THE BERKELEY GROUP

We believe that helping nonprofit organizations with business challenges is a unique way to create sustainable impact in our community.

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Our Services
The Berkeley Group provides free professional services to our nonprofit clients. We have worked with a wide range of small and large clients on a diverse array of planning, marketing, competitive analysis, expansion, development, and financing projects. Our goal is to solve challenges by providing tailored recommendations that meet specific needs and allow for practical implementation.

Some of the services TBG has provided to past clients include, but are not limited to:

Competitive Analysis and Feasibility Studies
Industry and Market Trend Analysis
Benchmarking Studies
Competitor Strategy

Human Resources and Organizational Development
Workforce Development Models
Volunteer Recruitment Strategies
Membership Retention Strategies
Organizational Restructuring

Finance Development
Corporate Sponsorship Strategy
Donor Recruitment Planning
Fundraising Strategy
Capital Campaign Strategy

Strategic Planning and Business Analysis
Business and Organizational Planning
Growth and Service Expansion Strategy
Financial Analysis
Program and Service Delivery Development
New Client Recruitment Planning
Data Collection Analysis

Strategic Marketing
Target Market Analysis and Expansion
Brand Management and Positioning
Customer Segmentation
Marketing Campaign Development
Product Launch and Development


We work on five projects every spring and every fall. Each project engagement lasts approximately 10 to 12 weeks and is pursued by a project team that consists of five consultants, including one project leader who is the client's main contact. The client and the project leader communicate on a weekly basis to ensure the project's progress. At the end of the project engagement, the team provides the client with a hard copy of its deliverable and presents its final recommendation.

We're proud to have made an impact with...

Goodwill Red CrossBuy Local Berkeley American Cancer Society SF Jazz

Our Clients
The Berkeley Group has had the opportunity to work with a diverse array of nonprofits in the Bay Area, varying in size, mission, and vision. Since 2003, we have provided pro bono services to over eighty nonprofit and social sector organizations from a variety of industries. These sectors include Arts and Civic Culture; Environmental Sustainability; Youth, Education and Social Awareness; Public Health; City Planning and Economic Development; and Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy. For a full list of our past clients, click here.
Application Process
The client and the project are the heart and soul of The Berkeley Group. Because of the vitality of both, project selection is an integral part of the consulting process. We meet our potential clients largely through referrals from past clients, invocations, and requests. Project selection takes place twice a year, from mid-July to early August and from mid-December to early January.

To become a client, the organization must first submit the online Client Application form. After an initial review, the Vice President of Projects will contact and meet select applicants to learn more about their project, assess its compatibility with TBG, and narrow the scope of the project. From this meeting, a project proposal will be drafted and approved by the nonprofit. Our Executive Committee will then review the proposals and select from among them our projects for that term.

We select our projects based on the following criteria:

Active Vision for the Community: TBG selects clients that seek to benefit and serve the greater Bay Area community.
TBG Capabilities: TBG seeks projects that are aligned with our resources, capabilities, and skill sets.
Challenging Proposal: TBG looks for projects that will expand the knowledge of our consultants and clients.
Time Availability: TBG requires consistent communication between the project team and client contact.
Accessibility: TBG requires that the organization is in the Bay Area and is easily accessible to the project team.
Ability to Implement: TBG's client contact must have the ability to make critical business decisions regarding the implementation of our recommendation.

TBG worked with Rising Sun's social enterprise 'Rising Sun Energy Services' to help formulate a business plan that will provide direction for the program over the next 1-3 years. The team was highly professional and a pleasure to work with; it was a great experience.
Alison Freeman, Deputy Director: Rising Sun Energy Center