Where nonprofits grow by challenging the status quo. At Orr Group, we have never been comfortable with the status quo, and that is exactly how we like it. Proud to be 100% family owned and operated since 1991, we bring both the discipline of investment banking and the passion for driving social good to every partnership. We believe lasting change starts with better solutions. That is the business of philanthropy. It means elevating your values and putting them at the center of strategy, diving into your data to uncover what is hidden, scaling what works, and transforming what does not, and strengthening your foundation today while preparing you to adapt in a changing world. Whether your organization has a capital campaign on the horizon, wants to power your purpose with new tech, or strengthen your leadership for long-term success, Orr Group is here to help you grow.
Orr Group’s Mission To transform nonprofits through embedded partnerships, trusted advice, and the business of philanthropy.
Our Story Bringing a business mindset to philanthropy. Orr Group is proud to be 100% family owned and operated since 1991. For more than three decades, we have partnered with nonprofits to advance missions, strengthen teams, and drive sustainable growth through the business of philanthropy. Founded by Steve and Carol Orr, the firm was built on a belief in partnership, entrepreneurship, and results. Steve drew from his career on Wall Street, recognizing how data and strategy could transform fundraising. Carol expanded our services through events and fundraising expertise while leading the firm’s HR for more than 20 years. Together, they established the collaborative and results-driven culture that defines Orr Group today. Now led by CJ Orr, we continue to grow our team, broaden our services, and deepen our impact across the nonprofit sector. From fundraising and events to today’s full-service embedded partnership model, our approach has always been about working with our partners, not just advising them. The belief that it is all about the team continues to guide how we embed with nonprofit leaders and stakeholders, roll up our sleeves, and deliver strategy, stability, and revenue. In the business of philanthropy, you do not just need a consultancy. You need a partner.
Nonprofits are guided by their values. And we live by ours. Our vision of success goes beyond the customized work with our individual partners. We’re helping to build creative strategies and data-driven approaches into the foundations of philanthropy. We want to help shape its future. We value and lead with anticipation and foresight, and we seek out and nurture the growth of individuals who are poised to take the nonprofit world to new places.
Curiosity about the work. That means asking great questions – sometimes tough ones – and letting the answers guide us to the truth. We want to know everything about our partners. We listen first, then analyze, then synthesize. That’s how the truth reveals itself.
Centering inclusion and equity in decision-making. We recognize the systemic inequities that shape our world, and we’re committed to combating them in the nonprofit sector. We strive for equity in our workplace, in our partners’ cultures, and in the field of philanthropy as a whole. We know that a diverse organization is a healthier and stronger organization. It’s simply better for business.
Elevating our people. Investing time and energy in our staff helps them grow stronger in their work. We encourage each other to think creatively and build our work around our unique strengths. We give our teammates the reins so they can lead our charges, win the day, and get the credit they deserve for our wins.
Committing to our partners. Nonprofits are driven, above all, by mission, passion and belief. We hold our partners’ mindsets close in our approach to supporting them, and we align every suggestion and decision we make with their values.
Bringing a business mindset. Top of mind in our work is always our clients’ missions, but we must also stay true to who we are. Nonprofits need to learn the language and territory of business. We’re their guides, translators, and sometimes transactors. We’re nimble, efficient, and smart. We pursue the best solutions, whether they’re brand new or tried and true. We know how to leverage the power of data, metrics, and analytics. And we’re always focused on the bottom line: Does it work?
“ We partnered with Orr Group at a time where we were really trying to shift the trajectory and impact of what we do. The Orr Group team came in, thankfully, to help us figure out how to rally resources around that. It was a significant partnership at an important time in our history.” “We partnered with Orr Group at a time where we were really trying to shift the trajectory and impact of what we do. The Orr Group team came in, thankfully, to help us figure out how to rally resources around that. It was a significant partnership at an important time in our history.” Lysa Ratliff, Chief Executive Officer, KABOOM!
“ When searching for a partner, we had to look and say, who brings the level of values that we want to work with as well as a partner that we knew was going to be about the competencies of getting the work done and executing at a high level. Orr Group represented that for us. ” “When searching for a partner, we had to look and say, who brings the level of values that we want to work with as well as a partner that we knew was going to be about the competencies of getting the work done and executing at a high level. Orr Group represented that for us. ” Artis Stevens, President and Chief Executive Officer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
“ Orr Group felt like an extension of our team. They took the time to understand our mission and staff, which allowed us to focus on priority talent and HR projects aligned with our real-time needs. Their team helped us prioritize initiatives, identify areas of opportunity for organizational growth, and was flexible and accessible as new challenges emerged. I always felt like I had a strong team at the ready, and their expertise in HR and talent services is unmatched. I would confidently recommend Orr Group as a trusted partner.” “Orr Group felt like an extension of our team. They took the time to understand our mission and staff, which allowed us to focus on priority talent and HR projects aligned with our real-time needs. Their team helped us prioritize initiatives, identify areas of opportunity for organizational growth, and was flexible and accessible as new challenges emerged. I always felt like I had a strong team at the ready, and their expertise in HR and talent services is unmatched. I would confidently recommend Orr Group as a trusted partner.” Michelle Cohenour, Chief Operating Officer, APIA Scholars