Lipman Hearne

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.

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

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, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers11 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

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Yes&coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2022Merger 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

Direct 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lipman-hearne
• Xx.com/lipmanhearne
• Facebookfacebook.com/lipmanhearneinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lipman Hearne