CRD Associates

What CRD Associates does

CRD Associates is a Washington, D.C.-based government relations, advocacy, and strategic communications consulting firm founded in 1980 by Nicholas G. Cavarocchi, formerly a senior health advisor to the House Appropriations Committee. The firm is now a majority women-owned, privately held partnership led by Erika Miller, Erin Will Morton, and Matt Dennis, with a bench of former congressional chiefs of staff, Appropriations Committee staff, and senior federal health-agency officials. It is headquartered at 600 Maryland Ave. SW, Suite 220E, in Washington, D.C.

The firm delivers eight core professional services: Strategy & Strategic Planning, Federal Appropriations, Regulatory Affairs (covering CMS, FDA, NIH, CDC, HHS), Coalition Management, Communications, Grassroots, Relationship Building, and Policy & Authorizations. In addition to client engagements, CRD creates and operates anchor advocacy coalitions including the Coalition for Health Funding (85+ member organizations representing 100M+ patients and consumers, managed since 2009), the Defense Health Research Consortium, and the congressionally recognized Public Health Caucus. Client segments are nonprofits, trade associations, corporations, and coalitions, with a clear vertical concentration in healthcare, biomedical research, and public health. Marquee clients include the American Academy of Pediatrics, Endocrine Society, National Independent Laboratory Association, Lucerno Dynamics, and the American Society for Pediatric Nephrology (a client since 1997).

The business model is professional services consulting: revenue is generated through retainer- and project-based fees for advocacy and government relations work, with pricing not publicly disclosed and contracts tailored to each client. Distribution is direct client engagement within the United States only, with no disclosed international delivery model beyond the global health practice led by Erin Will Morton. The firm has 11-50 employees and has operated continuously for over 40 years across multiple presidential administrations and congressional cycles.

Name

CRD Associates

Legal name

CRD Associates

Website

https://dc-crd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CRD Associates is a Washington, D.C. government relations, advocacy, and strategic communications consulting firm serving nonprofits, trade associations, corporations, and coalitions, with a focus on healthcare, biomedical research, and federal appropriations. Founded in 1980, the firm also manages anchor coalitions including the Coalition for Health Funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Relations & Advocacy Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Customer, Marketing & Sales Consulting (BPAHACAG)

Keywords

• Government relations consulting
• Federal advocacy services
• Strategic communications
• Coalition management
• Federal appropriations advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: CRD Associates generates revenue through professional consulting fees for government relations, advocacy, and strategic communications services provided to nonprofits, trade associations, corporations, and coalitions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CRD Associates is a Washington, D.C.-based government relations, advocacy, and strategic communications consulting firm that helps nonprofits, trade associations, corporations, and coalitions influence federal policy, secure appropriations, navigate regulatory agencies (CMS, FDA, NIH, CDC, HHS), and build stakeholder coalitions. The firm sells eight core consulting capabilities — Strategy & Strategic Planning, Appropriations, Regulatory Affairs, Coalition Management, Communications, Grassroots, Relationship Building, and Policy & Authorizations — delivered on a tailored, retainer/engagement basis to mission-driven organizations.

Product overview

CRD Associates is a government relations, advocacy, and strategic communications consulting firm that does not offer a software product but rather provides professional services. The firm offers eight core consulting services: Strategy & Strategic Planning, Appropriations, Regulatory Affairs, Coalition Management, Communications, Grassroots, Relationship Building, and Policy & Authorizations. Additionally, CRD manages several coalitions including the Coalition for Health Funding (CHF), the Defense Health Research Consortium (DHRC), and the Public Health Caucus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategy & Strategic Planning
• Appropriations
• Regulatory Affairs
• Coalition Management
• Communications
• Grassroots
• Relationship Building
• Policy & Authorizations
• Coalition for Health Funding (CHF) Management
• Defense Health Research Consortium (DHRC) Management

Quantifiable outcome

• Coalition membership more than doubled since 2009 with membership dues revenue more than quadrupled
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Coalition for Health Funding (CHF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRD Associates has managed the Coalition for Health Funding since 2009. CHF is an alliance of organizations devoted to robust funding for NIH, CDC, and other discretionary health programs. The coalition has grown to include 85-member health organizations representing more than 100 million patients and consumers. CRD manages the coalition's advocacy campaigns, daily Member Updates, and events including the Public Health Caucus.
• Defense Health Research Consortium (DHRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRD Associates created and manages the Defense Health Research Consortium, a coalition of scientific research and patient advocacy organizations dedicated to protecting and growing the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). DHRC advocates for critical grant funding to researchers studying diseases prevalent among service members, veterans, and their families.
• Public Health CaucusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCongressionally recognized bipartisan caucus of Members who support public health and public health agencies. Managed through the Coalition for Health Funding.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Subject Matter: Healthcare-focused government relations and advocacy firm in Washington, D.C. that competes directly with CRD for healthcare, biomedical research, and public health advocacy clients.
• Mehlman Consulting: Bipartisan government relations firm focused on healthcare and federal appropriations, offering a similar boutique advocacy model with deep Hill relationships comparable to CRD's positioning.
• Forbes Tate Partners: Bipartisan government relations and strategic communications firm with a healthcare and life sciences practice that overlaps directly with CRD's core client verticals.
• Crossroads Strategies: Bipartisan government relations and public affairs firm in Washington that competes for similar federal appropriations and advocacy engagements, with comparable firm size.
• CGCN Group (now part of Invariant): Healthcare-focused government relations firm with strong appropriations expertise, closely mirroring CRD's NIH/CDC/HHS advocacy niche and client mix.
• BGR Group: Bipartisan government relations firm with a strong healthcare and life sciences practice that directly overlaps with CRD's client base and service offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Cassidy & Associates: Established Washington, D.C. government relations firm with a long operating history and broad federal advocacy practice, competing for many of the same appropriations and policy engagements.
• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Major international law firm with a large Washington lobbying and public policy practice that competes for healthcare advocacy and appropriations work, though it serves a much broader portfolio.
• Squire Patton Boggs: Global law firm with one of the largest government relations and public affairs practices in Washington, frequently competing with CRD for healthcare and appropriations engagements.
• Holland & Knight: Large law firm with a substantial Washington public policy and federal lobbying practice, often engaging clients on healthcare, life sciences, and appropriations matters similar to CRD's focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CRDAssociates
• Facebookfacebook.com/CRDAssociates
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cavarocchi-ruscio-dennis-associates-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 CRD Associates