Perennial
Perennial is a Portland-based boutique communications and strategy consultancy that helps foundations, nonprofits, academic institutions, and mission-led companies expand their reach by combining message refinement with trust-based stakeholder engagement. Founded in 2013, rebranded in 2022, it operates with 1–10 employees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Perennial does
Perennial is a boutique strategy and communications consultancy headquartered in Portland, Oregon that helps purpose-driven organizations—foundations, nonprofits, academic institutions, and mission-led companies—extend their reach and impact through a two-pronged methodology combining message refinement with trust-based relationship building. Founded in 2013 as Brew Advisors by Emily Brew (a former Nike brand marketer and founding Nike Foundation team member) and her sister Perrin Brew, the firm was rebranded to Perennial in 2022 and currently operates with 1–10 employees. The firm does not develop proprietary technology products; its delivery is built on strategic frameworks, facilitation methodologies, and proprietary IP such as the co-authored book "Inspired INC: Become a Company the World Will Get Behind" (Wiley), a published framework on purpose-led business success.
Perennial's core offering is project-based strategic communications consulting, with named client engagements spanning philanthropy (Nike Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Echidna Giving, Grantmakers for Girls of Color, NoVo Foundation), corporate ESG (Gap Inc., Portland General Electric), academia (Renée Crown Wellness Institute at CU Boulder), and advocacy (Mind & Life Institute, World Forestry Center, The Life Story Initiative, UNICEF, Mercy Corps). Adjacent offerings include the Purpose Springboard, a one-day cohort workshop for organizational purpose definition, and the Inspired INC. book which serves both as thought leadership and a marketing channel.
The firm's business model is professional services fee-for-engagement, with multi-year consulting contracts scoped and priced individually; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via direct engagement with CEOs, executive directors, boards, and senior leadership teams, supplemented by website content, thought leadership, and a Calendly-based intake funnel. Distribution is entirely direct and consultative with no self-service, productized, or channel-based component. The firm is B Corp certified and registered as an Oregon Benefit Company.
Perennial firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Perennial
- Legal name
- Perennial
- Website
- https://thinkperennial.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Perennial is a Portland-based boutique communications and strategy consultancy that helps foundations, nonprofits, academic institutions, and mission-led companies expand their reach by combining message refinement with trust-based stakeholder engagement. Founded in 2013, rebranded in 2022, it operates with 1–10 employees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Perennial industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Management Consulting — Social Impact Strategy & Communications
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Organization Design & Change Management Consulting (BPAHACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Content Strategy & Planning (BPAFAIAG), Internal Communications & Change Management Events (THAHAIAG)
Keywords
Where Perennial is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Perennial business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Strategic Consulting Services: Perennial generates revenue through consulting engagements with purpose-driven organizations including foundations, non-profits, academic institutions, and mission-led companies. Services include strategic planning, mission and vision development, communications strategy, stakeholder engagement, brand positioning, team alignment, and messaging.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom consulting engagements for purpose-driven organizations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Perennial product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Perennial is a boutique social impact strategy and communications consulting firm that helps purpose-driven organizations — foundations, nonprofits, academic institutions, and mission-led companies — expand their reach by crafting audience-tailored messaging and building trust-based relationships with new audiences. Engagements span strategic planning, mission/vision development, communications strategy, stakeholder engagement, brand positioning, team alignment, and messaging.
Product overview
Perennial is a strategy and communications consulting firm that operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform with modular products. The core offering is strategic communications consulting centered on helping purpose-driven organizations (foundations, nonprofits, academic institutions, and mission-led companies) reach new audiences through trust-building and messaging refinement. Associated offerings include the Purpose Springboard workshop (a one-day cohort sprint for defining organizational purpose), the Inspired INC. book (a published framework on purpose-led business co-authored by founder Emily Brew), and various client engagement projects that demonstrate the firm's approach across sectors including health, environment, social justice, and corporate ESG.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Strategic Communications Consulting
Quantifiable outcome
- Mind & Life Institute achieved 353% YOY increase in individual donors in first year of implementing evolved strategy
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Perennial
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Perennial technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Perennial partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Inspired CompaniescoreOngoing strategic partnership with Inspired Companies, an advisory firm devoted to accelerating the purpose transition in the private sector. Perennial co-authored the book 'Inspired INC' with Inspired Companies founders and maintains a collaborative go-to-market relationship.
- Studio DADcoreCreative agency partner specializing in brand identity, communications tools, and design. Collaborated on multiple client projects including Mind & Life Institute, Gap Inc., Renée Crown Wellness Institute, and The Life Story Initiative.
- Emily JensencoreNarrative director and writer who collaborates with Perennial on communications strategy and messaging projects for clients including Mind & Life Institute and World Forestry Center.
- BéallekaminorEmbodied social justice coaching and education firm focused on liberation for all. Partner for projects requiring racial justice and equity expertise.
- Rebecca Van DammminorContent strategist focused on the common good who collaborates on client projects requiring content strategy expertise.
- UpswellminorDesign studio specializing in engaging with urgent topics of our times. Collaborated on World Forestry Center project.
- KindWorld CollectiveminorRecruiting firm focused on kinder, cleaner, and more connected world. Potential partner for workforce-related client engagements.
- NoVo FoundationcoreCo-developed The Life Story Initiative as a storytelling website and grant portfolio with the NoVo Foundation, which provided $10 million in funding for the initial grant portfolio.
- Rockefeller Philanthropy AdvisorsminorThe Life Story Initiative is now a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, providing administrative and fiduciary support.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Perennial competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GMMB: Communications and advertising agency for nonprofits, foundations, and political advocacy organizations, with capabilities in brand, campaign, and stakeholder strategy.
- M+R: Communications and fundraising agency for nonprofits and progressive causes, with a focus on messaging, advocacy campaigns, and digital engagement. Comparable service mix and nonprofit client base.
- Burness: Communications and social impact agency supporting foundations, nonprofits, and social enterprises with messaging, narrative, and campaign strategy. Closely mirrors Perennial's foundation and nonprofit focus.
- Fenton: Social impact communications and public relations agency serving foundations, nonprofits, and corporate clients. Competes with Perennial on purpose-led narrative and stakeholder engagement work.
- Blue State: Digital and creative agency serving nonprofits, advocacy groups, and purpose-driven brands with strategy, communications, and fundraising campaigns. Directly comparable to Perennial in serving mission-led clients with integrated comms and brand work.
- Big Duck: Branding and communications firm exclusively serving nonprofits, with services spanning brand strategy, messaging, and campaign creative. Direct competitor in Perennial's nonprofit branding niche.
- AndCitizens (formerly Citizen Group): Purpose-driven creative and communications agency working with brands, nonprofits, and foundations on strategy, narrative, and campaign execution. Closely aligned with Perennial's model.
Broad incumbents
- Bridgespan Group: Consulting and advisory firm serving nonprofits, philanthropies, and social sector leaders on strategy and organizational effectiveness. Adjacent but broader and larger than Perennial.
- Within (formerly Purpose): Larger global purpose-driven agency offering campaign, communications, and brand strategy for social impact organizations. Broader scale and geographic reach than Perennial.
Others
- The Bridgespan Group — Social Impact practice: While Bridgespan is more strategic/organizational, large management consulting social impact practices (e.g., Bain Social Impact, Dalberg) compete for the same foundation and mission-led clients on adjacent engagements.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Perennial social profiles
Digital presencePerennial compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Perennial financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Perennial leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Perennial funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Perennial 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 Perennial
What does Perennial do?
Perennial is a boutique social impact strategy and communications consulting firm that helps purpose-driven organizations — foundations, nonprofits, academic institutions, and mission-led companies — expand their reach by crafting audience-tailored messaging and building trust-based relationships with new audiences. Engagements span strategic planning, mission/vision development, communications strategy, stakeholder engagement, brand positioning, team alignment, and messaging.
Is Perennial a public or private company?
Perennial is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Perennial founded?
Perennial was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Perennial based?
Perennial is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Perennial make money?
One revenue line is on record: strategic Consulting Services.
Who are Perennial's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GMMB, M+R, Burness, Fenton, Blue State, Big Duck and AndCitizens (formerly Citizen Group). Broad incumbents are Bridgespan Group and Within (formerly Purpose). The Bridgespan Group — Social Impact practice is listed as an others.
Does Perennial have an API?
No public API is recorded for Perennial.
What industry is Perennial in?
Perennial's product category is Management Consulting — Social Impact Strategy & Communications. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHACAD, Organization Design & Change Management Consulting, with a secondary code of BPAFAIAG, Content Strategy & Planning. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.