What courage forward strategies does

Courage Forward Strategies is a women-owned public health strategy and policy consultancy founded and led by two principals — Sara Zeigler (Founder & Principal, 20+ years at CDC) and Aliyah Ali (Principal, 15+ years at CDC) — who together bring 35 years of combined public sector experience. The firm provides equity-centric strategic consulting to organizations working to advance public health systems, programs, and policies, with documented work spanning HIV prevention and care, infectious disease surveillance, and community pharmacy policy. Its core offerings include a general consulting practice in strategic planning, policy analysis, and program implementation, plus three flagship initiatives: the RxEACH national coalition (which it manages as managing partner to expand HIV prevention through community pharmacies), the State Action Playbook (co-developed with the Elton John AIDS Foundation), and a wastewater monitoring workshop series delivered with the National League of Cities across Dallas County TX, Laredo TX, and Wayne County MI.

The firm operates remotely in the United States and serves three primary customer segments: federal agencies (with deep CDC alumni ties), state and local public health departments, and public health coalitions and non-profits. Its business model is project-based professional services — strategic advisory, stakeholder facilitation, policy analysis, and program implementation support — delivered directly through principal-led engagements acquired via website inquiries, direct outreach, and partner channels. Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed; engagements are likely custom-quoted based on scope and duration, with some activity supported through partner-funded initiatives such as the Elton John AIDS Foundation grant for the State Action Playbook.

There is no proprietary technology, software platform, or AI/ML component to the offering — the firm's value proposition is built entirely on human expertise, government relationships, and convening power. The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, supplemented by thought leadership through the 'Everyday Courage' blog and referral pathways through institutional partners (Elton John AIDS Foundation, National League of Cities, Common Health Coalition, RxEACH coalition members).

Name

courage forward strategies

Legal name

Courage Forward Strategies

Website

https://courageforwardstrategies.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Courage Forward Strategies is a women-owned public health strategy consultancy led by two CDC alumni principals, serving federal, state, and local government agencies and public health coalitions with equity-centric policy advisory, program implementation, and stakeholder engagement services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Strategic Consulting Services: The firm generates revenue through consulting engagements with public health organizations, government agencies, and coalitions. Services include strategic planning, policy analysis, program implementation, and stakeholder engagement. Revenue appears to be project-based or retainer arrangements typical of professional services firms.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Courage Forward Strategies is a women-owned consulting firm that provides equity-centric public health strategy and policy advisory services. They offer strategic planning, policy analysis, program implementation support, and stakeholder engagement to government agencies, public health organizations, and coalitions. Their work spans HIV prevention, community pharmacy initiatives, wastewater monitoring, and infectious disease programs.

Product overview

Courage Forward Strategies is a women-owned public health consulting firm offering strategic consulting services centered on equity-centric solutions. The company provides an integrated portfolio of services and initiatives including the RxEACH Initiative (a national coalition for HIV prevention in community pharmacies), the State Action Playbook (a strategic policy guide), and Wastewater Monitoring Workshops. These offerings work together to advance public health systems through evidence-based policy, collaborative action, and strategic partnerships, with a focus on serving underserved communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RxEACH: A national coalition managed by Courage Forward Strategies working to expand and sustain access to HIV prevention and linkage to care services in community pharmacies.

Products and services

• Public Health Strategy Consulting Services

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

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 and minor.

• National League of Cities (NLC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2024Courage Forward Strategies partnered with NLC to lead a series of wastewater monitoring workshops in Dallas County, TX, Laredo, TX, and Wayne County, MI. The partnership united public health officials, utilities, researchers, and local leaders to develop actionable strategies for wastewater monitoring as a public health tool.
• Elton John AIDS FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElton John AIDS Foundation supported the development of the State Action Playbook, a strategic guide for expanding HIV prevention and care through community pharmacies. The foundation provided funding and support for this policy-focused initiative developed by Courage Forward Strategies.
• RxEACH InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRxEACH is a national coalition that Courage Forward Strategies manages as managing partner. The initiative works to expand and sustain access to HIV prevention and linkage to care services in community pharmacies. This is a flagship initiative led by the firm.
• Common Health CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner/proud collaboration on the projects page. The nature of this partnership is not detailed in the available source material.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Manatt Health: Manatt Health is a health policy and strategy consulting practice within Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. It serves federal and state agencies, foundations, and providers on similar policy, program design, and strategic advisory mandates as CFS, with comparable equity-oriented engagements.
• Health Management Associates (HMA): HMA is a healthcare and public health consulting firm advising state Medicaid agencies, public health departments, and foundations on policy, program design, and implementation—directly comparable to CFS's public-sector public health work.
• Mathematica: Mathematica is a nonpartisan research and consulting firm with a major health practice serving federal agencies (HHS, CMS, CDC) on policy analysis, program evaluation, and implementation support, closely overlapping CFS's federal public health policy mandate.
• Abt Associates: Abt Associates is a research and consulting firm with a large global health and public health practice delivering evaluation, implementation, and policy advisory services to federal agencies and foundations, comparable in scope and client base to CFS.
• ICF International: ICF is a global consulting and digital services firm with a substantial public health practice serving CDC, HHS, and state agencies on strategy, program implementation, and policy support—directly competitive with CFS in federal public health advisory work.
• NORC at the University of Chicago: NORC is an independent research institution with a major public health research department that conducts policy analysis, program evaluation, and data-driven advisory for federal agencies and foundations, comparable to CFS's evidence-based policy mandate.
• CAI: CAI is a global consulting firm focused on health, education, and social services, working with government agencies, foundations, and communities on equity-centered program implementation—closely aligned with CFS's public health mission and client base.

Broad incumbents

• Booz Allen Hamilton: Booz Allen Hamilton is a large management and technology consulting firm with a dedicated public health practice serving CDC, HHS, and state agencies. It is a broader incumbent that competes for federal health advisory work but operates at vastly greater scale than CFS.
• Deloitte (Government & Public Services): Deloitte's Government & Public Services practice includes a significant federal health portfolio serving HHS, CMS, and CDC. It competes for the same large-scale federal public health advisory contracts but as a broader, multi-disciplinary incumbent rather than a public health specialist.
• McKinsey & Company (Public & Social Sector): McKinsey's Public & Social Sector practice advises federal and state agencies on health policy, equity, and system reform. It is a broad incumbent competing for high-end public health strategy engagements where CFS also operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/courage-forward-strategies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 courage forward strategies