For-profit

M&R Strategic Services (MRSS)

Website:

www.mrss.com

Location:

Washington, DC

Type:

Government Relations and Consulting Firm

Founders:

Donald K. Ross

Arthur N. Malkin

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M&R Strategic Services (MRSS) is a Washington, D.C.-based government relations and consulting company that primarily caters to left-of-center clients. The firm was founded by Donald Ross, ex-director of the New York Public Interest Group (NYPIRG) and founder of NEO Philanthropy, and Arthur N. Malkin, a former NYPIRG staffer who worked under Ross’s tenure in the early 1980s.

MRSS is affiliated with Malkin & Ross, an Albany, New York-based lobbying and government affairs firm created by Donald Ross and Arthur Malkin in 1984. Malkin & Ross lists clients including Food and Water WatchVera Institute of Justice, Sierra Club, and Make the Road New York; it’s first large client was reportedly the New York Trial Lawyers Association. 1 2 3

Clients

MRSS notes campaigns and left-wing groups it’s consulted for, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), Sierra Club, GLAAD, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Population Connection, Oxfam America, Planned Parenthood, 350.org, and Earthrights International. 4 The group also opposed the Trump administration’s decision to undo the creation of several national parks in the final weeks of the Obama administration. 5

Past MRSS clients also include AARP, Alliance for Justice, Bread for the World, Environmental Defense Fund, Human Rights Campaign, NARAL Pro-Choice America, League of Conservation Voters, National Environmental Trust, the Bauman Family Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and Public Interest Projects (NEO Philanthropy). 6

In 2018, the Packard Foundation reported a $50,000 grant to MRSS “for public opinion polling and other research on views of science”; in 2018 it reported another $150,000 grant to the firm for the same purpose. 7 8

2018 Midterm Elections

In the 2018 midterm election, MRSS received $1,335,417 in payments from left-wing PACs and labor unions, including Planned Parenthood Votes, the SEIU, League of Conservation Voters, Win Justice PAC, United We Can, American Nurses Association, and It Starts Today. 9

NEO Philanthropy

Also see NEO Philanthropy (Nonprofit)

NEO Philanthropy has hired M+R Strategic Services (MRSS), the firm co-founded by NEO Philanthropy founder Donald Ross, for “project management” services at least twice. In 2013, NEO paid MRSS $5,257,000. 10 In 2014, NEO paid MRSS $3,992,498. 11 According to a 2012 NEO report, the group hired MRSS “to help design, staff and manage state campaigns” for its project National Campaign to Reform State Juvenile Justice Systems. 12

Support for Democrats

Since 1996, MRSS has donated $41,735 to Democratic Party political candidates, including 2008 presidential candidate Barack Obama and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. 13

References

  1. Greg David. “The lowdown on a so-called consumer advocate.” Crain’s. March 1, 2011. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110302/BLOGS01/303029998/the-lowdown-on-a-so-called-consumer-advocate
  2. “Client List (archived).” Malkin & Ross (archived page). Archived August 15, 2018. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20180805083007/http://www.malkinross.com/Client-List/
  3. “Client List (archived).” Malkin & Ross (archived page). Archived July 16, 2015. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20150716221514/http://www.malkinross.com/Client-List
  4. “Work.” M&R Strategic Services. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://www.mrss.com/work/
  5. “Protecting National Monuments.” M&R Strategic Services. May 14, 2018. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://www.mrss.com/lab/protecting-national-monuments/
  6. “Recent Clients (archived).” M&R Strategic Services (Archived Page). Archived March 3, 2009. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20090303132736/https://www.mrss.com/clients.html
  7. “M&R Strategic Services.” Packard Foundation. 2018. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://www.packard.org/grants-and-investments/grants-database/mr-strategic-services/
  8. “M&R Strategic Services.” Packard Foundation. 2018. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://www.packard.org/grants-and-investments/grants-database/mr-strategic-services-2/
  9. “Vender: M&R Strategic Services.” Center for Responsive Politics. 2018 Cycle. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/expends/vendor.php?year=2018&vendor=M%26R+Strategic+Services
  10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). NEO Philanthropy. 2013. Schedule A, Part VII, Section B (Independent Contractors).
  11. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). NEO Philanthropy. 2014. Schedule A, Part VII, Section B (Independent Contractors).
  12. “The National Campaign to Reform State Juvenile Justice Systems Report on 2012 Activities.” NEO Philanthropy. Accessed May 29, 2019. Original URL: https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/05/NEO-Philanthropy-2012-activities-report.pdf. Archived here: https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/05/NEO-Philanthropy-2012-activities-report.pdf
  13. “M&R Strategic Services.” Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000053277&cycle=2016
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M&R Strategic Services (MRSS)

1101 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036