Pro Bono Economics

What Pro Bono Economics does

Pro Bono Economics (operating as PBE) is a UK-registered charity founded in 2009 and headquartered in London that delivers economic analysis and impact-measurement services to the social sector. It serves four primary customer groups: small and medium charities, larger charities and social enterprises, policymakers (MPs, select committees, local government), and funders. Core offerings are organised as a tiered portfolio: Data First Aid provides free data-management and impact-measurement support to small charities; Workshops train charity staff in evaluation techniques; Analysis Services deliver data advice, economic analysis, and advocacy and insight work; and Consultancy provides bespoke paid engagements for charities, funders, and policymakers. PBE also publishes regular research across five focus areas — children and young people, wellbeing poverty, social sector, housing, and loneliness — and has produced measurable policy outcomes, including evidence underpinning a £560m adult numeracy programme and £13.6m of food-bank government grants.

The underlying technology stack is conventional: no proprietary platform, software product, API, or AI/ML capability is disclosed, and service delivery is powered by a combination of paid staff and a 1,131-strong volunteer network of economists, many drawn from the UK civil service and regulatory bodies. PBE maintains a single UK office, is registered with the Fundraising Regulator, and rebranded from Pro Bono Economics to PBE in 2025–2026.

The business model is a hybrid charity-plus-fee-for-service structure. The majority of capacity is funded through donations and charitable support, while a secondary revenue stream comes from paid consultancy and analysis services provided to charities, funders, and policymakers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, combining content marketing (publications, insights, newsletter, social channels including LinkedIn, Bluesky, and YouTube), events, and direct outreach to supported organisations and government stakeholders. Customer concentration is structurally low, with 754 organisations supported and no disclosed anchor accounts.

Name

Pro Bono Economics

Legal name

Pro Bono Economics

Website

https://probonoeconomics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pro Bono Economics (PBE) is a UK-registered charity that provides economic analysis, impact measurement, and consultancy services to charities, social enterprises, funders, and policymakers. Its volunteer economist network and policy-influencing research underpin measurable social-sector outcomes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Sector Economic Consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL) (BPADAEAB)

Keywords

• Charity economic analysis
• Impact measurement services
• Social sector consulting
• Nonprofit data analysis
• Policy research consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Support: PBE relies on donations from supporters to fund their operations and services to charities across the UK. They operate as a registered charity (No. 1130567).
2. Professional Services and Consultancy: PBE provides paid consultancy services including economic analysis, impact measurement, data advice, and advocacy support to charities, funders, and policymakers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pro Bono Economics delivers economic analysis and impact measurement services for the UK social sector. Its offerings include a free Data First Aid support service for small charities, training Workshops, Analysis Services covering data advice, economic analysis, and advocacy and insight, and bespoke Consultancy for charities, funders, firms, and policymakers.

Product overview

Pro Bono Economics offers a unified suite of analytical and advisory services for the social sector. The core offerings include Data First Aid (free support for small charities), Workshops (training in impact measurement), Analysis Services (data advice, economic analysis, and advocacy), and Consultancy (bespoke professional services). These services work together to help charities measure impact, influence policy, increase funding, and improve skills. PBE also produces research publications and insights focused on children and young people, wellbeing poverty, social sector, housing, and loneliness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Data First Aid Free support service for small charities to help them measure, understand, and better articulate their impact through data management and analysis.
• Workshops Training sessions delivered by PBE economists to help charities build skills in impact measurement and evaluation.
• Analysis Services Comprehensive analytical support including data advice, economic analysis, and advocacy and insight services to help charities measure impact and influence policy.
• Consultancy Professional consultancy services providing bespoke economic analysis and impact evaluation for charities, funders, and policymakers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.3/10 likelihood of recommendation rating from supported organisations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Fundraising RegulatorcoreOthersPBE is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and displays their compliance badge, indicating adherence to fundraising standards and regulations in the UK.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NPC (New Philanthropy Capital): UK charity that advises other charities and funders on impact measurement, analysis, and evidence-based decision-making. Directly comparable to PBE's analytics, impact evaluation, and charity support services.
• New Economics Foundation: UK-based think tank that conducts economic research and policy advocacy focused on social, environmental, and economic wellbeing. Highly comparable as a charity-economics research and advocacy organisation serving similar UK audiences as PBE.
• The King's Fund: Independent UK charity working on health and social care policy through research and analysis. Comparable as a charity-based research and policy advisory body serving UK policymakers and sector stakeholders.
• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): Membership body for UK charities providing research, advice, and infrastructure support. Comparable as a UK-wide support organisation helping charities improve their operations and impact measurement.
• Charities Evaluation Services: UK charity supporting voluntary organisations with evaluation, impact measurement, and quality assurance. Directly comparable to PBE's focus on helping charities measure and articulate impact.
• Centre for Cities: UK urban economic research and policy think tank providing rigorous analysis to policymakers. Comparable in mission and analytical approach to PBE's economic research informing UK policy.
• Resolution Foundation: UK economic and social policy research organisation producing analysis for policymakers, similar to PBE's policy influence work. Comparable in providing rigorous economic analysis to inform UK social policy decisions.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Consulting Group (Social Impact Practice): Global management consultancy with a dedicated social impact practice serving non-profits, funders, and governments. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering economic and impact analysis that overlaps with PBE's higher-end consultancy work.
• PwC UK (Public Sector and Social Impact): Large professional services firm with a public sector and social impact practice offering economic analysis and impact evaluation. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering overlapping research and advisory capabilities to UK charities and policymakers.

Emerging players

• Big Society Capital: UK social investment institution that funds impact-focused organisations. Comparable as an adjacent UK social-sector ecosystem player that intersects with PBE's charity and funder audiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWJ-A1vyOCON_f1DBidHTMA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pro-bono-economics
• Xx.com/ProBonoEcon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Pro Bono Economics