The Little Big Project

What The Little Big Project does

The Little Big Project is a privately held U.S. consulting firm founded in 2015 that delivers professional services to nonprofit organizations, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and mission-driven foundations. The firm operates three core service lines—Impact Evaluation & Research, Capacity Building & Fund Development, and Project Management—underpinned by a proprietary methodology called the Dignity Framework, which emphasizes equity-centered, dignity-first community development. The five-person team, led by Founder & Managing Director Cherella Nicholson, delivers engagements via a community-led, partnership-driven go-to-market model with multi-year contracts and quote-based pricing; the firm does not operate a software platform and revenue derives entirely from professional service fees.

Geographically, the firm is active in at least two states, California (notably a long-running community transformation engagement with Saint Rest CEDC in southwest Fresno that helped secure over $400,000 in Phase 1 park development funding and $600,000 in EPA brownfields funding) and North Carolina (via a November 2024 partnership with Local Lift Lab to co-develop AI tools for environmental justice nonprofits). Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the firm has no disclosed institutional funding, parent company, or M&A activity.

The firm is extending its offering beyond pure consulting into productized assets: a Dignity Framework Toolkit and a Professional Development Training program are both planned for January 2025 launch. It is also positioning within the federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) ecosystem through ties to Opportunity Finance Network, CAMEO, and Small Business Development Centers, signaling an intent to capture advisory demand tied to Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy financing. Overall, the business model is that of a small, methodology-led boutique consultancy transitioning toward a hybrid services-plus-products model.

Name

The Little Big Project

Legal name

The Little Big Project

Website

https://thelittlebigproject.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Little Big Project is a five-person U.S. consulting firm founded in 2015 that delivers equity-centered impact evaluation, capacity building, and project management services to nonprofits, CDFIs, and mission-driven foundations, underpinned by its proprietary Dignity Framework methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Consulting Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)

Keywords

• Nonprofit consulting services
• Impact evaluation consulting
• Capacity building services
• Fund development consulting
• Community development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Inglewood

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. Nonprofit Consulting Services: Professional consulting services including impact evaluation, capacity building, fund development, and project management for nonprofits, CDFIs, and mission-driven organizations. Revenue generated through service fees for engaged consulting partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Little Big Project provides professional consulting services to nonprofit organizations, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and mission-driven organizations. Its core offerings include Impact Evaluation & Research (program evaluations, social impact assessments, and data-driven reports), Capacity Building & Fund Development (leadership, operations, and funding strategy support), and end-to-end Project Management, all delivered through an equity-centered Dignity Framework methodology.

Product overview

The Little Big Project is a nonprofit consulting firm offering three core consulting services—Impact Evaluation & Research, Capacity Building & Fund Development, and Project Management—along with its proprietary Dignity Framework. The Dignity Framework serves as the foundational approach underpinning all engagements, while the Dignity Framework Toolkit and Professional Development Training (both launching January 2025) are planned offerings that package this methodology into downloadable tools and structured training programs for broader distribution to nonprofits and CDFIs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dignity Framework: A set of guiding principles that ensure every project, partnership, and service prioritizes equity, respect, and empowerment. The framework helps nonprofits, CDFIs, and mission-driven organizations create inclusive environments where everyone's voice is heard and dignity is upheld.

Products and services

• Impact Evaluation & Research

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $400,000 secured for Phase 1 park development
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and supporting.

• Local Lift LabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2024Strategic partnership to develop AI tools for environmental justice and energy-missioned nonprofits. The Little Big Project served as research and focus group partner, collecting and synthesizing user feedback. Co-facilitated five focus group sessions and prepared detailed reports to guide tool development. Partnership produced Model Grant Writing Tool, Community Benefit Plan Tool, and Direct Pay Navigator Tool.
• Saint Rest Community Economic Development Corporation (CEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Long-term community transformation partnership initiated in 2016 with Saint Rest CEDC (extension of Saint Rest Baptist Church in Fresno, CA). The Little Big Project guided the transformation of nearly two acres of vacant land into a community park and youth facility, addressing severe social, environmental, and health challenges in southwest Fresno.
• Opportunity Finance Network (OFN)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerOFN awarded $6 billion through Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) program under GGRF. The Little Big Project helps CDFIs prepare for and leverage GGRF funding opportunities facilitated by OFN.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership network recommended for CDFIs seeking GGRF funding to provide training and technical support to green business owners in local communities.
• CAMEO NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of microenterprise organizations across California recommended as partner for CDFIs to reach small businesses in need of clean energy loans.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• La Piana Consulting: La Piana Consulting is a national nonprofit consulting firm specializing in capacity building, organizational development, and strategic planning for nonprofits and foundations, directly comparable in service offering.
• ORS Impact: ORS Impact provides evaluation, strategy, and learning services for foundations, nonprofits, and purpose-driven organizations, with a comparable focus on social impact assessment and outcome measurement.
• TCC Group: TCC Group is a national nonprofit consulting firm providing impact evaluation, capacity building, and strategy services to foundations, nonprofits, and philanthropic entities, directly comparable to The Little Big Project's core consulting offerings.
• BCT Partners: BCT Partners provides research, evaluation, and consulting services focused on social impact, equity, and community development, closely aligned with The Little Big Project's impact evaluation and equity-centered work.
• Equal Measure: Equal Measure is a nonprofit evaluation and philanthropic effectiveness firm working with foundations and mission-driven organizations on impact assessment and learning, closely aligned with the firm's core services.
• FSG: FSG is a global mission-driven consulting firm that works with foundations, nonprofits, and corporations on impact evaluation, strategy, and social change initiatives, comparable in service mix and target client base.
• Mission Capital: Mission Capital provides capacity building, consulting, and collaboration services to nonprofits in Central Texas, with a comparable model of helping nonprofits strengthen operations and measure impact.

Broad incumbents

• The Bridgespan Group: Bridgespan is a large, established social-sector consulting firm offering strategy, evaluation, and organizational development for nonprofits and philanthropies, representing a broader incumbent in the same space.

Emerging players

• Local Lift Lab: Local Lift Lab is an emerging tech-focused organization developing AI tools for environmental justice nonprofits; it is a direct strategic partner with overlapping customer base (energy and environmental justice nonprofits).

Others

• Opportunity Finance Network: OFN is a leading national CDFI intermediary and the entity administering the $6 billion CCIA program; The Little Big Project partners with OFN to serve CDFIs, making it an ecosystem partner and indirect comparable.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-little-big-project
• Xx.com/TheLittleBigPro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 The Little Big Project