Cater Communications

What Cater Communications does

Cater Communications is a privately held, boutique strategic communications consulting firm headquartered in San Rafael, California. Founded by President and Founding Principal Morrow Cater and operating since 1994, the firm functions as a "smart, nimble consultant network" of former award-winning journalists, high-ranking government employees, and media specialists — a lean team of approximately seven to ten professionals distributed across San Rafael, Washington DC, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Knoxville, and Novato. The firm designs and executes strategic communications, public policy support, and campaign management services for clients primarily in the clean energy, climate, transportation, and public health sectors, with a distinctive bipartisan positioning that extends its reach to conservative stakeholders.

The firm's core offering is custom-designed strategic communications consulting delivered through nine service lines: Strategic Communications Consulting, Policy Campaigns, Design & Branding, Messaging & Framing, Media Relations & Outreach, Websites/Digital Tools & Social Media, Launches and Events, Advertising and Marketing, and Building Coalitions. Notable client engagements have produced measurable outcomes, including 3,000+ media stories across 80 countries for the RethinkX transportation disruption report, 2M+ people reached through the Stop Fooling CA campaign, and coverage in 300+ outlets for the Standing Up for Science rally. The firm also created and operates the Stop Fooling CA watchdog campaign as a managed client initiative.

Cater Communications generates revenue through professional services fees from consulting engagements with nonprofits, NGOs, government-affiliated organizations (e.g., CNA Military Advisory Board, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), corporations, and business coalitions. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The firm has no disclosed external funding, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no product-based revenue. Distribution occurs through direct client engagement and network referrals, with thought leadership (notably a 2013 TED talk by Morrow Cater) serving as a top-of-funnel demand generation mechanism.

Name

Cater Communications

Legal name

Cater Communications

Website

https://catercommunications.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cater Communications is a privately held, boutique strategic communications consulting firm that designs and executes media, policy, and coalition campaigns for nonprofits, government bodies, and corporations focused primarily on clean energy and climate issues, using a distributed network of senior consultants across multiple US cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Communications Consulting

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Relations & Press Office Services (BPAFADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nonprofit & Cause Communications (BPAFADAK), Media Relations & Press Office Services (MPAAADAI), Event PR & Communications Support (BPAFADAO)

Keywords

• Strategic communications consulting
• Public relations services
• Media relations outreach
• Policy campaign management
• Branding and design services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Rafael

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Consulting: Professional services firm providing strategic communications, public policy support, and campaign management. Services include media relations, report launches, website development, social media, branding, events, advertising, and coalition building. Revenue from consulting fees for strategic engagements with nonprofits, corporations, business groups, and government entities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cater Communications is a strategic communications consulting firm that provides custom-designed communications strategies and tactics for nonprofits, corporations, and government clients. Core offerings include strategic communications planning, policy campaigns, media relations and outreach, design and branding, messaging and framing, websites and digital tools, event launches, advertising, and coalition building. The firm focuses on bipartisan engagement on issues such as clean energy, climate change, transportation, and public health.

Product overview

Cater Communications is a strategic communications consulting firm that operates as a unified service offering rather than a platform with discrete modules. The company's core offering is custom-designed strategic communications consulting, supported by specialized service lines including Policy Campaigns, Design & Branding, Messaging & Framing, Media Relations & Outreach, Websites/Digital Tools & Social Media, Launches and Events, Advertising and Marketing, Building Coalitions, and Report Launches. They also manage the Stop Fooling CA campaign on behalf of clients. The firm focuses on bipartisan strategic engagement across issue areas including clean energy, technology, transportation, public health, and climate change.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Communications Consulting Custom-designed strategic communications strategies and tactics that build bridges from client goals to target audiences, including earned, paid, and social media deployment, public events, and private communications.
• Policy Campaigns Strategic campaign development and execution focused on achieving policy goals, leveraging messaging, stakeholder engagement, and media coverage.
• Design & Branding Creative design and brand development services for clients including marketing materials, reports, infographics, and visual identity work.
• Media Relations & Outreach Comprehensive media relations services including press outreach, news placement, op-ed placement, and reporter engagement across national, regional, and local outlets.
• Websites, Digital Tools & Social Media Website development, digital tool creation, and social media campaign development and execution for client initiatives.
• Launches and Events Event planning and execution services including product launches, press events, conferences, and public appearances.
• Advertising and Marketing Advertising campaign development and marketing services including online advertising, outdoor advertising, and media buying.
• Building Coalitions Coalition building and stakeholder engagement services to unite diverse groups around shared communications and policy goals.
• Stop Fooling CA Campaign A social media campaign designed and managed by Cater Communications that acts as a watchdog for the oil and gas industry in California, exposing impacts of urban oil extraction and advocating for clean energy policies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2 million people reached through Stop Fooling California campaign
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Next 10coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonpartisan nonprofit focused on driving innovation for California's future. Partnered on California Green Innovation Index and California Water Challenge tools.
• CerescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization working with investors and companies to build leadership on climate change. Partnered on Insurer Climate Risk Disclosure Scorecard.
• Consumer Federation of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsumer advocacy organization. Multiple campaigns on electric vehicles, fuel economy standards, and energy efficiency consumer protection.
• Solutions ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization driving 100% clean energy for 100% of people with celebrity partners Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio. 100% campaign and Fighter Fund initiatives.
• CNA Military Advisory BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanel of top retired generals and admirals providing national security perspective on climate change. Multiple reports including 'National Security and the Accelerating Risks of Climate Change'.
• Young Conservatives for Energy ReformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservative organization advocating for clean energy through bipartisan engagement. Organized Conservative Clean Energy Summits and grassroots outreach.
• CALSTARTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean transportation technology consortium. Partnered on heavy-duty fuel efficiency standards and clean trucks campaigns.
• Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOE national laboratory. Partnered on FLEXLAB launch (world's most advanced energy efficiency test bed) and various energy efficiency initiatives.
• Christian Coalition of AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservative faith organization. Co-hosted Conservative Clean Energy Summits bringing together conservative activists and clean energy advocates.
• American Lung Association in CaliforniamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth organization. Partners on Doctors for Climate Health campaign and clean air advocacy.
• Interfaith Power & LightmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based environmental organization. Partnered on amplifying Pope Francis climate message and creation care initiatives.
• Union of Concerned ScientistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience advocacy organization. Partnered on Rising Tides summit and National Landmarks at Risk report coverage.
• RethinkXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank led by Tony Seba on transportation disruption. Produced and released 'Rethinking Transportation' report with 850+ media stories.
• National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBipartisan organization of state legislators. Partnered on Iowa solar and energy freedom campaigns.
• Stop Fooling CAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline/social media campaign created and managed by Cater Communications exposing Big Oil's efforts in California. Reached 2+ million people.
• Empowered by LightmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit bringing renewable energy to remote communities. Partnered on Nepal solar projects and Puerto Rico hurricane relief.
• N SquareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNuclear security innovation organization. Partnered on games for nuclear security and public engagement initiatives.
• Analysis GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic consulting firm. Released reports on Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and EPA Clean Power Plan.
• Clean Water ActionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization. Partnered on #WaterNotOil campaign and California oil industry watchdog efforts.
• Story & Reach CommunicationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-founded by Senior Consultants Natalie Pawelski and Carina Daniels. Provides story and reach communications specialization.
• CalChargecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership accelerating energy storage sector in California. Partnered on Battery University and SLAC research announcements.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe): Global public relations agency with a purpose and climate practice, offering large-scale corporate climate, sustainability, and energy communications. Competes with Cater on enterprise advocacy and policy campaigns.
• Edelman: Global communications firm with a large sustainability/ESG practice serving corporations and foundations on climate and clean-energy communications — competes with Cater on marquee engagements but at much greater scale and scope.
• Weber Shandwick: Large global PR agency with social impact and energy practices. Comparable to Cater on cause-based PR strategy and climate communications for major foundations and corporate clients.

Direct peers

• Fenton Communications: Public interest PR and social change firm serving nonprofits, foundations, and advocacy groups on issues including climate, environmental justice, and equity — directly comparable to Cater's clean-energy/social-change positioning.
• Burness: Cause-based communications firm specializing in clean energy, climate, health, and education. Burness is the closest analogue to Cater, with overlapping nonprofit/philanthropic clients and similar earned-media, narrative-shaping services for advocacy campaigns.
• M+R: Nonprofit-focused digital and communications agency providing media relations, campaign strategy, and digital mobilization for advocacy organizations, with substantial climate and environmental clients comparable to Cater's portfolio.
• Hilltop Public Solutions: Bipartisan public affairs firm founded by former Hill staffers, focusing on political and policy communications. Hilltop mirrors Cater's bipartisan positioning and Hill/government-staffing DNA.
• SKDKnickerbocker: Political and issue-advocacy communications firm with significant Democratic-affiliated campaign and advocacy work, similar in its strategic-campaign, media-relations model to Cater's policy work for advocacy groups.
• GMMB: Strategic communications and public affairs firm serving nonprofits, foundations, and companies on policy and advocacy campaigns, with strong expertise in health, climate, and education — directly comparable client mix and strategic-campaign methodology.

Emerging players

• Blue State: Digital-first agency for nonprofits, causes, and political organizations — competes with Cater on digital campaigns, social-media mobilization, and cause-marketing engagements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CaterComNews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cater-communications

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 Cater Communications