What Pjs Consultants does

PJS Consultants is a privately held, founder-owned communications consulting firm established in 2014 by Precious J. Stroud in the Bay Area, California. The firm provides fractional communications leadership to nonprofits, foundations, social enterprises, and mission-driven businesses, with a core service portfolio spanning Fractional Chief Communications Officer engagements, Program & Funder Communications, Executive Positioning & Media Preparation, and Legacy & Memorial Communications. Its differentiated methodology is "asset-based framing" — a narrative approach that uplifts strengths and aspirations rather than relying on deficit-based representations of communities — codified under the registered service mark "Restoring Humanity in Marketing."

The firm has no proprietary technology platform; its product is professional services delivered by a small core team (the founder plus named consulting partners Cathy Barragan for visual brand and Dana E. Fitchett for writing/editing) augmented by a broader network of partners. The go-to-market is referral-driven within the Bay Area nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem, with occasional national visibility (e.g., work tied to Oakland USD's Office of African American Male Achievement influencing President Obama's My Brother's Keeper Initiative). Revenue is generated via long-term, short-term, or project-based partnerships on a quote-based pricing model; the firm has historically avoided external funding and has grown organically. Over a decade the firm reports engagement with 30+ nonprofit and government agencies, and in 2024 it formalized its approach by launching the Restoring Humanity in Marketing Fellowship and celebrating a 10-year anniversary.

The firm's intellectual foundation draws on BlackFemaleProject, a 12-year qualitative research initiative focused on the advancement of women in the workplace, which informs the narrative frameworks applied across engagements. Customer segments include primary vertical nonprofits and mission-driven organizations, with secondary work for philanthropic and education funders, executives seeking positioning support, and individuals requiring sensitive legacy communications. Operating geographies are concentrated in California with selective national reach.

Name

Pjs Consultants

Legal name

Precious Jewell Stroud Consultants

Website

https://pjsconsultants.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PJS Consultants is a Bay Area-based, founder-owned communications consulting firm providing fractional CCO services, narrative design, and brand strategy to nonprofits, foundations, and mission-driven organizations using an asset-based framing methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Communications Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Marketing Consulting Services (541613)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

Keywords

• Strategic communications consulting
• Narrative design services
• Brand strategy consulting
• Mission-driven communications
• Media preparation coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fractional Communications Leadership: Organization-wide communications strategy, brand infrastructure, message architecture, and narrative direction, available through long-term, short-term, or project-based partnerships. Fees historically based on hours spent, exposure, and learning opportunity.
2. Program & Funder Communications: Campaign development, content execution, and communications technical assistance for philanthropic and education funders supporting their programs and grantees.
3. Executive Positioning & Media Preparation: Coaching and preparation for media appearances, keynote engagements, and high-visibility public moments.
4. Legacy & Memorial Communications: Discreet guidance for legacy and tribute communications, including establishing a brand and communications strategy in honor of contributions, or managing public communications during loss of well-known individuals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PJS Consultants is a communications consulting firm that provides fractional Chief Communications Officer services, program and funder communications, executive positioning and media preparation, and legacy/memorial communications. It designs and implements integrated communications and marketing strategies, brand infrastructure, message architecture, and narrative direction for nonprofits, foundations, social enterprises, and other mission-driven organizations. All work is grounded in an asset-based framing approach that uplifts strengths rather than perpetuating deficit-based narratives.

Product overview

PJS Consultants is a communications consulting firm offering a portfolio of consulting services centered on narrative design, strategic communications, and brand development. The core offerings include Fractional Chief Communications Officer services (providing organization-wide strategy, brand infrastructure, and narrative direction), Program & Funder Communications (campaign development and technical assistance), Executive Positioning & Media Preparation (coaching for public appearances), and Legacy & Memorial Communications. These services are unified by the company's foundational philosophy of 'Restoring Humanity in Marketing,' which emphasizes asset-based framing over deficit-based narratives. The firm also operates BlackFemaleProject, a research initiative that informs the company's approach to narrative, representation, and trust.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fractional Chief Communications Officer Organization-wide communications strategy, brand infrastructure, message architecture, and narrative direction for nonprofits, foundations, and mission-driven organizations, delivered through long-term, short-term, or project-based partnerships.
• Program & Funder Communications
• Executive Positioning & Media Preparation
• Legacy & Memorial Communications
• Restoring Humanity in Marketing Fellowship Fellowship program supporting career changers and recent graduates in learning about PJS Consultants' asset-framing communications consulting approach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Campaigns designed and implemented for 30+ nonprofit and government agencies over 10 years

Named customers10 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cathy BarragancoreOthersVisual Brand Consultant partner at PJS Consultants. Collaborated on brand work including The Hidden Genius Project case study. LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/cathybarragan
• Dana E. FitchettcoreOthersWriter/Editor partner at PJS Consultants. Provides writing and editing services as part of the consulting team. LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/dana-fitchett-893b3340/
• Charmaine McClarieminorOthersLong-term mentor to founder P.J. Stroud (20+ year relationship). Helped Stroud understand client relationships and dream big. Keynote speaker who inspired Stroud's career path. Website: mcclariegroup.com
• Sequoia HallminorOthersFormer colleague at Berkeley nonprofit who considered P.J. Stroud a mentor. Works at California Health Care Foundation (CHCF). Represents the mentee-becomes-mentor relationship that Stroud values.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• APCO Worldwide: Global advisory and communications firm with a strong public sector, social impact, and corporate responsibility practice. Overlaps PJS's public-sector and policy-adjacent client work but at significantly greater scale.
• Edelman: Global communications firm with a dedicated purpose and social impact practice serving nonprofits, foundations, and corporate responsibility initiatives. Operates across the same client segments as PJS but as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Ogilvy: Global communications network with purpose, social impact, and DEI practices serving nonprofits, foundations, and corporate clients. Comparable in client segments to PJS but operates as a full-service multinational agency rather than a niche mission-driven practice.

Direct peers

• McCabe Message Partners: Communications and public relations firm specializing in nonprofit, advocacy, and health-sector clients. Comparable to PJS in serving mission-driven organizations with strategic messaging and media positioning.
• Burness: Communications firm serving social-impact organizations, philanthropies, and nonprofits with strategy, storytelling, and campaign development. Closely matches PJS's value proposition of helping mission-driven clients communicate with impact.
• Spitfire Strategies: Communications strategy firm purpose-built for nonprofits, foundations, and advocacy organizations. Highly comparable to PJS in serving the same mission-driven client base with strategic narrative and campaign work, though larger in scale.
• Blue State: Digital and creative agency serving purpose-driven organizations, advocacy groups, and nonprofits. Comparable to PJS in mission-driven client focus and integrated communications strategy, with deeper digital and creative capabilities.
• Fenton: Public interest communications agency serving nonprofits, foundations, and progressive causes with brand strategy, narrative design, and media campaigns. Directly overlaps PJS's clientele and service offerings, but operates at substantially greater scale.
• Reingold: Marketing and communications firm serving nonprofits, associations, and mission-driven organizations with brand, content, and campaign services. Comparable to PJS in target market and core offering, though larger.
• The Hatcher Group: Communications firm for nonprofits, foundations, and advocacy organizations, focused on message development, narrative strategy, and campaign execution. Closely aligned with PJS's fractional CCO and narrative design offerings.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pjsconsultants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Pjs Consultants