What third sector communication strategies does

Third Sector Communication Strategies is a Denver, Colorado-based boutique strategic communications consulting firm founded in 2013 by Christie McElhinney. The firm provides strategic communications, brand development, campaign planning, audience identification, messaging, storytelling, media relations, capacity building, and research and evaluation services exclusively to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations working on social change issues including education, health, housing, violence prevention, and community development.

The firm's service portfolio is organized around seven interrelated practice areas — Strategic Communications Consulting as the core offering, with Brand Development and Refresh, Campaign Planning and Execution, Storytelling Services, Research and Evaluation, Capacity Building, Media Relations, and Engagement Services as supporting modules. All services are delivered through bespoke, human-centered engagements; the firm explicitly does not operate a technology platform, and there is no evidence of AI tooling, proprietary software, or scalable product. The principal personally leads client engagements, with additional support staff engaged on projects as needed.

The business model is direct, sales-led consulting with project-based or multi-year retainer engagements custom-quoted per scope. Distribution runs through the principal's professional network, client referrals, and a website that functions primarily as a portfolio showcase. Notable clients include Violence Free Colorado, the Close to Home Campaign (with The Denver Foundation and Spark Policy Institute), Vroom (with Parent Possible and Bezos Family Foundation), the Center for Women's Health Research, Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab, and Denver's Early Childhood Council. The firm is bootstrapped, founder-owned, and operates without external institutional investment.

Name

third sector communication strategies

Legal name

Third Sector Communication Strategies

Website

https://tscstrategies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Third Sector Communication Strategies is a Denver-based boutique consulting firm founded in 2013 by Christie McElhinney that provides strategic communications, brand development, campaign planning, and capacity building services exclusively to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations working on social change issues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Communications Consulting

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820), Public Relations Agencies (54182)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonprofit & Cause Communications (BPAFADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA)

Keywords

• Nonprofit consulting
• Strategic communications
• Brand development
• Campaign planning
• Capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Consulting: Project-based consulting engagements with nonprofit clients, including strategic framework development, brand refresh, campaign planning, and capacity building services. Fees likely structured as project-based or retainer arrangements based on scope and duration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Third Sector Communication Strategies is a strategic communications consulting firm that helps nonprofit and philanthropic organizations develop strategic frameworks, build and refresh brands, plan and execute campaigns, craft messaging and storytelling, conduct research and evaluation, deliver media relations, and provide capacity building. Engagements are custom, project-based consulting services delivered directly to nonprofit clients rather than a standardized product offering.

Product overview

Third Sector Communication Strategies is a strategic communications consulting firm founded in 2013 by Christie McElhinney, offering a portfolio of interconnected consulting services to help nonprofits create change on social issues. The core offering is Strategic Communications Consulting, which encompasses Brand Development and Refresh (creating distinctive logos, taglines, and visual identities), Campaign Planning and Execution (identifying audiences, crafting messages, and prioritizing channels), Storytelling Services (developing compelling narratives that inspire action), Research and Evaluation (audience research and progress benchmarking), Capacity Building (training and technical assistance for staff), Media Relations (packaging stories for targeted media), and Engagement Services (building grassroots networks and mobilizing partners). The firm operates as a service-based consultancy rather than a software product company, with all services delivered through direct consulting engagements with nonprofit clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Communications Consulting Comprehensive consulting service that helps nonprofits develop strategic communication frameworks to achieve organizational goals, increase awareness, and inspire action on social issues. Engagements are tailored to each organization's needs and delivered directly by the principal consultant.
• Brand Development and Refresh Crafting new or refreshed brands that are distinctive and engaging for nonprofit organizations, including logo design, mission and vision statements, taglines, and visual identity systems.
• Campaign Planning and Execution Planning and guiding campaigns that move the needle on issues, including audience identification, message crafting, media packaging, and channel prioritization.
• Storytelling Services Developing powerful stories that gain attention, grow support, and inspire action, including researching and writing stories of impact and supporting storytellers in sharing their narratives.
• Research and Evaluation Conducting research to understand audiences, assess organizational needs, and set benchmarks to help clients assess progress and make course corrections.
• Capacity Building Providing trainings and technical assistance to help staff learn how to consistently and effectively use messaging and implement communications strategies.
• Media Relations Packaging stories to make them newsworthy for targeted media and increasing media coverage for clients.
• Engagement Services Building grassroots networks, identifying and engaging community partners, and mobilizing civic engagement through diverse cross-sector collaborations.

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Parent PossiblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking together with a coalition of six Colorado-based foundations to develop a strategic framework to grow the use of Vroom across Colorado. TSC developed statewide implementation framework and supported coalition building with diverse community organizations.
• Bezos Family FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreator of Vroom, partnered with TSC and Parent Possible to develop strategic framework for Colorado implementation of early brain building program for young children.
• The Denver FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with TSC and Spark Policy Institute to develop and lead the Close to Home campaign addressing homelessness in Metro Denver. TSC provided strategic direction, campaign branding, messaging, and grassroots network development.
• Spark Policy InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with TSC and The Denver Foundation on the Close to Home campaign. Spark Policy Institute provided policy expertise while TSC handled communications strategy and execution.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Spitfire Strategies: Washington, D.C.-based communications firm exclusively focused on nonprofit and social-change organizations, offering strategic communications planning, message development, and media strategy. Closest comparable to TSC in mission alignment and service mix, though operating at a national scale.
• Burness: Communications firm serving nonprofits, foundations, and social enterprises with strategy, branding, and storytelling services. Comparable to TSC in target client base (mission-driven organizations) and core offerings (strategic communications, narrative development), but with significantly larger headcount.
• Big Duck: Branding and marketing firm exclusively serving nonprofits, specializing in brand strategy, naming, and campaign development. Closely comparable in nonprofit-only positioning and brand refresh expertise, particularly aligned to TSC's Violence Free Colorado and Early Childhood Council rebrands.
• The Forbes Collective: Communications and PR firm serving nonprofits, foundations, and purpose-driven brands with strategy, media relations, and storytelling. Comparable in boutique scale, nonprofit vertical focus, and service mix to TSC.
• Resonance: Boutique branding and communications agency with nonprofit and social-impact practice. Closely comparable to TSC in brand development, messaging, and capacity-building offerings for mission-driven clients.

Broad incumbents

• GMMB: Large full-service advertising and communications agency with deep nonprofit, advocacy, and public-sector practice. Provides strategic communications, paid media, and digital advocacy at a scale TSC cannot match, but competes for the same nonprofit communications budgets.
• Blue State: Digital agency serving nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and political campaigns with integrated digital fundraising, advocacy, and communications. Overlaps with TSC on nonprofit/cause clients but operates with a much larger team and digital-first delivery model.

Regional players

• Heller Consulting: Consulting firm serving nonprofits with CRM, technology, and fundraising strategy services. Adjacent to TSC in nonprofit-only focus but differentiated by technology/systems integration vs. TSC's communications strategy focus.
• The Ward Group: Denver-based consulting firm serving nonprofits and foundations with strategy, fundraising, and organizational development services. Comparable to TSC in Colorado regional focus and nonprofit client base, though oriented toward fundraising strategy rather than communications.

Others

• Perkins&Will: Large global architecture firm with a community-impact practice serving nonprofits and foundations on built-environment projects. Tangentially adjacent to TSC's nonprofit client base but unrelated in service category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 third sector communication strategies