Susan Hairston Consulting

What Susan Hairston Consulting does

Susan Hairston Consulting LLC (operating as The SHC Group or SHC) is a privately held management consulting firm founded in 2017 by CEO Susan Hairston and headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, with operating presence also noted in New York. The firm serves nonprofit organizations, foundations, government and civic entities, and mission-driven executives, with a stated emphasis on BIPOC and marginalized communities. Its service portfolio is organized into six integrated modules: Organizational Assessment, Funding Strategy and Proposal Development, Strategic Planning and Change Management, Grant-Making Operations, Executive Coaching, and DEI Development. Engagement delivery is conducted by an advisory bench of approximately ten named senior practitioners (CXO-equivalent titles in Operations, Finance, Technology, Programs, Grants Management, DEI, Organizational Development, and Accounting), drawing on a combined 45+ years of philanthropic-sector experience that includes Susan Hairston's 20-year tenure leading program operations for the Ford Foundation and Miyesha Perry's prior leadership of The Rainin Foundation's grants management team.

The business model is straightforward professional services: bespoke project-based engagements sold directly to clients, with a free 15-minute consultation as the entry point and no publicly disclosed pricing. Go-to-market is a hybrid of sales-led direct engagement, relationship-driven community presence (ABFE, CBCF, HBCU, UChicago Leadership & Society Initiative, Habitat for Humanity), and thought leadership through Susan Hairston's Center for Effective Philanthropy advisory role and podcast appearances. The firm holds a U.S. SBA Women-Owned Small Business certification (2023) and is registered as an LLC in the United States with no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no external funding rounds. There is no proprietary technology platform; the offering is human-delivered advisory work supported by a curated internal database of funding sources. Notable named customers include Ford Foundation, The Stupski Foundation, PEAK Grantmaking, Think of Us, Monarch Family Services, Prevention Links, Touch Care Ministries, and the Indiana Housing Authority.

Name

Susan Hairston Consulting

Legal name

Susan Hairston Consulting LLC

Website

https://susanhairstonconsulting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Susan Hairston Consulting (The SHC Group) is a privately held, founder-led management consulting firm founded in 2017 that provides strategic planning, funding strategy, grant-making operations, executive coaching, and DEI advisory services to nonprofit organizations, foundations, and government entities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Management Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Operations & Process Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership Development & Executive Coaching (BPAHAGAD), DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) & Belonging Consulting (BPAHAGAJ), Financial Management & Performance Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAF)

Keywords

• Nonprofit management consulting
• Grant-making operations
• Strategic planning services
• Executive coaching
• DEI consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for nonprofit organizations, foundations, and mission-driven leaders. Services include organizational assessment, funding strategy, strategic planning, grant-making operations, executive coaching, and DEI development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Susan Hairston Consulting (also known as The SHC Group) is a management consulting firm that delivers advisory services to nonprofit organizations, foundations, and mission-driven leaders. Its core offering is a unified suite of six integrated service modules: Organizational Assessment, Funding Strategy & Proposal Development, Strategic Planning & Change Management, Grant-Making Operations, Executive Coaching, and DEI Development, delivered by a team of strategists, financiers, operations managers, and former foundation executives.

Product overview

Susan Hairston Consulting is a management consulting firm providing a unified suite of advisory services to nonprofits and investors. The core offerings consist of six integrated service modules: Organizational Assessment (for business continuity and crisis triage), Funding Strategy & Proposal Development (revenue roadmap and grant acquisition), Strategic Planning & Change Management (restructuring and organizational transformation), Grant-Making Operations (procedures and compliance for funders), Executive Coaching (leadership development with 45+ years experience), and DEI Development (diversity, equity, and inclusion program formulation). These services are delivered by a team of strategists, financiers, operation managers, and founders with extensive backgrounds in the philanthropic sector, and are designed to work together to equip mission-driven organizations for high-impact results.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Organizational Assessment
• Funding Strategy & Proposal Development
• Strategic Planning & Change Management
• Grant-Making Operations
• Executive Coaching
• DEI Development

Quantifiable outcome

• Organizational assessment that enables strategic planning and expansion readiness
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UChicago Leadership & Society Initiative (LSI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2024Susan Hairston participated in a capstone project at University of Chicago bringing together network members for an enriching journey centered on learning, reflection, and collaboration in proactively navigating DEI and ESG challenges. Featured speakers included Ericka Hines, Nathaniel Smith, Louis Bickford, and Yamilee Toussaint.
• Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Susan Hairston collaborated with Summit City officials and the Senator to acquire pro bono and reduced-fee professional services from architects, environmental and engineering consultants, attorneys, and real estate appraisers to build new homes for underprivileged communities. This partnership addresses the affordable housing crisis by bringing together civic leaders and community stakeholders.
• Prevention LinkscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSHC congratulated Prevention Links on the grand opening of the RISE UP Community Center in Plainfield. The center offers workforce development, financial literacy, mental health support, and family services. SHC has been working with Prevention Links as a consulting client to support their organizational effectiveness and community impact goals.
• Funders for LGBTQ IssuesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSHC was a proud sponsor of the Pride in Philanthropy Awards, an event recognizing leaders and organizations making transformative impacts on LGBTQ+ philanthropy. The event was hosted alongside the Stupski Foundation and featured Director of Grant-Making Practice Gwyneth Tripp.
• Stupski FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored the Pride in Philanthropy Awards with SHC. Foundation Director Gwyneth Tripp serves as a reference for SHC's grant-making operations expertise and is highlighted as a partner in LGBTQ philanthropy initiatives.
• New Jersey Center for NonprofitsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSHC sponsored 5 nonprofit organizations to attend the NJ Center for Nonprofits conference. The conference provided a valuable platform for networking, learning, and collaboration among nonprofit industry leaders.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• McKinsey Social Sector Practice: Large global management consultancy with a dedicated nonprofit/philanthropy practice offering strategic planning and organizational transformation — competes for larger foundation engagements.
• Bain & Company (Nonprofit Practice): Global strategy consulting firm with a nonprofit and social impact practice that advises foundations on strategy and operations — broader portfolio but overlapping client base.

Direct peers

• CompassPoint Nonprofit Services: Nonprofit consulting and leadership development organization offering executive coaching, organizational development, and DEI services to nonprofit leaders and boards.
• TCC Group: Consulting firm focused on nonprofits, foundations, and philanthropy, providing strategy, evaluation, and organizational development services — closely aligned with SHC's six core offerings.
• La Piana Consulting: Boutique nonprofit consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, executive transitions, and organizational change management for nonprofits and foundations.
• BoardSource: Nonprofit organization providing consulting, training, and resources on nonprofit governance and board leadership — overlapping with SHC's executive coaching and board leadership services.
• Arabella Advisors: Boutique philanthropic advisory firm providing strategic planning, grant-making operations, and DEI advisory to foundations and nonprofits — directly comparable service mix and client base to Susan Hairston Consulting.
• The Bridgespan Group: Nonprofit and philanthropy strategy consulting firm offering organizational assessment, strategic planning, and capacity-building services to foundations and mission-driven organizations.

Others

• PEAK Grantmaking: Professional association advancing grant-making practices and DEI in philanthropy — SHC's Chief Grants Management Advisor Miyesha Perry is the 2023-24 Co-Chair, making this a partnership/ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Candid (formerly Foundation Center): Nonprofit data and research organization providing funding-source intelligence and philanthropic research tools — complementary to SHC's proprietary funding-source database offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/susan-hairston-consulting-llc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Susan Hairston Consulting