Strategy Design Partners
Strategy Design Partners is a Cleveland-based boutique consulting firm founded in 2008 that integrates strategy, governance, and communications advisory services for nonprofits, foundations, government agencies, and businesses across six U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Strategy Design Partners does
Strategy Design Partners (SDP) is a privately-held, founder-led boutique consulting firm headquartered at 3500 Lorain Avenue, Suite 302, Cleveland, Ohio, founded in 2008. The firm delivers professional advisory services organized around three integrated pillars: Strategy (strategic planning and execution support), Structure (governance optimization, board development, and merger/alliance facilitation), and Story (strategic communications, media relations, crisis communications, and rebranding). Its unifying methodology, branded as the "Mission to Message Approach," connects organizational mission, vision, values, and goals to governance, staffing, budgeting, and external communications execution. SDP does not sell software, platforms, or technology products; all engagements are human-delivered consulting services.
The firm primarily serves nonprofits, with secondary segments in philanthropic foundations, government and quasi-public entities (municipal governments, housing authorities), and business associations. Its go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, relying on referrals, professional networks, and thought leadership rather than paid marketing or channel partners. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting fees and retainer arrangements, with pricing quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The firm has served nearly 200 organizations across six U.S. states (Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, South Carolina, and Texas) since inception, supported by a five-person senior team led by Founder & Partner David Fitz and Partner Michael Graham.
Notable client engagements include decade-long strategic communications work with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, comprehensive strategic planning with Cleveland Institute of Art (engaging over 500 stakeholders) and Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (260+ stakeholders), board optimization for MidTown Cleveland in partnership with the Mandel Foundation, and merger facilitation that produced LAND Studio and Riveon Mental Health & Recovery. The firm is privately held with no disclosed outside investment, no funding rounds, and no subsidiaries.
Strategy Design Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Strategy Design Partners
- Legal name
- Strategy Design Partners
- Website
- https://strategydesignpartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Strategy Design Partners is a Cleveland-based boutique consulting firm founded in 2008 that integrates strategy, governance, and communications advisory services for nonprofits, foundations, government agencies, and businesses across six U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Strategy Design Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Management Consulting
- NAICS
- Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Management Consulting Services (54161), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Organization Design & Operating Model Consulting (BPAHAGAB), Brand & Portfolio Strategy Consulting (MPAAAFAB)
Keywords
Where Strategy Design Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Strategy Design Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Strategic Consulting Services: Professional consulting fees for strategic planning, board optimization, merger facilitation, and communications services. Engagements are typically project-based or retainer arrangements with organizations seeking governance, strategy, and communication support.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Strategy Design Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Strategy Design Partners is a boutique consulting firm that delivers integrated strategic planning, governance/board optimization, merger facilitation, and strategic communications services to nonprofits, foundations, government agencies, and businesses. Its work is organized around three pillars (Strategy, Structure, and Story) and unified by its proprietary Mission to Message methodology that aligns organizational mission, vision, values, and goals with governance, staffing, budgeting, and communications execution.
Product overview
Strategy Design Partners (SDP) is a boutique strategic consulting firm that offers a unified portfolio of consulting services organized around three core pillars: Strategy, Structure, and Story. The company's approach integrates these three areas through its Mission to Message methodology, ensuring organizational strategy drives governance, communications, and execution. SDP's service offerings include Board Optimization (governance training and optimization), Strategic Planning (comprehensive planning processes), Merger Facilitation (merger exploration and integration), and Communications Services (messaging, media relations, crisis communications). The firm does not offer a software product or platform but provides human-delivered consulting engagements tailored to nonprofits, foundations, government agencies, and businesses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Strategic Planning Facilitated strategic planning engagements including stakeholder engagement, organizational assessments, mission/vision/values development, goal-setting, action planning, and progress monitoring for nonprofit, foundation, government, and business clients.
- Board Optimization Comprehensive board optimization process including governance training, board revitalization, committee restructuring, role clarification, bylaws and charter optimization, skills matrix development, and strategic alignment to help organizations build effective governing bodies.
- Merger Facilitation Guided merger exploration and integration services including process framing, committee management, governance alignment, and operational consolidation to help nonprofit and public organizations combine effectively for greater impact.
- Communications Services Strategic communications support including communications audit, content development, crisis communications, media relations, presentation development, social media strategy, speech writing, public relations, messaging strategy, talking points, and rebranding to help organizations engage target audiences.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 200 organizations served since 2008
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Strategy Design Partners
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Strategy Design Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Strategy Design Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Mandel FoundationcorePartnership with the Mandel Foundation to revitalize MidTown Cleveland through comprehensive board optimization and organizational development. SDP, in partnership with the Mandel Foundation, worked with MTC's board to provide training, support, facilitation, and other services to reshape and redefine the board.
- Mandel FoundationcoreThe Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation is listed as a client and partner in various strategic initiatives, representing a key foundation relationship for SDP's work in Cleveland's nonprofit community.
Scale indicators3 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Strategy Design Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- FSG (Foundation Strategy Group): FSG is a global nonprofit consulting firm advising foundations, nonprofits, and corporations on strategy, evaluation, and impact. It targets the same foundation and nonprofit buyer as SDP with overlapping strategy and organizational effectiveness services.
- The Bridgespan Group: Bridgespan is a leading global nonprofit and philanthropic consulting firm providing strategy, governance, and organizational development services. It operates at much greater scale than SDP but addresses the same buyer (foundations, nonprofits) with overlapping service lines.
- BDO USA Nonprofit Advisory: BDO's nonprofit practice provides governance, strategy, and operational advisory to nonprofits and foundations as part of a global professional services portfolio. It competes with SDP on governance optimization and strategic planning engagements at mid-to-large nonprofits.
- Marcum Nonprofit & Social Sector Practice: Marcum (formed via Raffa merger) provides strategic planning, governance, and consulting services to nonprofits alongside its accounting practice. It competes with SDP on board optimization and strategic planning at established nonprofit clients.
- Russ Reid (RF|Binder): RF|Binder (successor to Russ Reid) is a communications and marketing firm specializing in nonprofits, foundations, and purpose-driven organizations. It competes with SDP's Story/communications services for nonprofit communications budgets.
Direct peers
- La Piana Consulting: La Piana Consulting is a national nonprofit consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, mergers and alliances, and organizational development for nonprofits and foundations — directly comparable to SDP's core services and methodology focus.
- Tecker International: Tecker International is a boutique consulting firm serving nonprofits, associations, and foundations on strategic planning, governance, and executive transitions. It is one of the closest direct comparables to SDP in size, service mix, and buyer profile.
- Caryl Ehrlich Consulting: Caryl Ehrlich Consulting provides strategic planning and board development services to nonprofits and foundations with a similar boutique, relationship-driven model to SDP. It targets an overlapping client base of mission-driven organizations.
Regional players
- Amberlock Consulting: Amberlock is a Midwest-based consulting firm providing strategy, change management, and organizational development services to corporations, government, and nonprofits. It overlaps with SDP on organizational strategy and Midwest regional clients.
Emerging players
- Mio Partners: Mio Partners is a boutique advisory firm providing strategy, organizational design, and communications support to social-sector and corporate clients. It operates at a similar boutique scale to SDP with overlapping service pillars.
Market position
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Strategy Design Partners social profiles
Digital presenceStrategy Design Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Strategy Design Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Strategy Design Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Strategy Design Partners 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 Strategy Design Partners
What does Strategy Design Partners do?
Strategy Design Partners is a boutique consulting firm that delivers integrated strategic planning, governance/board optimization, merger facilitation, and strategic communications services to nonprofits, foundations, government agencies, and businesses. Its work is organized around three pillars (Strategy, Structure, and Story) and unified by its proprietary Mission to Message methodology that aligns organizational mission, vision, values, and goals with governance, staffing, budgeting, and communications execution.
Is Strategy Design Partners a public or private company?
Strategy Design Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Strategy Design Partners founded?
Strategy Design Partners was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Strategy Design Partners based?
Strategy Design Partners is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Strategy Design Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: strategic Consulting Services.
Who are Strategy Design Partners's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are FSG (Foundation Strategy Group), The Bridgespan Group, BDO USA Nonprofit Advisory, Marcum Nonprofit & Social Sector Practice and Russ Reid (RF|Binder). Direct peers are La Piana Consulting, Tecker International and Caryl Ehrlich Consulting. Amberlock Consulting is listed as a regional player. Mio Partners is listed as an emerging player.
Does Strategy Design Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Strategy Design Partners.
What industry is Strategy Design Partners in?
Strategy Design Partners's product category is Management Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHACAA, Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting, with a secondary code of BPAHAGAB, Organization Design & Operating Model Consulting. Its NAICS code is 541618 and its SIC code is 8742.