COMPASS

What COMPASS does

COMPASS Science Communication, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 by Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Vikki Spruill, Chuck Savitt, and Chris Harrold with founding partners Island Press, SeaWeb, Oregon State University, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Headquartered in Clackamas, Oregon, the organization trains scientists, researchers, and conservation professionals in strategic communication, policy engagement, and leadership, and reports having supported more than 10,000 scientists since inception.

The company's core offering is a suite of in-person and virtual services built around the proprietary Message Box framework — a five-section structured tool (Issue, Problem, So What, Solution, Benefits) for crafting audience-targeted messages. Service lines include monthly public workshops ($125-$150 per session), tailored group trainings for organizations ($6,000 virtual or $7,500 in-person for up to 25 participants), one-on-one and small-group coaching, multi-session Skill Sprint cohorts ($450) with optional certificates, and named cohort-based leadership programs (COMPASS Pathfinders, mCDR Communication Leaders, Wilburforce Leaders in Conservation Science, Leaders for Sea Change, Scientist Sentinels, Changing Food Systems). Convening and meeting facilitation services round out the portfolio. Underlying technology is a curriculum and facilitation methodology rather than a software platform; the website, blog, newsletter, and social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky) drive demand generation.

Revenue is a hybrid of earned fees and philanthropic donations. Earned income comes from individual workshop registrations, class passes ($250-$500 for multi-workshop bundles), enterprise group trainings, and Skill Sprint cohorts. The majority of operating support comes from foundations including the David and Lucile Packard Foundation (sustained for over 20 years), Wilburforce Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, The Walton Family Foundation, The Kavli Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, Carbon to Sea Initiative, and others, supplemented by donor-advised fund grants and individual contributions. Customer segments span academic researchers, federal and state government agencies, conservation leaders, policymakers, and journalists, delivered primarily through community-led, event-driven engagement across North America with emerging international reach through the mCDR program.

Name

COMPASS

Legal name

COMPASS Science Communication, Inc.

Website

https://compassscicomm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

COMPASS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 that trains scientists, researchers, and conservation professionals in strategic communication, policy engagement, and leadership through workshops, coaching, cohort programs, and the Message Box methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategy, Decision-Making & Business Acumen Coaching (EDABANAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Scientific & Laboratory Reference (Chemistry, Biology, Physics; Methods & Protocols) (EDAGAGAG)

Keywords

• Science communication training
• Leadership development programs
• Researcher coaching services
• Workshop facilitation
• Convening strategy

Headquarters

HQ city

Clackamas

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Support: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, COMPASS receives majority of financial support from individuals and philanthropic organizations. Major funders include David and Lucile Packard Foundation (20+ years of sustained support), Wilburforce Foundation, Orange County Community Foundation, The Kavli Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, The Walton Family Foundation, Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment, Marisla Foundation, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, Rita Allen Foundation, and Kingfisher Foundation.
2. Workshop and Training Fees: Public workshops are priced individually ($125-$150 per session). Group trainings range from $6,000-$7,500 depending on format. Class passes offer discounted multi-workshop access ($250 for 2, $350 for 3, $500 for 5 workshops). Skill Sprint series priced at $450 for 4 workshops.
3. Donor-Advised Fund Grants: COMPASS welcomes grants from Donor-Advised Funds. Tax ID/EIN is 81-1344772.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

COMPASS designs and delivers professional science communication training, leadership development programs, and strategic convening services for scientists, researchers, and the institutions that employ them. Its offerings include public workshops, customized group trainings, one-on-one coaching, multi-session leadership programs, and facilitated convenings, all built around its proprietary Message Box narrative framework. The organization primarily serves federal science agencies, universities, foundations, and individual researchers seeking to engage more effectively with media, policymakers, and the public.

Product overview

COMPASS provides a suite of science communication training and leadership development services centered around strategic engagement, coaching, workshops, and cohort-based programs. Core service offerings include Public Workshops, Group Trainings (Individual Workshops, Communication in Context, Cohort Learning Tracks), Coaching & Strategic Support, and Leadership Programs (mCDR Communication Leaders, Pathfinders, Wilburforce Leaders, Leaders for Sea Change, Scientist Sentinels, Changing Food Systems). The signature Message Box tool underpins much of the curriculum as a structured framework for message development. Additional offerings include the Skill Sprint workshop series for strategic materials creation, Convening Strategy & Facilitation services, and the published guide 'Escape from the Ivory Tower'. The organization operates primarily through direct service delivery rather than a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COMPASS mCDR Communication Leaders: A cohort program supporting marine carbon dioxide removal experts to engage with policymakers, funders, media, and communities about mCDR's potential, complexity, and tradeoffs.
• COMPASS Pathfinders: Conservation Leaders
• The Message Box

Products and services

• Public Workshops Open-enrollment workshops that teach individual scientists and researchers how to communicate their work to media, policymakers, and the public. Designed for working researchers across natural and social sciences who want practical, applied training.
• Group Trainings Customized in-person or virtual training engagements delivered to teams within an organization. Built around client-specific goals and tailored to the participants' disciplines and audiences. Designed for federal agencies, universities, foundations, and nonprofit organizations.
• Coaching & Strategic Support One-on-one coaching engagements that help individual scientists and leaders develop their personal communication strategy, prepare for high-stakes presentations, and refine their messaging. Designed for senior researchers and institutional leaders.
• Leadership Programs Multi-session cohort programs that build sustained communication and leadership capacity over time for emerging and established science leaders. Designed for cohorts from federal agencies, universities, foundations, and scientific societies.
• The Message Box COMPASS's proprietary narrative framework that teaches scientists to distill their research into a structured, compelling story for non-specialist audiences. Used as a core instructional tool across all COMPASS trainings.
• Skill Sprint Workshop Series A short-format workshop series designed to deliver focused communication skill-building in a condensed time frame. Targets individual scientists seeking efficient professional development.
• Convening Strategy & Facilitation Strategic design and facilitation of multi-stakeholder convenings that bring together scientists, policymakers, and other audiences. Designed for organizations seeking neutral, expert facilitation of complex cross-sector conversations.
• Escape from the Ivory Tower A published book codifying COMPASS's science communication philosophy and methods, used as a reference and training resource for researchers and the broader science communication field.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of alumni report positive impact on communication and engagement skills
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, founding and core.

• Carbon to Sea InitiativemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Coordination support for the COMPASS mCDR Communication Leaders program. The Carbon to Sea Initiative is a philanthropic initiative supporting open scientific research on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal. Hosts Project Macoma information at projectmacoma.org.
• Island PressfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999One of the founding partners when COMPASS began in 1999 as a joint project to help ocean scientists share their knowledge in public discourse.
• SeaWebfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999One of the founding partners when COMPASS began in 1999 as a joint project to help ocean scientists share their knowledge in public discourse.
• Oregon State UniversityfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999One of the founding partners when COMPASS began in 1999 as a joint project to help ocean scientists share their knowledge in public discourse.
• Monterey Bay AquariumfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999One of the founding partners when COMPASS began in 1999 as a joint project to help ocean scientists share their knowledge in public discourse.
• Indigenous Engagement InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver the 'Ethical Space: Indigenous Engagement for Science Professionals' workshop. This interactive workshop introduces the concept of Ethical Space to support reconciliation of Indigenous and western worldviews, helping scientists build respectful, effective partnerships with Indigenous communities.
• ESP AdvisorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver 'Making the Message Stick with Congress' workshop. ESP Advisors provides insider guidance on how Congress works, what staff and lawmakers need to hear, and how to navigate the policy process. Emily Patrolia, founder and CEO of ESP Advisors, also serves on COMPASS's board.
• NCEAS (National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner organization operating at the intersections of environment, communication, policy, and society.
• Lenfest InstitutecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner organization operating at the intersections of environment, communication, policy, and society.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Aspen Institute: Aspen Institute runs convenings, leadership fellowships, and policy programs across multiple sectors including environment. Its leadership and convening model parallels COMPASS Pathfinders but operates at far larger scale and broader policy scope.
• National Geographic Society: National Geographic Society funds and produces science storytelling and exploration programs. Its communication of science to public audiences and grantmaking for scientists intersect with COMPASS's mission but at much broader scale and with media production at its core.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): AAAS runs communication, public engagement, and policy programs for scientists, including the Center for Public Engagement with Science and Technology. As a broad incumbent in science advocacy, it overlaps with COMPASS but serves a much larger membership-based mission.

Emerging players

• Research!America: Research!America advocates for increased investment in scientific research and trains scientists and advocates in public and policy communication. It overlaps with COMPASS's policy-engagement training but focuses on advocacy for research funding rather than broader communications skill-building.
• Spitfire Strategies: Spitfire Strategies is a communications firm focused on nonprofit and social-change organizations, offering strategic communications, message development, and training. Its Smart Message Program and coaching offerings overlap with COMPASS's Message Box and Strategic Communication training for mission-driven clients.

Others

• The Kavli Foundation: The Kavli Foundation funds scientific research and public engagement programs and is a current COMPASS donor. It is adjacent rather than competitive, sharing the science-communication mission but operating primarily as a funder rather than a direct training provider.
• The Conversation: The Conversation is a nonprofit media outlet that publishes explainer articles written by academics for general audiences. It is thematically adjacent to COMPASS's mission of helping scientists communicate publicly, though it is a publishing platform rather than a training provider.

Direct peers

• Alda Center for Communicating Science: The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University offers workshops, coaching, and graduate programs teaching scientists to communicate clearly with public audiences. It is the closest direct competitor to COMPASS in mission, methodology, and target customer.
• KnowInnovation: KnowInnovation designs and facilitates virtual and in-person convenings, workshops, and innovation processes for research and science communities. Its facilitation and convening services closely mirror COMPASS's Convening Strategy & Facilitation and cohort-based program delivery.
• FrameWorks Institute: FrameWorks Institute researches and applies strategic framing and messaging to social issues including science and environment. Its evidence-based communications methodology and toolkit approach to message development parallel COMPASS's Message Box and adult-learning training model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/COMPASSscicomm
• Facebookfacebook.com/COMPASSscience
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compass-2
• Instagraminstagram.com/compassscicomm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 COMPASS