Lipman Hearne
Lipman Hearne is a Chicago-based marketing and communications firm founded in 1989 that provides integrated marketing, brand development, enrollment marketing, philanthropic fundraising campaigns, creative, media, and website services to higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lipman Hearne does
Lipman Hearne is a Chicago-based, for-profit marketing and communications firm founded in 1989, specializing in integrated marketing services for higher education institutions and nonprofit/philanthropy organizations. The firm provides a portfolio of professional service offerings rather than a productized platform, including brand development, enrollment and membership marketing, philanthropic marketing, creative and content production, media planning and buying, institutional website development, and market research. Notable disclosed clients include Northeastern University, UVA Darden, Saint Peter's University, Northern Arizona University, Kansas State University Foundation, CU Denver Business School, Bridgewater College, Valparaiso University, the Society of Actuaries, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Navy Pier.
The firm operates on a project-based, sales-led B2B professional services model under a single Chicago headquarters (227 W Monroe Street, 21st floor), with employee headcount in the 101–250 range. Pricing and engagement terms are quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Marketing and demand generation is primarily content-driven via a portfolio site, an insights/blog function (including the Ampersand newsletter), and a corporate LinkedIn presence, targeting enterprise decision-makers in institutional marketing and advancement offices.
In November 2022, Lipman Hearne merged with integrated marketing agency Yes&; the combined entity initially operated as 'Yes& Lipman Hearne' before consolidating under the 'Yes&' brand in 2023–2024, broadening its vertical reach beyond higher education into hospitality and broader nonprofit/philanthropy work. Following the merger, Lipman Hearne operates as part of Yes& under a unified delivery model combining strategy, research, creative, media, and content capabilities.
Lipman Hearne firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lipman Hearne
- Legal name
- Lipman Hearne
- Website
- https://lipmanhearne.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Lipman Hearne is a Chicago-based marketing and communications firm founded in 1989 that provides integrated marketing, brand development, enrollment marketing, philanthropic fundraising campaigns, creative, media, and website services to higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Lipman Hearne is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lipman Hearne business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Marketing Services: Provides integrated marketing communications, brand development, creative design, and strategic marketing services to higher education and nonprofit clients. Revenue generated through project-based engagements and ongoing client relationships.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Lipman Hearne product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lipman Hearne is a marketing and advertising agency that provides integrated marketing communications services to higher education institutions and nonprofit/philanthropy organizations. Its offerings span brand development, enrollment and membership marketing, philanthropic marketing, creative and content production, media services, campaign messaging, institutional website design and development, and research services. Following its November 2022 merger with Yes&, the firm now operates under the Yes& brand while continuing to deliver these specialized marketing services.
Product overview
Lipman Hearne (now operating as Yes&) is a marketing and design agency offering integrated marketing communications services. Rather than a software product platform, the company provides a portfolio of professional service offerings including brand development, enrollment and membership marketing, philanthropic marketing, creative and content production, media services, campaign messaging, institutional website development, and research services. These services are tailored specifically for higher education institutions and nonprofit/phosphilanthropy organizations, providing a comprehensive suite of marketing solutions from strategy and research through creative design and campaign execution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Brand Development
- Enrollment & Membership Marketing
- Philanthropic Marketing
- Creative & Content Services
- Media Services
- Institutional Website Development
- Campaign Messaging
- Research Services
Quantifiable outcome
- When you are working in the gray, Lipman Hearne brings everything into full color
Companies that use Lipman Hearne
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Lipman Hearne technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lipman Hearne partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Yes&coreMerger completed in November 2022 combining Yes& and Lipman Hearne into unified entity called Yes& Lipman Hearne. Merger expands integrated marketing services combining strategy, research, creative design, and integrated marketing communications. New entity serves clients across higher education and philanthropy sectors under single brand.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Lipman Hearne competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Yes&: Integrated marketing agency that merged with Lipman Hearne in November 2022. Operates as the parent brand of the combined entity and offers overlapping strategy, creative, media, and content services across nonprofit, higher education, and commercial clients.
- Ologie: Higher education branding and marketing agency providing brand development, creative, and integrated marketing to colleges and universities — directly comparable in vertical specialization and service portfolio.
- mStoner: Digital-first marketing agency serving higher education with websites, enrollment marketing, and content strategy — directly comparable in digital and enrollment marketing capabilities for the same client base.
- Ruffalo Noel Levitz: Enrollment management and fundraising firm serving higher education with marketing, search, and donor engagement services — directly comparable in serving the same institutional clients with enrollment and fundraising focus.
- SimpsonScarborough: Higher education branding and research agency offering brand strategy, messaging, and integrated marketing for universities — directly comparable as a higher-ed specialist with overlapping brand and research offerings.
- Carnegie Dartlet: Higher education marketing agency specializing in brand development, student recruitment, and research-driven enrollment strategy for colleges and universities — directly comparable in vertical focus and service mix.
- The Halo Group: Integrated marketing agency specializing in nonprofit and cause-based clients — directly comparable in nonprofit/philanthropy marketing service mix and target customer segment.
Broad incumbents
- EAB: Large-scale higher education advisory and research firm offering marketing, enrollment, and advancement services alongside its broader consulting portfolio — overlapping capabilities but as part of a much wider higher-ed services platform.
Emerging players
- True North Custom Publishing: Content and custom publishing agency serving healthcare and education clients with magazines, content strategy, and integrated marketing — partial overlap in content/custom publishing for institutional clients.
- BVK: Mid-size direct response and integrated marketing agency serving nonprofit, healthcare, and education clients with media, creative, and analytics — partial overlap in mission-driven client base and integrated media/creative services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lipman Hearne social profiles
Digital presenceLipman Hearne financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lipman Hearne leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Lipman Hearne funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lipman Hearne M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lipman Hearne
What does Lipman Hearne do?
Lipman Hearne is a marketing and advertising agency that provides integrated marketing communications services to higher education institutions and nonprofit/philanthropy organizations. Its offerings span brand development, enrollment and membership marketing, philanthropic marketing, creative and content production, media services, campaign messaging, institutional website design and development, and research services. Following its November 2022 merger with Yes&, the firm now operates under the Yes& brand while continuing to deliver these specialized marketing services.
Is Lipman Hearne a public or private company?
Lipman Hearne is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Lipman Hearne founded?
Lipman Hearne was founded in 1989. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Lipman Hearne based?
Lipman Hearne is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lipman Hearne make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Marketing Services.
Who are Lipman Hearne's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Yes&, Ologie, mStoner, Ruffalo Noel Levitz, SimpsonScarborough, Carnegie Dartlet and The Halo Group. EAB is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are True North Custom Publishing and BVK.
Does Lipman Hearne have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lipman Hearne.