89up is a London-based communications agency that supports charities, nonprofits and foundations through campaigns, technology development and problem-solving strategies. Founded in 2009 by Mike Harris, initially as MJR Harris Limited, it rebranded to 89up in 2015, drawing its name from 1989—the year the Berlin Wall fell and the World Wide Web launched. The agency traces its origins to Harris attending a dissident's funeral in Belarus, where he saw Western agencies aiding the regime and decided civil society needed equivalent expertise.
From modest beginnings, 89up has expanded to employ 50 to 100 staff, with an international team fluent in 18 languages and associates across five continents. Its London office sits at 66-68 Pentonville Road in King's Cross. The firm claims to be the world's largest independent agency in its niche, focusing on issues like climate change, human rights, UN Sustainable Development Goals and political prisoners. It rejects work with autocratic governments or clients conflicting with its ethics, turning down millions in potential revenue, and operates as a net zero business paying full taxes without avoidance schemes.
Recent projects include a campaign for Nesta's Mobility Unlimited Challenge, engaging influencers on lower-limb paralysis; website development for 38 Degrees to spotlight supporter impact; and support for a coalition of 70 charities ahead of a G7 summit, securing media and corporate partners in under a month. Another effort aided Doc Society in promoting the UK's first Citizens' Assembly on Climate Change, involving 108 ordinary citizens. 89up has collaborated with figures like UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, former US Vice President Al Gore and climate activist Greta Thunberg, alongside groups such as Save the Children and Finance Watch on fiscal policy messaging. In 2023, it was named EMEA Purpose Agency of the Year.