Research,
consulting and products for Associations and nonprofits
The Portage Group helps associations, not-for-profit, regulatory and other mission-driven organizations make informed decisions, strengthen performance and navigate change through research, strategy, governance, organization design, executive search, leadership support, and practical tools and data solutions
The Portage Group Advantage
TPG combines deep sector experience, rigorous research and practical consulting expertise. Our team has worked with hundreds of organizations, bringing both advisory experience and firsthand understanding of how these organizations operate.
Deep Sector Expertise
We have worked extensively across the association and not-for-profit sector, giving us a deep understanding of how these organizations operate, the challenges they face and what works in practice. Because we work across organizations, professions and industries, we can bring perspectives, emerging ideas and better practices from across the sector to every engagement. Our clients benefit not just from our expertise, but from what we have learned across hundreds of organizations and engagements.
Research and Intelligence
Research is a core TPG capability in its own right. We design and conduct member and stakeholder research, market and feasibility studies, benchmarking, compensation, economic and impact studies, and other quantitative and qualitative research. We use that evidence to inform strategy and decision-making, and increasingly to create ongoing value through tools such as TPG Insights. Our strength is turning data into information organizations can understand, use and act on.
Meaningful Engagement
We design our work to involve the people who are affected by the decisions being made. Through interviews, surveys, focus groups, workshops and other forms of engagement, we create meaningful opportunities for members, leaders and constituents to contribute their perspectives. The result is stronger information, greater shared understanding and decisions that are more likely to earn support and translate into action.
How we can help
We bring together research, strategy, organization design, leadership and data solutions to help organizations address complex challenges and move forward with confidence.
Who We Are
Our team are more than just consultants. We are thought leaders in our fields, combining an aptitude for consulting excellence with lived experience working and volunteering for some of this country’s leading associations and charities. We work as a team bringing our respective areas of subject matter expertise together with the result being recommendations, solutions and strategies that consider all the angles.
We help clients by providing:
Research & Analysis
Rigorous research, benchmarking and analysis to understand members, constituents, markets and the broader operating environment. Our work includes member and stakeholder research, market and feasibility studies, economic and impact studies, benchmarking, and other quantitative and qualitative research.
Strategy
Clear direction and practical plans for the future. We support strategic planning, priority-setting, implementation planning and focused strategy development in areas such as education, member value, programs, services and growth.
Governance & Organization Design
Stronger governance, membership and revenue models, organizational structures, and strategies for specific programs or functions. Our work ranges from governance reviews and business-model development to focused strategic support in areas such as education, services and operations.
Leadership & Executive Search
The right leadership for the organization and the moment. We support executive search, succession planning, leadership advisory work and leadership transitions, working with boards and senior teams to define needs, assess options and move forward with confidence.
Tools & Data Solutions
Practical tools and data solutions that make information more accessible, useful and valuable. This includes interactive research and benchmarking products such as TPG Insights, designed to help organizations collect, analyze, share and update important information over time.
Practice Leads
Geoffrey Thacker, B.Comm
Executive Partner – Research
Geoff leads TPG’s research practice and brings deep expertise in designing and delivering research for associations and mission-driven organizations. His work spans member and constituent research, benchmarking, compensation and benefits studies, sector profiling, segmentation, market research, and economic and industry impact studies.
He is particularly skilled at turning complex data into clear, practical findings that organizations can use to understand their environment, identify opportunities and make informed decisions. Geoff also plays a key role in the development of TPG’s data and research products.
Jack Shand, CAE
Practice Lead – Executive Search
Jack leads TPG’s executive search and leadership practice, with extensive experience helping organizations recruit senior leaders, plan for succession and navigate leadership transition. His work combines executive search expertise with a strong understanding of governance, organizational dynamics and the realities of association leadership.
A Certified Association Executive, Jack has more than 20 years of consulting and association leadership experience, including senior executive roles with national organizations. He also brings significant experience in strategic planning, facilitation and working with boards and leadership teams.
Carol-Anne Moutinho, MBA
Practice Lead – Strategy and Organization Design
Carol-Anne leads TPG’s strategy and organization design practice, with expertise in strategic planning, governance, membership and revenue models, organizational design, and focused strategy development across areas such as member value, programs and services.
A certified facilitator and experienced qualitative researcher, she designs and leads engagement with boards, staff, members and constituents to build understanding, identify priorities and support sound decision-making. Her work brings together research, consultation and sector better practices to develop practical strategies and organizational approaches that can be implemented.