The Bridgespan Group: Difference between revisions
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In 2003, Bridgespan created the "Bridgestar" initiative to focus on leadership development and to help professionals transition into nonprofit careers.<ref>{{Citation | url =http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0813/p13s02-wmgn.html | title =Wanted: nonprofit leaders | publisher =The Christian Science Monitor | date =August 13, 2007 | accessdate = August 21, 2013}}</ref> (The Bridgestar.org site merged with Bridgespan.org in 2012.) Since its inception, Bridgespan experienced high interest from job applicants and clients. In 2005, the company received 1,700 applications for only 18 positions and turned down 90% of client approaches.<ref name="economist-2006" /> In 2008, Bridgespan redesigned their website to provide better knowledge transfer. |
In 2003, Bridgespan created the "Bridgestar" initiative to focus on leadership development and to help professionals transition into nonprofit careers.<ref>{{Citation | url =http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0813/p13s02-wmgn.html | title =Wanted: nonprofit leaders | publisher =The Christian Science Monitor | date =August 13, 2007 | accessdate = August 21, 2013}}</ref> (The Bridgestar.org site merged with Bridgespan.org in 2012.) Since its inception, Bridgespan experienced high interest from job applicants and clients. In 2005, the company received 1,700 applications for only 18 positions and turned down 90% of client approaches.<ref name="economist-2006" /> In 2008, Bridgespan redesigned their website to provide better knowledge transfer. |
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==Current operations== |
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==Consulting and advisory services== |
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[[File:Wikimedia-bridgespan-2009-august-participants.jpg|upright=1.5|Bridgespan workshop with client [[Wikimedia Foundation]]|thumb]] |
[[File:Wikimedia-bridgespan-2009-august-participants.jpg|upright=1.5|Bridgespan workshop with client [[Wikimedia Foundation]]|thumb]] |
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The Bridgespan Group is a not-for-profit advisor and management consulting service for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.<ref name="nytimes-2008" /><ref name="crunchbase" /> It focuses on mid-sized to large nonprofit organizations focused on [[education]], [[youth service]]s, [[public health]], [[philanthropy]], and [[global development]].<ref name="nytimes-2008" /> |
The Bridgespan Group is a not-for-profit advisor and management consulting service for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.<ref name="nytimes-2008" /><ref name="crunchbase" /> It focuses on mid-sized to large nonprofit organizations focused on [[education]], [[youth service]]s, [[public health]], [[philanthropy]], and [[global development]].<ref name="nytimes-2008" /> As of 2013, the organization had 180 employees. |
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The Bridgespan Group's website is organized into several learning centers. Each learning center focuses on a particular aspect of nonprofit management, such as hiring, strategy, or funding. The site is designed to be interactive and includes free access to such resources as articles, podcasts, videos, and Q&A sessions, as well as several cases investigated and published by Bridgespan.<ref name="nytimes-2008" /><ref>{{Citation | url =http://philanthropy.com/article/Federal-Cuts-Could-Force-Many/130323/ | title =Federal Cuts Likely to Shut Down Some Charities, Report Warns | publisher =The Chronicle of Philanthropy | date =January 15, 2012 | accessdate = August 21, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Wellesley-2010" /> |
The Bridgespan Group's website is organized into several learning centers. Each learning center focuses on a particular aspect of nonprofit management, such as hiring, strategy, or funding. The site is designed to be interactive and includes free access to such resources as articles, podcasts, videos, and Q&A sessions, as well as several cases investigated and published by Bridgespan.<ref name="nytimes-2008" /><ref>{{Citation | url =http://philanthropy.com/article/Federal-Cuts-Could-Force-Many/130323/ | title =Federal Cuts Likely to Shut Down Some Charities, Report Warns | publisher =The Chronicle of Philanthropy | date =January 15, 2012 | accessdate = August 21, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Wellesley-2010" /> The website also features an online job board for potential nonprofit employees.<ref name="nytimes-2008" /> |
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The website also features an online job board for potential nonprofit employees.<ref name="nytimes-2008" /> |
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When working with philanthropists, the organization specializes in helping clients focus their charitable donations to have the greatest effect. This specialized method of donating avoids "peanut butter philanthropy," a term that Bridgespan's chairman and co-founder Tom Tierney uses to describe donors who spread donations across so many organizations that they have no real impact.<ref name="wsj-2011">{{Citation | url =http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth-manager/2011/04/13/helping-make-clients-philanthropy-count/ | title =Helping Make Clients’ Philanthropy Count | publisher =The Wall Street Journal | date =April 13, 2011 | accessdate =August 21, 2013 }}</ref> |
When working with philanthropists, the organization specializes in helping clients focus their charitable donations to have the greatest effect. This specialized method of donating avoids "peanut butter philanthropy," a term that Bridgespan's chairman and co-founder Tom Tierney uses to describe donors who spread donations across so many organizations that they have no real impact.<ref name="wsj-2011">{{Citation | url =http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth-manager/2011/04/13/helping-make-clients-philanthropy-count/ | title =Helping Make Clients’ Philanthropy Count | publisher =The Wall Street Journal | date =April 13, 2011 | accessdate =August 21, 2013 }}</ref> |
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Revision as of 03:34, 2 November 2013
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| Industry | Nonprofit |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Thomas Tierney, Jeffrey Bradach |
| Headquarters | Boston, MA |
Number of locations | 3 |
| Services | Management consulting, philanthropy advising |
| Website | bridgespan |
The Bridgespan Group is a U.S. nonprofit organization which provides management consulting to other nonprofits and to philanthropists.[1][2][3] In addition to specific consulting assignments, Bridgespan emphasizes general knowledge transfer by making many case studies available freely via their website and publications.[4]
Bridgespan was launched by former Bain & Company leader Thomas Tierney and former Harvard Business School professor Jeffrey Bradach in 1999.[1][5] Over the years, the organization has received substantial support from Bain. It retains a close relationship with its for profit founder company.[6]
Founding
Bridgespan grew from a desire by Bain and company to expand their work for nonprofits. Traditionally the company had done occasional pro bono work for nonprofits. Bain consultant Thomas Tierney had been involved with such assignments since the 1980s. After becoming worldwide managing director of Bain, Tierney's attention turned to giving Bain a more substantial presence in consulting for charities. Between 1995 and 1999, three Bain studies were done on the market for nonprofit consulting and different methods of delivery. Establishing a practice area (an industry concentration) was considered and rejected. Instead the decision was made to create an allied but independent entity: Bridgespan Group.[2]
In 1996, cofounder Jeff Bradach, a business professor and former Bain consultant, became involved. By 1998, cofounder Paul Carttar, also a former Bain consulant, was part of the team. Tierny pitched the idea to his partners in 1999. He emphasized the desire for an ongoing relationship, with some benefits (e.g. recruiting of socially minded consultants, public relations) accruing to Bain. In addition, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service had to be convinced that Bridgespan would be sufficiently independent from Bain and not operated for gain. Both cases were made successfully and the concept was rolled out. Bain provided Bridgespan with a one million dollar grant for the first three years as well as administrative support and several loaned Bain employees ("externs").[2][7] The organization was also initially supported by grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, and the Atlantic Philanthropies.[1]
Growth
The group launched its first website, bridgespan.org, in 2000 and started operations from an office in Boston. By the fall of that year, the venture was ahead of track with 27 employees versus a goal of 12 and had opened a West Coast office. Services provided emphasized analytical consulting. Even with substantial subsidies, the assignments were more expensive to charities than facilitated workshops.[2]
In 2003, Bridgespan created the "Bridgestar" initiative to focus on leadership development and to help professionals transition into nonprofit careers.[8] (The Bridgestar.org site merged with Bridgespan.org in 2012.) Since its inception, Bridgespan experienced high interest from job applicants and clients. In 2005, the company received 1,700 applications for only 18 positions and turned down 90% of client approaches.[5] In 2008, Bridgespan redesigned their website to provide better knowledge transfer.
Current operations
The Bridgespan Group is a not-for-profit advisor and management consulting service for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.[1][3] It focuses on mid-sized to large nonprofit organizations focused on education, youth services, public health, philanthropy, and global development.[1] As of 2013, the organization had 180 employees.
The Bridgespan Group's website is organized into several learning centers. Each learning center focuses on a particular aspect of nonprofit management, such as hiring, strategy, or funding. The site is designed to be interactive and includes free access to such resources as articles, podcasts, videos, and Q&A sessions, as well as several cases investigated and published by Bridgespan.[1][9][4] The website also features an online job board for potential nonprofit employees.[1]
When working with philanthropists, the organization specializes in helping clients focus their charitable donations to have the greatest effect. This specialized method of donating avoids "peanut butter philanthropy," a term that Bridgespan's chairman and co-founder Tom Tierney uses to describe donors who spread donations across so many organizations that they have no real impact.[10]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Want a Business Plan? Log on for Free Advice, The New York Times, November 10, 2008, retrieved August 21, 2013
- ^ a b c d The Bridgespan Group (PDF), Bain & Company, November 1, 2000, retrieved August 21, 2013
- ^ a b The Bridgespan Group, CrunchBase, retrieved August 21, 2013
- ^ a b Doing Well and Doing Good A Conversation with Jeff Bradach and Tom Tierney, co-founders of Bridgespan, Wellesley Weston Magazine, August 6, 2010, retrieved August 21, 2013
- ^ a b Virtue's intermediaries, The Economist, February 23, 2006, retrieved August 21, 2013
- ^ http://www.vault.com/company-profiles/management-strategy/the-bridgespan-group.aspx
- ^ The Transformers, HBS Alumni Bulletin, December 2010, retrieved September 3, 2013
- ^ Wanted: nonprofit leaders, The Christian Science Monitor, August 13, 2007, retrieved August 21, 2013
- ^ Federal Cuts Likely to Shut Down Some Charities, Report Warns, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, January 15, 2012, retrieved August 21, 2013
- ^ Helping Make Clients’ Philanthropy Count, The Wall Street Journal, April 13, 2011, retrieved August 21, 2013