When the earliest plans for The Bridgespan Group were first sketched on a napkin in the late 1990s, it was hard to envision the impact the organization would achieve over the ensuing 25 years. We’ve engaged with over 2,000 nonprofits, philanthropists, and impact investors to help them make their visions for change a reality. We’ve developed new technologies, tools, and service lines to stay ahead of evolving needs. And our publications have been read by hundreds of thousands of people, helping to influence thinking, shape debates, and change practices across the social sector.
Yet for all that Bridgespan has evolved, the values that inspired that original idea on a napkin have remained constant. We’re still passionate about strengthening the ability of mission-driven organizations and philanthropists to achieve breakthrough results in addressing society’s most important challenges and opportunities. We know who we are, the distinctive role we play, and the difference it makes.
As the stories in this report attest, Bridgespan’s work has indeed supported breakthrough results. Meaningful, long-lasting relationships with visionary leaders, thinkers, and doers have propelled us forward, while a solid foundation in learning and reflection has anchored us. Our roots with Bain & Company have continued to support our development and growth. The years ahead will require us to lean into the most creative and courageous versions of ourselves as we work together to build a more resilient and ambitious social sector—which is especially critical today.
This report is a celebration of the past several years, but it also points the way forward. We’re excited to help our clients achieve the truly astonishing levels of impact they seek on issues ranging from economic mobility to climate to public health, even as technology and politics are rapidly reshaping the ecosystems in which they work.
We’re also continuing to evolve Bridgespan into a more global organization. Along with our 25th anniversary, this year marks the tenth anniversary of the opening of Bridgespan’s India office. From CSR advisory services to our cohort-based Nonprofit Development Program, the Bridgespan India team has developed innovative offerings that respond to the needs of the country’s burgeoning social sector. Our offices in South Africa (opened in 2019) and Singapore (opened in 2022) are following suit, establishing practices that are informed by Bridgespan’s work in the U.S. but uniquely driven by each geography. While we still have more to do, this international expansion has had a multiplicative effect on our work, enabling multidirectional learning among our offices and allowing us to better support funders and nonprofits in achieving meaningful impact.
Even as we expand and evolve, we’re more confident than ever that Bridgespan can boldly advance our mission, thanks to the exceptional people who define this organization and our collective commitment to excellence. Our unspoken value of humility ensures we’re constantly asking for feedback, reflecting, and adapting our practice. The passion with which Bridgespanners dedicate themselves to the work of advancing social change is a major part of what has made the past 25 years possible, and it’s a meaningful source of inspiration as we look to the years ahead.
Cheryl Dorsey, Co-chair
William Foster, Managing Partner
Thomas J. Tierney, Co-founder and Co-chair
Jeffrey L. Bradach, Partner and Co-founder