Open Briefing
Open Briefing is a UK-based nonprofit social impact consultancy that delivers holistic physical, digital, and psychological security support to grassroots activists, nonprofits, and foundations across 100+ countries through direct services, retainers, and open-source resources.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersPenzance, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Open Briefing does
Open Briefing is a UK-based mission-driven nonprofit and social impact consultancy founded in 2011 and headquartered in Penzance, Cornwall. It delivers holistic security support to grassroots activists, community groups, social movements, international nonprofits, and foundations facing physical, digital, and psychological threats. Its service model is organized around four pillars — Accompaniment (fully-funded rapid response for at-risk defenders), Advisory (risk management and duty-of-care consulting for nonprofits), Partnerships (ecosystem strengthening with funders and peer organizations), and Knowledge (free open-source tools and training resources). Service delivery is structured into three integrated modules: Protection and Security Services (risk assessments, security plans, travel threat briefings), Digital Risk and Resilience Services (information security frameworks, crisis simulations, embedded support), and Wellbeing and Collective Care Services (coaching, peer support, mental health, policy frameworks).\n\nThe business operates on a hybrid revenue model combining unrestricted and restricted foundation grants (including Ford Foundation, Oak Foundation, National Endowment for Democracy, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund), fee-for-service consultancy at £52.50/hour (counselling at £73.50/hour), retainer arrangements with mission-aligned organizations such as Global Witness and Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, and pro bono rapid response support funded by philanthropic capital. Its proprietary and open-source assets include the Holistic Security Toolkit, Defender's Protocol (available in 27+ languages), Security Risk Assessment Tool (SRAT), and Protection Ecosystem Map, all distributed under Creative Commons licensing. In the most recent reported year, Open Briefing delivered nearly 7,000 hours of holistic security support across 68 countries, responded to 575 calls for assistance across 100 countries, and trained 1,400+ activists in 155 workshops.\n\nThe organization operates as a remote-first entity with 55+ team members distributed globally, supported by a development board including senior figures from Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, Luminate, Open Society Foundations, The Iris Project, and Purpose. It maintains 50+ referral partnerships with organizations such as Reporters Without Borders, World Organisation Against Torture, and the EU human rights defenders mechanism. In 2026, Open Briefing refreshed its brand identity and launched a 2026-2029 impact strategy centered on regenerative protection, signaling a strategic shift from defensive accompaniment toward ecosystem-level capacity building across movements, infrastructure, and conditions.
Open Briefing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Open Briefing
- Legal name
- Open Briefing Ltd
- Website
- https://openbriefing.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Open Briefing is a UK-based nonprofit social impact consultancy that delivers holistic physical, digital, and psychological security support to grassroots activists, nonprofits, and foundations across 100+ countries through direct services, retainers, and open-source resources.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Open Briefing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Human Rights and Civil Society Security Services
- NAICS
- Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Executive/Board Security Advisory & Risk Briefings (BPAKADAK)
Keywords
Where Open Briefing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Penzance
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Open Briefing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Foundation grants and donations: Open Briefing receives unrestricted multi-year funding from foundations and donors to invest in systems, people, and tools for delivering holistic security support. They also receive restricted grant funding for targeted protection, digital resilience, and wellbeing support to specific communities and regions.
- Social impact consultancy fees: Fee-for-service consultancy work including risk assessments, security audits, training programmes, and wellbeing initiatives for nonprofits and foundations. Retainer arrangements provide priority access to team and proactive reviews for ongoing support.
- Pro bono and fully-funded support: Fully-funded holistic security support provided to grassroots activists, community groups, and social movements at risk through rapid response mechanism, at no cost to recipients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Consultancy services for nonprofits and foundations |
| Subscription | Monthly | Retainer arrangements for ongoing support |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Fully-funded rapid response support |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Open Briefing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Open Briefing is a mission-driven nonprofit social impact consultancy that provides holistic security and wellbeing support to human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society organizations. It delivers its work through four core offerings — Accompaniment, Advisory, Partnerships, and Knowledge — organized into three service modules: Protection and Security Services, Digital Risk and Resilience Services, and Wellbeing and Collective Care Services.
Product overview
Open Briefing is a mission-driven nonprofit and social impact consultancy that provides holistic security support to grassroots activists, community groups, social movements, nonprofits, and foundations. The company offers four core service pillars: Accompaniment (fully-funded rapid response support for at-risk defenders), Advisory (risk management consulting), Partnerships (ecosystem strengthening), and Knowledge (free tools and resources). Service delivery is organized into three integrated modules: Protection and Security Services (physical security consulting, risk assessments, security plans, travel briefings), Digital Risk and Resilience Services (digital security, information frameworks, crisis simulations), and Wellbeing and Collective Care Services (psychological support, coaching, peer programmes, training). The company also provides extensive free resources including the Holistic Security Toolkit, Defender's Protocol (available in 27 languages), Protection Ecosystem Map, Security Risk Assessment Tool (SRAT), and various infosheets and reference cards. The offering is delivered through both direct service delivery and capacity-building to strengthen protection ecosystems globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Defender's Protocol: Holistic Security Protocol for Human Rights Defenders - helps advance physical safety, digital security, and wellbeing and resilience.
- Holistic Security Toolkit
- Protection Ecosystem Map
- Security Risk Assessment Tool (SRAT)
Products and services
- Protection and Security Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 575 calls for assistance answered across 100 countries
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Open Briefing
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Open Briefing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Open Briefing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Right Livelihood FoundationcoreProvides protection support for at-risk laureates of the Right Livelihood Award, enhancing organizational structure for responding to urgent needs. Open Briefing helps enhance the Foundation's protection work with award winners.
- Goldman Environmental FoundationcoreProvides digital security training for Goldman Environmental Prize winners, organizing comprehensive and accessible training sessions that strengthen defenders' security measures.
- Goldman Environmental Prize / Iris PrizecoreContracts to directly support prize winners and laureates with holistic security support, including annual engagement with award recipients.
- Reporters Without BorderscoreReferral partner connecting journalists and media workers at risk to Open Briefing's support services through the rapid response mechanism.
- World Organisation Against TorturecoreReferral partner connecting human rights defenders facing threats to Open Briefing's holistic security support.
- EU human rights defenders mechanismcoreEU mechanism connecting human rights defenders to Open Briefing's support services through the rapid response mechanism.
- Exile Hub ThailandcoreTrusted partner providing holistic protection support to human rights defenders, with collaboration crucial for helping defenders survive and thrive.
- Global WitnesscoreRetained provider for Global Witness, offering priority access to security team and proactive reviews for ongoing organizational protection.
- Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized CrimecoreRetained provider arrangement for the Global Initiative, delivering ongoing security support and risk management.
- CIVICUScoreVoting member of CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, demonstrating commitment to civil society strengthening.
- NGOsourceminorConducted US public charity equivalency determination for Open Briefing, enabling US donors to make tax-advantaged contributions.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Open Briefing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Protection International: Specializes in holistic security risk management and policy work for human rights defenders worldwide. Closely comparable on the physical-protection and security management framework side of Open Briefing's offering.
- The Engine Room: Supports civil society actors to use technology and data safely and effectively, with a strong digital-resilience and organizational-security practice. Comparable in approach and beneficiary profile to Open Briefing's digital risk services.
- Tactical Tech: Develops open-source tools, trainings, and research to help civil society navigate digital threats and disinformation. Strongly overlaps with Open Briefing's Knowledge pillar and digital security training portfolio.
- Access Now: Operates the Digital Security Helpline, a 24/7 rapid-response resource for civil society and at-risk individuals. Direct peer in digital security support and is explicitly a referral partner of Open Briefing.
- Front Line Defenders: International organization focused on the protection and support of human rights defenders, including security grants and rapid response. Highly comparable mission and beneficiary base to Open Briefing's accompaniment pillar.
Broad incumbents
- Article 19: Global freedom of expression organization providing legal, policy, and programmatic support to activists and journalists at risk. Comparable on the digital-security and HRD-protection dimensions but with a stronger legal/policy emphasis.
- Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): Major international organization promoting press freedom and providing emergency assistance to journalists under threat. Overlaps with Open Briefing on security support for journalists and media workers, but at much greater scale and with a journalism-specific mandate.
- CIVICUS: Global civil society alliance monitoring civic space and coordinating responses to attacks on civil society. A larger, broader incumbent of which Open Briefing is a voting member and partner.
Emerging players
- Digital Rights Foundation: Provides digital security assistance, helplines, and training to women, journalists, and activists, particularly in South Asia. Comparable in digital-security capacity-sharing and rapid-response mechanisms for at-risk individuals.
Regional players
- WITNESS: Supports human rights defenders to use video and technology safely and effectively. Comparable in the digital-security-for-defenders niche, with a more focused video-evidence and media-protective tooling remit.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Open Briefing social profiles
Digital presenceOpen Briefing compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance16 records
Open Briefing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Open Briefing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Open Briefing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Open Briefing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Open Briefing
What does Open Briefing do?
Open Briefing is a mission-driven nonprofit social impact consultancy that provides holistic security and wellbeing support to human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society organizations. It delivers its work through four core offerings — Accompaniment, Advisory, Partnerships, and Knowledge — organized into three service modules: Protection and Security Services, Digital Risk and Resilience Services, and Wellbeing and Collective Care Services.
Is Open Briefing a public or private company?
Open Briefing is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Open Briefing founded?
Open Briefing was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Open Briefing based?
Open Briefing is headquartered in Penzance, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Open Briefing make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Foundation grants and donations are the primary driver. The others are social impact consultancy fees and pro bono and fully-funded support.
Who are Open Briefing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Protection International, The Engine Room, Tactical Tech, Access Now and Front Line Defenders. Broad incumbents are Article 19, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and CIVICUS. Digital Rights Foundation is listed as an emerging player. WITNESS is listed as a regional player.
Does Open Briefing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Open Briefing.
What industry is Open Briefing in?
Open Briefing's product category is Human Rights and Civil Society Security Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKADAK, Executive/Board Security Advisory & Risk Briefings. Its NAICS code is 541618 and its SIC code is 8742.