PennPAC
PennPAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes University of Pennsylvania alumni as pro bono consultants to help other nonprofits address strategic challenges in marketing, growth, funding, and operations across three US metro areas and nationally via virtual engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PennPAC does
PennPAC (Penn Probono Alumni Consulting) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 by Jackie Einstein Astrof and incorporated in New York. The organization mobilizes University of Pennsylvania alumni as volunteer consultants to deliver pro bono strategic advisory services to other nonprofit organizations. PennPAC recruits alumni volunteers through Penn's alumni network, Penn clubs, LinkedIn, and word-of-mouth, and selects nonprofit clients through a twice-yearly application cycle (Spring and Fall) organized by location. The organization operates through regional chapters in New York, Philadelphia, and the Bay Area, with virtual consulting expanded nationally beginning Fall 2023.
PennPAC's product portfolio includes Full Consulting Projects (8-10 weeks, 4-7 person volunteer teams), Mini Consulting Projects (6-8 weeks, 2-3 person teams), ImPACt Events (one-night high-impact brainstorming sessions), one-hour virtual Coaching sessions for smaller nonprofits, and PennPAC University learning modules covering grant writing, strategic planning, board development, and partnership development. The technology stack is intentionally minimal: project delivery is entirely human-driven through volunteer expertise, with the website and online application forms serving as the primary operational infrastructure.
The revenue model combines individual donations from Penn alumni and friends, a $1,000 engagement fee paid by nonprofit clients at project completion (waivable case-by-case), Founder's Circle memberships at $10,000+ annually, corporate matching gifts, stock donations, program/event sponsorships, and planned giving. Over sixteen years PennPAC reports delivering $13 million in pro bono consulting value, 60,000 service hours, and assisting 300-400+ nonprofit organizations through 1,100-1,300+ alumni volunteers. The organization is governed as a Shared Interest Group of the University of Pennsylvania but operates as a separately incorporated and independent entity.
PennPAC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PennPAC
- Legal name
- PennPAC, Inc.
- Website
- https://pennpac.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PennPAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes University of Pennsylvania alumni as pro bono consultants to help other nonprofits address strategic challenges in marketing, growth, funding, and operations across three US metro areas and nationally via virtual engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PennPAC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (61171), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
Keywords
Where PennPAC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
PennPAC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations from Individual Donors: PennPAC relies on generosity of donors including Penn alumni volunteers, other alumni, and friends. Donations are tax-deductible as PennPAC is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with Tax ID: 90-0960774.
- Founder's Circle Membership: Exclusive leadership donor program requiring $10,000 minimum annual contribution with two-year renewable membership. Provides strategic influence, priority nonprofit referrals, program sponsorship opportunities, honorary founder designation, visibility at events, and advisory board membership.
- Nonprofit Engagement Fee: Nonprofits pay a $1,000 engagement fee due at project completion to help defray administrative costs. Exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis.
- Corporate Matching and Stock Donations: Corporate matching gifts and stock donations are accepted as ways to amplify donations.
- Program and Event Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors can sponsor programs or events including ImPACt events, consulting projects, and Volunteer Appreciation Events.
- Planned Giving: Planned giving options are available for donors looking to sustain PennPAC's mission long-term.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | Full Consulting Project - 8-10 weeks with 4-7 person team |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | Mini Project - 6-8 weeks with 2-3 person team |
| Subscription | Annual | Founder's Circle Membership |
| Freemium | Others | Volunteer Consultant - No cost to participate |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
PennPAC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PennPAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes University of Pennsylvania alumni to provide pro bono strategic consulting to other nonprofit organizations. It delivers Full Consulting Projects (8-10 weeks, 4-7 volunteer consultants), Mini Consulting Projects (6-8 weeks, 2-3 volunteers), one-night ImPACt events, one-hour Coaching sessions, and PennPAC University capacity-building learning modules covering marketing, growth planning, funding strategy, organizational design, and program analysis.
Product overview
PennPAC (Penn Probono Alumni Consulting) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that engages University of Pennsylvania alumni as pro bono consultants to help nonprofit organizations address strategic challenges. The organization operates a multi-program model centered around consulting services, including Full Consulting Projects (8-10 weeks, 6 volunteers), Mini Consulting Projects (6-8 weeks, 3 volunteers), ImPACt Events (one-night high-impact sessions), Coaching (hour-long virtual strategy sessions), and PennPAC University (capacity-building learning modules). Since 2011, PennPAC has delivered $13 million in pro bono consulting, mobilized 1,100 volunteers, and assisted over 300 nonprofit organizations across New York, Philadelphia, Bay Area, and nationally through virtual engagements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Full Consulting Project Strategic consulting engagement of 8-10 weeks in which a team of up to 6 Penn alumni volunteers (2 Team Co-Leads, 1 Liaison, and 4 Consultants) addresses nonprofit strategic challenges in marketing, organizational design, development, and financial analysis. Targeted at mid-to-large 501(c)(3) nonprofits with operating budgets of $350k or more and 3+ full-time staff.
- Mini Consulting Project Smaller-scale consulting engagement of 6-8 weeks in which a team of up to 3 Penn alumni volunteers (1 Lead, 1 Liaison, up to 2 Consultants) addresses more tactical strategic issues for nonprofits.
- ImPACt Events One-night, high-impact opportunities for nonprofits to learn, share, and receive tangible action items from Penn alumni volunteers in a single evening session, available in-person in NYC or virtually for national participants.
- Coaching Targeted guidance program providing start-up or small nonprofits with an interactive, one-hour virtual brainstorming session to address specific strategic issues.
- PennPAC University Capacity-building learning modules providing nonprofits with best practices and practical guidance through in-person and webinar-style formats on partnership cultivation, board development, strategic planning, grant writing, volunteer engagement, and theory of change.
Quantifiable outcome
- 44% year-over-year increase in December funds raised for Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger following Thanksgiving appeal redesign
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use PennPAC
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
PennPAC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
PennPAC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Brooklyn Community FoundationcoreBrooklyn Community Foundation partners with PennPAC on collaborative initiatives including working with their partner organizations in mini-consultancies and ImPACt events to provide feedback on new and developing organizational initiatives.
- Nonprofit New YorkcoreNonprofit New York partners with PennPAC to provide learning modules including Partnership Development training to their partner organizations.
- Robin Hood FoundationcoreRobin Hood Foundation is a key stakeholder partner in the nonprofit sector working with PennPAC on initiatives supporting nonprofits.
- Thrive AlliancecoreThrive Alliance partners with PennPAC for strategic planning and partnership development learning modules delivered to their nonprofit partners.
- School of Social Policy and Practice at University of PennsylvaniacorePennPAC provides learning modules including Grant Writing and Partnership Development to SP2 students, creating pipeline and engagement with Penn's academic community.
- Ponce BankminorPonce Bank partners with PennPAC for Partnership Development learning modules delivered to their nonprofit partners.
- City HarvestcoreCity Harvest collaborates with PennPAC on ImPACt events, working with their community partners in mini-consultancies to offer feedback on new and developing organizational initiatives.
- Brooklyn OrgcoreBrooklyn Org collaborates with PennPAC on multiple initiatives including working with their partner organizations in mini-consultancies and supporting National Fellowship for Black and Latino Male Educators.
- University of Pennsylvania Alumni AssociationcorePennPAC is a Shared Interest Group of the University of Pennsylvania. While independent as a 501(c)(3), PennPAC leverages the Penn alumni network and maintains affiliation with UPenn.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PennPAC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SCORE: SCORE is a volunteer-driven nonprofit network providing free business mentoring and consulting to small businesses and nonprofits. Comparable to PennPAC because it uses a large volunteer pool of experienced professionals to deliver structured advisory engagements, with similar chapter-based geographic delivery.
- BoardSource: BoardSource is a nonprofit that builds the capacity of nonprofit boards and organizations through consulting, training, and resources. It is a direct peer in the nonprofit capacity-building consulting space, serving similar mid-sized nonprofit clients with strategic and governance challenges.
- Catchafire: Catchafire is an online platform that matches professionals with nonprofits for skills-based volunteering and pro bono engagements. It is directly comparable to PennPAC because both focus on delivering structured, expert-led consulting support to nonprofits, though Catchafire is open to all professionals rather than alumni-affiliated.
- Taproot Foundation: Taproot Foundation is a nonprofit that facilitates pro bono consulting engagements between skilled professionals and other nonprofit organizations. It is the closest direct peer to PennPAC, offering multi-week consulting projects and capacity-building services to social sector clients, and competes for similar nonprofit client mindshare.
- Compass Point Nonprofit Services: Compass Point Nonprofit Services provides management consulting, training, and research to nonprofit organizations. It is directly comparable as a capacity-building consulting provider to nonprofits, addressing fundraising, strategic planning, and operational challenges that overlap with PennPAC's consulting scope.
Others
- Idealist: Idealist is a nonprofit job and volunteer listing platform with a global audience of social-sector professionals and volunteers. It is thematically adjacent to PennPAC, serving as a marketplace where nonprofits and skilled professionals meet for engagement opportunities similar to PennPAC's project-based model.
- VolunteerMatch: VolunteerMatch is an online platform connecting volunteers with nonprofit opportunities. It is adjacent to PennPAC as a volunteer-matching infrastructure provider that nonprofits and skilled volunteers use to find each other, competing indirectly for the same volunteer supply and nonprofit client attention.
Broad incumbents
- Net Impact: Net Impact is a global membership organization mobilizing professionals and students around social impact, with chapters at many business schools. Comparable to PennPAC because it channels professional alumni/student talent toward nonprofit and social impact work, though it is broader in scope and does not deliver structured consulting projects.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PennPAC social profiles
Digital presencePennPAC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PennPAC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
PennPAC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PennPAC 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 PennPAC
What does PennPAC do?
PennPAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes University of Pennsylvania alumni to provide pro bono strategic consulting to other nonprofit organizations. It delivers Full Consulting Projects (8-10 weeks, 4-7 volunteer consultants), Mini Consulting Projects (6-8 weeks, 2-3 volunteers), one-night ImPACt events, one-hour Coaching sessions, and PennPAC University capacity-building learning modules covering marketing, growth planning, funding strategy, organizational design, and program analysis.
Is PennPAC a public or private company?
PennPAC is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was PennPAC founded?
PennPAC was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PennPAC based?
PennPAC is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does PennPAC make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Donations from Individual Donors are the primary driver. The others are founder's Circle Membership, nonprofit Engagement Fee, corporate Matching and Stock Donations, program and Event Sponsorship and planned Giving.
Who are PennPAC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SCORE, BoardSource, Catchafire, Taproot Foundation and Compass Point Nonprofit Services. Others are Idealist and VolunteerMatch. Net Impact is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does PennPAC have an API?
No public API is recorded for PennPAC.
What industry is PennPAC in?
PennPAC's product category is Nonprofit Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8742.