/receivable, audits, Form 990 filing, and corporate compliance.
• Development Operations & Research Fundraising operations and donor research service for nonprofits, including Salesforce NPSP administration, donation processing and receipting, donor research, wealth screening, and charitable registration compliance across 41+ states. Provides Donor Intelligence Profiles and actionable insights for major gift strategy.
• Board Administration & Compliance Board governance and compliance support for nonprofit partners including meeting logistics coordination, materials preparation (agendas, financials, minutes), governance compliance with federal and state laws and bylaws, conflict of interest agreements, whistleblower policies, and board development training.
• IT Support & Cybersecurity Managed IT services for nonprofit clients delivered through partnership with Complete Computer Solutions, Inc. Includes asset management, warranty monitoring, email system management, antivirus/antimalware, computer updates, security training, hardware procurement, data protection, and endpoint detection and response.
• Startup Solutions Turnkey startup package for newly forming nonprofits, including incorporation assistance with federal and state filings, fiscal sponsorship coordination, and ongoing operational setup covering finance, payroll, benefits, board administration, and development operations.
• Partner Support Desk Freshdesk-powered client support portal that delivers responsive, organized partner support, provides visibility into request status, and ensures consistent resolution of client inquiries across Bearing Tree's service lines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Enables organizations to focus on mission rather than administrative operations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Complete Computer Solutions, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationBearing Tree has partnered with Complete Computer Solutions, Inc., a Managed Services Solutions Company, to provide and proactively manage and maintain nonprofit client IT equipment and ensure the latest security measures are in place. Services include asset management, warranty monitoring, hardware provisioning, and ongoing troubleshooting.
• PayprocoreTechnology or IntegrationPaypro is the payroll platform utilized by Bearing Tree for processing payroll and HR administration for nonprofit partners. The platform supports multi-state payroll processing and tax compliance.
• Blue Cross Blue ShieldcoreTechnology or IntegrationBlue Cross Blue Shield provides medical benefits administration for Bearing Tree's PEO arrangement, offering health insurance coverage to employees of nonprofit partner organizations.
• Principal Financial GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrincipal Financial Group provides dental and voluntary benefits administration for Bearing Tree's benefits offerings to nonprofit partners.
• Voya FinancialcoreTechnology or IntegrationVoya Financial provides 401(k) retirement plan administration and manages associated compliance requirements for Bearing Tree's nonprofit partner employees.
• NetSuitecoreTechnology or IntegrationBearing Tree leverages NetSuite for finance and accounting operations for nonprofit partners, providing advanced reporting, analytics, and financial management capabilities.
• SalesforcecoreTechnology or IntegrationBearing Tree specializes in Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) customization, donation tracking automation, and donor management for nonprofit development operations. Salesforce integration is a core component of their development services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TriNet: TriNet is a major PEO providing HR, payroll, benefits, and compliance services to SMBs and nonprofit organizations. Its full-service PEO model directly competes with Bearing Tree's co-employment and back-office offering at larger scales.
• Gusto: Gusto is a leading payroll, benefits, and HR platform that has expanded into PEO services and serves many small nonprofits alongside other SMBs. It competes with Bearing Tree's Payroll & Benefits offering through automation and software pricing rather than high-touch service.
• Justworks: Justworks is a scaled PEO serving SMBs across industries including nonprofits, providing payroll, benefits, HR compliance, and co-employment via a technology-led platform. It overlaps directly with Bearing Tree's core PEO service line but targets a much broader customer base than the nonprofit-only niche.
• ADP TotalSource: ADP TotalSource is the PEO arm of ADP, providing co-employment, payroll, benefits, and HR compliance at national scale. It represents the largest incumbent competitor for nonprofit organizations evaluating outsourced back-office services.
• Paychex PEO: Paychex PEO (HR Outsourcing by Paychex) provides co-employment, HR, payroll, and benefits administration to small and mid-sized businesses. It competes with Bearing Tree's core PEO offering through a national platform and is a common alternative for nonprofit boards.
• Insperity: Insperity is one of the largest publicly-held PEOs in the U.S., offering co-employment, benefits, HR, payroll, and scalable organizational support. It targets organizations of all sizes including nonprofit clients, making it a scaled competitor with overlapping service lines.

Direct peers

• Foundation Source: Foundation Source provides outsourced back-office and operational services specifically to private foundations and nonprofits, including grant administration, compliance, and accounting. It is the closest pure-play analog to Bearing Tree's nonprofit-vertical back-office model.

Emerging players

• Whole Whale: Whole Whale is a digital agency focused on nonprofits offering fundraising tech, donor data, digital marketing, and Salesforce NPSP consulting. It overlaps with Bearing Tree's Development Operations & Research and Salesforce NPSP customization services.
• Bluewater Nonprofit Technology: Bluewater provides Salesforce NPSP consulting and technology services specifically to nonprofits. It competes most directly with Bearing Tree's Development Operations service line for Salesforce customization and donor intelligence work.
• CiresonNonprofit (nonprofitHR / HR consulting firms): nonprofitHR is a niche HR services firm serving nonprofit organizations, handling people operations, benefits, and compliance for mission-driven clients. Its nonprofit-specialist positioning makes it a comparable boutique competitor to Bearing Tree's HR and compliance services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bearing-tree

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 Bearing Tree