Donovan Group
Donovan Group is a privately-held K-12 education communications and public relations firm, founded in 2004 in Milwaukee, serving public school districts nationwide through professional, creative, and professional development services delivered directly and via 12 state association partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Donovan Group does
Donovan Group is a privately-held, for-profit communications, marketing, and public relations firm founded in 2004 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company focuses exclusively on the K-12 public education vertical, serving school district leaders, superintendents, and communication professionals across the United States through 18 office locations and partnerships with 12 state educational organizations.
The firm's core offering is a portfolio of professional, creative, and professional development services rather than a software platform. Professional services include crisis communication assistance with 24/7 hotline availability, comprehensive ongoing communications counsel, ballot measure and referendum campaign support, audits and strategic planning, communication and marketing campaigns, surveys, media tracking, and media relations training. Creative services span graphic design and branding, social media content creation, and video production. Professional development is delivered through keynote speaking, online learning modules, and the annual Communications Academy program.
Donovan Group generates revenue through subscription-style retainers and project-based professional services fees, supplemented by freemium content (the annual Social Media Topics Planner, crisis templates, webinars) that drives top-of-funnel lead generation. Its go-to-market is sales-led, combining direct engagement with district leaders and a channel model in which state administrator associations provide branded crisis hotlines and email support at no additional cost to member districts. The firm has no disclosed external funding, operates as an independent LLC, and is recognized through multiple NSPRA national awards and a Florida Supernova Award.
Donovan Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Donovan Group
- Legal name
- Donovan Group
- Website
- https://donovan-group.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Donovan Group is a privately-held K-12 education communications and public relations firm, founded in 2004 in Milwaukee, serving public school districts nationwide through professional, creative, and professional development services delivered directly and via 12 state association partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Donovan Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Communications Services
- NAICS
- Public Relations Agencies (541820), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Turnaround, Restructuring & Crisis Management Consulting (BPAHACAO)
Keywords
Where Donovan Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwaukee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices18 records
Markets served
Donovan Group 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 Services: Comprehensive ongoing communication, marketing, and public relations services for K-12 school districts. Includes crisis communication assistance, ballot measure campaign support, audits and strategic planning, communication campaigns, surveys, media tracking, and media relations training.
- Creative Services: Graphic design and branding, social media content creation, and video production services for school districts.
- Professional Learning Programs: Communications Academy: The Roadmap to Success - a professional learning program for school superintendents, district leaders, and communication professionals. Features live expert-led sessions, on-demand access, and one-on-one strategy consultations. Also includes online modules for crisis communication and referendum communication.
- Free Resources and Content: Free resources including the Social Media Topics Planner, webinars, templates, and guides distributed to build brand awareness and generate leads among school communicators.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Crisis Communication Services - State Partnership Model |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Donovan Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Donovan Group is a communication, marketing, and public relations consultancy that exclusively serves K-12 public school districts. The firm delivers professional services (crisis communication, comprehensive ongoing communications, ballot measure campaign support, audits and strategic planning, surveys, media tracking, and media relations training), creative services (graphic design and branding, social media content creation, and video production), and professional development programs including the Communications Academy. Services are delivered directly to districts and through statewide partnerships with state educational organizations across 12 states.
Product overview
Donovan Group is an award-winning communication, marketing, and public relations firm serving K-12 public schools nationwide. The company operates as a service-based consultancy rather than a software platform, offering professional services (crisis communication, strategic planning, campaigns), creative services (graphic design, video production, social media content), and professional development (keynote speaking, online learning modules, and the Communications Academy program). Services are delivered through direct partnerships with school districts and state educational organizations, with crisis support provided via dedicated hotlines and around-the-clock availability. The portfolio centers on helping districts strengthen connections with families, staff, students, and community members through strategic communication.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Crisis Communication Assistance Around-the-clock crisis communication guidance for school leaders facing urgent situations, delivered via dedicated hotlines, email support, and coordination with senior writers and communication strategists. Provided at no additional cost to member districts of partnering state educational organizations.
- Comprehensive Ongoing Services Full-service communication partnership providing ongoing strategic counsel, campaign development, and support for day-to-day district communications needs.
- Ballot Measure Campaign Support Strategic support for school districts navigating referendums, bond elections, and other ballot measures, including campaign planning and communication strategy (also listed on the website as Referendum Campaign & Consulting).
- Audits & Strategic Planning Communication assessments and strategic planning services to help districts evaluate current practices and develop comprehensive communication roadmaps.
- Communication & Marketing Campaigns Strategic communication campaigns including marketing materials, multi-channel rollout strategies, and coordinated print, digital, broadcast, and video assets.
- Surveys Survey design and implementation services to gather community feedback and inform district communication strategies.
- Media Tracking Monitoring services to track media coverage and public sentiment about the district.
- Media Relations & Training Training for school leaders on media interaction and strategic media engagement support.
- Graphic Design & Branding Visual identity development and design services including logo creation, brand identity systems, fact sheets, flyers, and marketing materials.
- Social Media Content Creation Social media graphics, posts, and content strategy for school districts across multiple platforms.
- Video Production Professional video production including promotional videos, event highlights, branding videos, and broadcast-quality content for districts.
- Keynote Speaking & Presentations Presentation and keynote services by Donovan Group experts for conferences, workshops, and district events.
- Professional Learning Online learning modules and training programs covering crisis communication and referendum communication topics for school superintendents, district leaders, and communication professionals.
- Communications Academy: The Roadmap to Success A comprehensive annual professional learning program for school superintendents, district leaders, and communication professionals. Features nine live expert-led sessions, one-on-one strategy consultations, and full on-demand access to course materials. Fourth-year program opens enrollment on June 16, 2026 for the 2026-27 cohort.
Quantifiable outcome
- Same-day or agreed-upon turnaround for all crisis-related content
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Donovan Group
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Donovan Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Donovan Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Arizona School Administrators (AZSA)coreStatewide crisis communication services partnership providing Arizona school administrators unlimited access to crisis and urgent communication services through dedicated hotline.
- Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS)coreStatewide crisis communication services partnership for CAPSS member districts.
- Delaware School Board Association (DSBA)coreStatewide crisis communication services partnership for DSBA member districts.
- Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC)coreStatewide crisis communication services partnership for CIESC member districts.
- School Administrators of Iowa (SAI)coreStatewide crisis communication services partnership for SAI member districts.
- United School Administrators of Kansas (USA Kansas)coreStatewide crisis communication services partnership for USA Kansas member districts - 12th state partnership.
- Marquette Alger RESA (MARESA)coreStatewide crisis communication services partnership for MARESA member districts in Michigan.
- Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA)coreStatewide crisis communication services partnership for MASA member districts.
- Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA)coreStatewide crisis communication services partnership for MASA member districts.
- Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS)coreStatewide crisis communication services partnership for TOSS member districts.
- Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS)coreStatewide crisis communication services partnership for VASS member districts.
- Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA)coreStatewide crisis communication services partnership for WASDA member districts - headquartered state partnership.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Donovan Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- J. Walcher Communications: San Diego-based PR and communications agency specializing in K-12 and higher education clients. Most directly comparable to Donovan Group in vertical focus, service mix (crisis comms, campaigns, media relations), and public-sector school district customer base.
- Tier One Marketing: K-12 education marketing and communications agency providing branding, recruitment campaigns, and strategic communications to public school districts. Closely mirrors Donovan Group's school choice marketing, referendum, and branding service lines.
- Lewis Communications: Full-service marketing and PR agency with a dedicated education practice serving K-12 and higher education institutions. Comparable in offering integrated PR, creative, and campaign work to school districts and educational organizations.
- Susan M. Graham & Associates: School communications consultancy led by a former NSPRA leader, focused on strategic communications, crisis response, and training for K-12 districts. Comparable in niche K-12 specialization, training offerings, and association relationships.
- MGH (MGH Advertising): Mid-size full-service agency with a strong K-12 and education practice offering marketing, creative, and PR services to school districts and education organizations. Comparable client base and integrated service delivery.
Broad incumbents
- Edelman: Global communications firm with an education practice serving K-12, higher ed, and edtech clients. Overlaps with Donovan Group on reputation management, policy communications, and crisis response, but at much larger scale and without K-12 exclusivity.
- Weber Shandwick: Global PR network with education and public sector practices serving school districts and education associations. Comparable on public affairs, media relations, and campaign execution, though not exclusively K-12.
- Ketchum: Major global communications agency with education and public-sector experience. Comparable on integrated campaign and crisis work for educational clients, but lacks Donovan Group's dedicated K-12-only positioning.
- Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K): Global communications consultancy with public affairs and education capabilities. Overlaps with Donovan Group on crisis communications and stakeholder engagement for public-sector clients.
Emerging players
- SchoolMessenger: K-12 communication and mass-notification platform used by school districts for parent outreach and crisis alerts. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — Donovan Group handles the strategy/content while SchoolMessenger handles the delivery infrastructure.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Donovan Group social profiles
Digital presenceDonovan Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Donovan Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Donovan Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Donovan Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Donovan Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Donovan Group
What does Donovan Group do?
Donovan Group is a communication, marketing, and public relations consultancy that exclusively serves K-12 public school districts. The firm delivers professional services (crisis communication, comprehensive ongoing communications, ballot measure campaign support, audits and strategic planning, surveys, media tracking, and media relations training), creative services (graphic design and branding, social media content creation, and video production), and professional development programs including the Communications Academy. Services are delivered directly to districts and through statewide partnerships with state educational organizations across 12 states.
Is Donovan Group a public or private company?
Donovan Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Donovan Group founded?
Donovan Group was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Donovan Group based?
Donovan Group is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Donovan Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Professional Services are the primary driver. The others are creative Services, professional Learning Programs and free Resources and Content.
Who are Donovan Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are J. Walcher Communications, Tier One Marketing, Lewis Communications, Susan M. Graham & Associates and MGH (MGH Advertising). Broad incumbents are Edelman, Weber Shandwick, Ketchum and Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K). SchoolMessenger is listed as an emerging player.
Does Donovan Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Donovan Group.
What industry is Donovan Group in?
Donovan Group's product category is Education Communications Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHACAO, Turnaround, Restructuring & Crisis Management Consulting. Its NAICS code is 541820 and its SIC code is 8742.