Pension Rights Center

What Pension Rights Center does

The Pension Rights Center is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan consumer organization founded in 1976 by Karen Ferguson in Washington, DC, that protects and promotes the retirement security of workers, retirees, and their families. It operates through three primary service channels: six federally funded regional Pension Counseling Projects providing free legal assistance in 30 states, the National Pension Lawyers Network (NPLN) which is a no-cost attorney referral service, and PensionHelp America, an online resource directing individuals with retirement plan questions to appropriate government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Two targeted initiatives supplement these services: the Pension Promises Initiative, which addressed the multiemployer pension crisis with support from the RRF Foundation for Aging, and the Initiative on Women and Retirement at Divorce, which addresses barriers women face in obtaining retirement benefits granted at divorce.

The underlying technology is modest and operational rather than transformational: a WordPress-based content management system for the pensionrights.org website and a Salesforce-based case management system for tracking client interactions. The organization does not offer a unified software platform; rather, it provides human-powered advocacy, counseling, and referral services delivered by approximately six staff members plus consultants. The senior team includes an Executive Director (Karen Friedman), Chief Operations Officer (Kyle Garrett), Legal Director (Theresa S. Gee), Senior Legal Counsel (Norman Stein), Policy Analyst (Jane Smith), and Senior Communications Consultant (David Brandolph).

The Pension Rights Center's business model is nonprofit donations and grants. All services are provided free to individuals, with no fees charged for counseling, information, or referral services. Funding flows from major donors including AARP, BlackRock, the RRF Foundation for Aging (which has contributed nearly $2 million over 40+ years), various law firms such as Covington & Burling and Stris & Maher, labor unions including the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and foundations. The organization also receives federal funding indirectly through its Administration on Aging partnership that supports six regional Pension Counseling Projects.

Name

Pension Rights Center

Legal name

Pension Rights Center

Website

https://pensionrights.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pension Rights Center is a Washington, DC-based national nonprofit founded in 1976 that protects retirement security for workers, retirees, and their families through free legal counseling, attorney referrals, and policy advocacy, operating six federally funded Pension Counseling Projects across 30 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retirement Security Advocacy

NAICS

Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Employer Retirement Plan Advisory (401(k)/Pension) (FSAEABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pensions & Retirement Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAA), Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Pension rights advocacy
• Retirement security policy
• Consumer legal assistance
• Pension counseling services
• Retirement benefits education

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: The organization operates as a nonprofit supported by donations from individuals and organizations. Major supporters include AARP, BlackRock, various law firms, and foundations. The RRF Foundation for Aging has provided nearly $2 million in grants over 40+ years.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Pension Rights Center is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan consumer organization that protects and promotes the retirement security of workers, retirees, and their families. It delivers free legal assistance through six federally funded Pension Counseling Projects serving 30 states, operates the National Pension Lawyers Network referral service, runs the PensionHelp America online resource, and conducts policy advocacy and public education on retirement security issues.

Product overview

The Pension Rights Center offers a portfolio of interconnected consumer services focused on retirement security. Core offerings include three direct service channels: six regional Pension Counseling Projects providing free legal assistance across 30 states, the National Pension Lawyers Network connecting individuals with pension attorneys, and PensionHelp America directing people to appropriate resources. These are supplemented by the Pension Promises Initiative addressing the multiemployer pension crisis and the Initiative on Women and Retirement at Divorce. The organization does not offer a unified software platform but rather human-powered advocacy, counseling, and referral services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PensionHelp America: An online resource that directs people who have questions about or problems with their retirement plans to government agencies and nonprofit organizations that may be able to help them.
• National Pension Lawyers Network
• Pension Counseling Projects
• Pension Promises Initiative
• Initiative on Women and Retirement at Divorce

Products and services

• Pension Counseling Projects

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $175 million in retirement benefits recovered for older Americans
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Administration on Aging (ACL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers the Pension Counseling and Information Program under the Older Americans Act. PRC provides training and technical assistance to six regional projects serving 30 states.
• AARPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTop-tier donor and advocacy partner on retirement security issues, particularly regarding coverage expansion and pension protections.
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace WorkersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor labor union supporter and advocacy partner on pension issues. Robert Roach, Jr. (formerly IAM General Secretary-Treasurer) serves on PRC's Board.
• Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency insuring pension benefits. Ilana Boivie from IAM serves on PBGC Advisory Committee. PRC advocates for policies affecting PBGC.
• Social Security WorksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-directed by Nancy Altman, who chairs PRC's Board. Joint advocacy for retirement security policies.
• Retirement USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition initiative coordinated by Karen Friedman, PRC's Executive Director. Focuses on expanding retirement plan coverage.
• Conversation on CoveragemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic policy initiative coordinated by Karen Friedman examining ways to expand pension coverage for low- and moderate-income workers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AARP: AARP is the largest U.S. advocacy organization for Americans aged 50 and older and a major PRC donor and advocacy partner. Both organizations advocate on retirement security, Social Security, and pension protections, and AARP's policy leadership often aligns with PRC's positions.
• National Institute on Retirement Security: NIRS is a nonpartisan research and education organization focused on retirement security and private-sector pensions. It produces research that complements PRC's legal services and policy advocacy, and both organizations engage on similar ERISA and DB pension issues.
• National Academy of Social Insurance: NASI is a nonpartisan organization studying Social Security, Medicare, and other social insurance programs. Nancy Altman is a founding member, mirroring PRC's focus on retirement and Social Security policy through research and stakeholder engagement.
• Social Security Works: Social Security Works is a national advocacy coalition co-directed by Nancy Altman, who chairs PRC's Board. The two organizations co-advocate on Social Security and retirement security policy and frequently coordinate campaigns on coverage expansion.
• Pension Research Council (Wharton): The Wharton Pension Research Council funds and disseminates academic research on pensions, retirement security, and related public policy. It operates in a similar policy-research domain to PRC's analytical work on retirement issues.
• Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI): EBRI is a nonpartisan research organization that analyzes employee benefit programs, with a strong focus on retirement income. Like PRC, it engages with policymakers and produces material on retirement policy, though it is research-led rather than advocacy-led.
• Center for Retirement Research at Boston College: The CRR conducts research on retirement policy and is directed by Alicia Munnell, who also serves on PRC's Board. The Center's research frequently underpins policy debates in which PRC advocates, making them closely aligned institutional actors in retirement policy.
• Alliance of Retired Americans: The Alliance is a grassroots advocacy organization for retirees, with strong ties to organized labor. Robert Roach, Jr., its President, serves on PRC's Board, and both organizations advocate on pension protections and retirement security for older Americans.

Broad incumbents

• National Consumers League: NCL is the oldest U.S. consumer advocacy organization, working on consumer protection broadly. PRC shares NCL's consumer-rights orientation but focuses specifically on retirement and pension issues, making NCL a broader-scope peer rather than a direct competitor.
• Economic Policy Institute: EPI is a think tank conducting economic policy research, including on retirement security and Social Security. It engages on overlapping policy issues with PRC but operates at a much broader scope covering wages, labor markets, and inequality.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pensionrights
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCia8bA9bvOVY_g0U93mbbkw?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/pensionrightscenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pension-rights-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pension Rights Center