Nonprofit Consultants: FAQs & The 15+ Best Firms to Consider

Is your nonprofit organization experiencing growing pains? Are you looking to level up your fundraising strategy? Or do you feel your organization’s progress toward accomplishing its mission has stalled?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, rest assured that a nonprofit consultant (AKA a nonprofit development consultant) can help. These experts can bring a fresh perspective to your organization’s current strategies and empower you to scale up operations realistically and sustainably.

But how do you find the right consultant who will be a true partner by improving how your organization delivers its mission to beneficiaries? We’re here to answer all your questions about nonprofit consultants and jumpstart your search with a list of recommended consultants. We’ll cover:

Learning the fundamentals of nonprofit consulting and how to kickstart a professional relationship with the right consultant will substantially benefit your nonprofit. By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to pick the right professional consulting services and maximize your consultant relationship.

15+ Recommended Nonprofit Consultants

Ready to dive into the process of researching different consultants to consider for your own development needs? Here are some of our top recommendations!

1. Donorly - Growth and Change Specialists

At Donorly, we focus on donor research and collaboration, which gives us a serious edge in every service we provide to small and mid-size nonprofit organizations. This means our strategies are completely customized to the scope of your needs and goals. We know that understanding your organization and mission is vital to developing a truly successful strategy.

Our core services include:

Donorly’s services as the top recommended nonprofit consulting firm.
  • New-to-Nonprofit Leaders Cohort Class: Join a class of new nonprofit professionals and spend six weeks learning how to confidently solicit major gifts and boost your organization’s fundraising potential.

  • Bandwidth Buildout: Our team steps into a new or growing development operation and provides support while also helping you search and prepare for an in-house hire.

  • Capital Campaign Kickstart: Donorly brings the toolbox, guidance, and elbow grease to navigate the complexities of your capital campaign and make the journey ahead not just manageable, but joyful.

  • Three-Month Jumpstart: Ideal for small organizations new to prospect research, this package allows you to collaborate with our donor research experts, take a closer look at your existing network, and map out a plan for jumpstarting your fundraising efforts.

2. Nexus Marketing - SEO Consultants

Nexus Marketing empowers nonprofits to stand out online and create a stream of valuable leads through search engine optimization (SEO). While SEO can be a complex journey, Nexus Marketing’s unique approach is designed to help nonprofits achieve both immediate and long-term success. With a focus on content creation, webinars, partnerships, and more, Nexus Marketing equips nonprofits with the strategies they need to thrive in the digital space. 

Nonprofits looking to sell their products and services can look to Nexus Marketing to connect with other mission-driven organizations, expand their web presence, and generate new sales leads. As a client, you’ll gain access to a network of over 500 partners spanning the nonprofit, association, faith-based, education, and healthcare sectors. This network is not just a resource but a community that shares your values and goals, ready to promote your brand and products.

A few of Nexus Marketing SEO-related services include:

  • Content creation: Nexus’s team of nonprofit experts will craft keyword-optimized content for your nonprofit’s blog that targets your audience, showcases your service and product offerings, and presents your organization’s thought leadership and expertise. 

  • Off-site link-building: SEO is partially based on what websites link to yours, and Nexus’s extensive partnership network can arrange blog submission opportunities to get your nonprofit’s website in front of new audiences. 

  • Technical SEO: Nexus not only creates new content for your site but can also optimize your existing content for better technical performance. The Nexus team offers suggestions for improving your website’s loading speeds and crawlability. They also provide ongoing monitoring to identify and resolve any issues negatively impacting your SEO strategy.

3. Getting Attention - Google Ad Grant Consultants

Getting Attention specializes in Google Ad Grant management, helping nonprofits increase their reach online. As a Certified Google Partner, this nonprofit consultant understands what it takes to acquire and maximize the grant. They’ll pinpoint the keywords your supporters are googling and create compelling ads for your website’s most important pages.

With a $500 monthly fee, their help pales in comparison to the $10,000 in free Google Ad credits they’ll help you use. While you can’t use the grant to pay this Google Grants firm, you can drive fundraising revenue, corporate sponsorships, and invaluable volunteer support with the grant.

Getting Attention is a consulting agency that specializes in the Google Ad Grant.

This Google Grants agency’s services include:

  • Google Grant Applications: This firm’s experts can check your Google Ad Grant eligibility and take care of the application process so you’ll be approved in no time.

  • Keyword Research: Targeting the right keywords for your nonprofit is a priority for Getting Attention, and they can provide the expertise and research to select the perfect keywords and create compelling ads for your mission.

  • Google Grant Compliance: Keeping your account in good standing with Google can be challenging. Getting Attention’s experts fully understand the compliance rules and stay on top of the latest changes.

4. Kwala - Nonprofit Graphic Design Firm

From a captivating website to flyers for your next 5K, graphic design plays an instrumental role in your nonprofit. Kwala is a nonprofit consulting firm that knows how to create professional designs that perfectly exude your brand. Whether you have a vision or need inspiration, their experts can help bring your brand to life with powerful images that catch supporters’ eyes online and at your events.

This graphic design agency uses a subscription pricing model. You’ll pay by the month or year and can request an unlimited number of designs and revisions during that time. However, your designer will work on one or two projects for you at once.

Kwala is a nonprofit consulting firm that specializes in graphic design.

This nonprofit consulting agency’s services include:

  • Flyers and Brochures. Inform people about your events, campaigns, and programs with informative flyers and brochures. Kwala’s flyers are long enough to get supporters excited but short enough to be easily digestible.

  • Stickers. Kwala can design stickers that supporters will add to their water bottles, notebooks, cars, or anywhere else. They know how to make the most of the limited real estate, so you can convey your message while still having a detailed design.

  • Event Signs. Need table runners for conferences or signs for your next 5K? Kwala can help make your signs stand out!

  • Digital nonprofit graphics. Their graphic designers can create shareable infographics and professional website graphics that enhance your digital presence. That way, you can make a lasting impression online!

5. NPOInfo - Data Appending Firm

NPOInfo empowers nonprofits to take charge of their donor data through data appending. This firm provides services that update existing supporter details and fill in missing information. Whether you need to update contact information or locate employer details, NPOInfo can fill in gaps, so you can communicate more effectively with your donors.

With its high accuracy rating, this nonprofit consulting firm can take your data hygiene up a notch. All you need to do is send a file of the data you’d like appended, and they’ll compare that information to their comprehensive database. They’ll return the appended information to you and can help you import it into your CRM.

NPOInfo is a data appending consultant for nonprofits.

This nonprofit agency’s data append services include:

  • Employer Appends. NPOInfo will locate your supporters’ employment data, so you can tap into corporate giving opportunities like matching gifts and volunteer grants. Considering that over 26 million individuals work for companies with matching gift programs, employer appends are a promising way to locate these opportunities and boost revenue.

  • Contact Information Appends. People move, change phone numbers, and get new email addresses constantly. NPOInfo can append all of this information so you can stay in touch with supporters.

  • Date of Birth Appends. This nonprofit consultant can pull supporters' birthdays, empowering you to send targeted communications. For instance, you might send celebratory eCards on their birthdays.

6. Meyer Partners - Nonprofit Marketing Consultants

As a nonprofit marketing agency, Meyer Partners provides a wide range of multichannel communications solutions for nonprofits. This firm can help your organization share its story, acquire new prospects, and retain donors. Meyer Partners is dedicated to crafting communications that cater to every part of the donor lifecycle, prioritizing lifelong engagement and giving.

Meyer Partners provides a wide range of communications-based nonprofit consulting services.

Their services include:

  • Direct Mail Solutions: This marketing agency embraces the power of direct mail as a revenue driver and can help you tap into its effectiveness.

  • Digital Channel Communication: From email and video to social media and telemarketing, Meyer Partners can help you leverage the right digital channels to cultivate donor relationships and support fundraising.

  • Data Analytics: Meyer Partners believes in making data-driven fundraising asks, and can help you understand your donors’ needs and preferences.

7. Aly Sterling Philanthropy - Holistic Approach to Development Consulting

Aly Sterling Philanthropy is a consulting firm that prides itself in providing partnership-driven counsel for nonprofits of all sizes and missions. They offer a variety of services and specialize in helping nonprofits navigate turbulent times.

Aly Sterling Philanthropy is another recommended nonprofit consulting firm.

Their services include:

  • Fundraising Solutions: Whether you’re planning a capital campaign or looking at general strategies for raising money, the Aly Sterling Philanthropy team can elevate your approach.

  • Strategic Planning: The Aly Sterling strategic planning method will help your leadership take a birds-eye view of your organization’s operations and work toward sustainable improvements.

  • Board Leadership: Looking to assess, strengthen, and re-energize your board? This consulting firm can help you with its special Board Catalyst approach.

8. RealHR Solutions - HR Consultants for Nonprofits

As an HR consulting firm, RealHR Solutions helps nonprofits with one-time projects and holistic human resources support. RealHR believes in developing flexible processes that align HR practices with business goals. After nearly 20 years in HR consulting, they’ve established themselves as the go-to consultancy for delivering reliable and relationship-driven HR services.

RealHR Solutions provides HR consulting services for nonprofits.

Their services include:

  • HR Audit and Assessment: RealHR Solutions can help you develop HR policy benchmarks, evaluate best practices, and identify project priorities.

  • HR Setup: If you don’t have an HR department, RealHR can help you build a comprehensive HR program or serve as your outsourced HR solution.

  • HR Infrastructure Development: RealHR can help with employee recruitment, hiring, and retention to meet your organization’s goals.

9. Byrne Pelofsky + Associates, LLC - Creative & Customized Consulting

The Byrne Pelofsky team brings 100+ combined years of nonprofit experience to their work with clients and has helped nonprofits raise $2.7 billion dollars. This firm is committed to putting nonprofits on a successful fundraising path and equipping clients with a comprehensive set of tools to reach their goals.

Next on our list of recommended nonprofit consultants is Byrne Pelofsky + Associates, LLC.

Their services include:

  • Campaign Management: This firm can help you plan and course-correct major gift, capital, endowment, and integrated campaigns.

  • Grant Writing: Byrne Pelofsky + Associates will take care of the research and writing processes of securing grants as your nonprofit builds relationships with funders.

  • Executive Search: If you’re in need of a new executive director or CEO, they’ll help you refine your approach to searching for candidates and onboarding the new executive.

10. Westfall Gold - Major Donor Fundraising Consultants

Westfall Gold focuses on major donor fundraising through events. This firm helps you get your donors to move past transactional giving and become inspired ambassadors for your work.

Westfall Gold is another highly recommended nonprofit consulting agency.

Their services include:

  • Strengthening Major Donor Programs: This team can help you build trust with your major donors through inspiring weekend-long major donor events.

  • Major Donor Communication Strategies: Westfall Gold understands that fundraising asks need to be built around a fully fleshed-out case for your mission. They’ll help you build transformational major donor messaging.

  • Community-Building Approaches: The Westfall Gold team will keep your development strategies donor-centric, taking care of event logistics so you can focus on building long-lasting relationships.

11. DNL OmniMedia - Nonprofit Technology Consultants

DNL OmniMedia works exclusively with nonprofits to provide a wide range of technology, marketing, and analytics services. The firm strives to free up its nonprofit clients’ schedules to focus on their missions instead of technology troubles.

DNL OmniMedia is a group of nonprofit technology consultants.

Their services include:

  • Technology Strategy Design: Whether you’re looking to integrate different platforms with your CRM or find the right fundraising solution, DNL OmniMedia can help you find the right tools and make them a part of your everyday operations.

  • Analytics Projects: This firm understands the value of getting to know donors through data, and can help you make sense of the information you gather through tools like Google Analytics and Adobe Analytics.

  • Web Development: DNL OmniMedia can assist you in designing your nonprofit website and managing it so you can effectively engage supporters online.

12. Astron Solutions - Nonprofit HR Consulting

Astron Solutions can help you improve your nonprofit’s internal operations. By leveraging their compensation consulting and talent management solutions, you can ensure that your nonprofit runs smoothly and provides the best employee experience possible.

Astron Solutions can provide your nonprofit with HR consulting.

Their services include:

  • Total Rewards Consulting: Astron Solutions can help you take a holistic approach to employee compensation, empowering you to design a compensation strategy to reward employees in both financial and non-financial ways.

  • Performance Management Support: Whether you need a new talent management system or simply need to iron out your performance management process, Astron Solutions can guide you every step of the way.

  • Employee Retention Surveys: Astron Solutions can help you conduct surveys to learn more about the employee experience and help you use that information to retain top performers.

13. The Bridgespan Group - Management Consultants

The Bridgespan Group is a nonprofit organization that provides management consulting to nonprofits and philanthropists. They typically work with social change organizations to help individuals get access to the opportunities they need to improve their lives.

The nonprofit consultants at the Bridgespan Group primarily work with social change organizations.

Their services include:

  • Growth Support: If your nonprofit is growing and would like to understand how to serve more people in the best possible way, The Bridgespan Group can help.

  • Strategy Refinement: This organization can help you make sure you’re making all the right moves to use your resources effectively.

  • Network Optimization: The Bridgespan Group can empower you to work with affiliates and members of your industry’s network to get the best possible results.

14. Bristol Strategy Group - Productive Fundraising Consulting

Founded by Ellen Bristol in 1995, The Bristol Strategy Group believes that fundraisers can learn a thing or two from the sales world. With its own unique methodology, the Bristol Strategy Group can help your organization overcome the inefficiencies that hold you back from fundraising success.

The Bristol Strategy Group is another recommended fundraising consulting firm that roots its methodology in sales best practices.

Their services include:

  • Leaky Bucket Assessments: The Bristol Strategy Group’s assessments provide a deep dive into your current fundraising approaches, technologies, and results, to help you understand where your strategy is springing a leak.

  • The SMART Way Methodology: This firm’s unique SMART Way method encompasses a variety of services, from prospect research to performance tracking and pipeline management and reporting.

15. Marc Pitman - Nonprofit Training Consultant

Fundraising expert Marc Pitman is the face of The Fundraising Coach and Concord Leadership Group. Pitman uses his expertise to train your team in fundraising best practices, empowering you to gain the necessary knowledge to improve your nonprofit’s operations.

Marc Pitman is a recommended nonprofit consultant who specializes in training.

Pitman’s services include:

  • Training Courses: Pitman has developed a wide selection of training courses, which you can use DIY-style or that Pitman himself can guide you through.

  • Speaking Engagements: You can book Pitman as a speaker for a one-off event or a conference, where he will present a high-energy presentation that re-invigorates your team and helps you generate new ideas for moving your mission forward.

  • Board Retreats: Through courses like “Boards 101,” Pitman can teach your top leaders their appropriate roles and how to increase their effectiveness.

16. Aspire Research Group - Fundraising Research Consulting

The Aspire Research Group helps nonprofits strengthen relationships with donors. Through the exploration of donor data, they’ll help you improve how you’re raising money so that you can get closer to accomplishing your mission.

Aspire Research Group is another recommended fundraising consulting firm.

Their services include:

  • Boutique Research: This firm’s in-house research team can turn prospect profiles into actionable next steps so you know which prospects to pursue to achieve your goals.

  • Major Gifts Strategies: Through a la carte style or ongoing support, The Aspire Research Group can assist you in securing the major donor information that can lead to successful fundraising asks.

  • Prospect Research: If you want to train in-house staff in prospect research, The Aspire Research Group also offers the Prospect Research Institute, where you can find step-by-step, convenient training opportunities.

17. Pennington & Company - Fraternity and Sorority Fundraising Consultants

Pennington & Company is a recognized leader in the world of fraternity and sorority fundraising. If your chapter is looking to raise money for a new member house or to improve alumni communications, this is the consulting firm for you.

Pennington & Company provides development consulting services to fraternities and sororities.

Their services include:

  • Fundraising Consulting: The Pennington & Company team can help you with feasibility studies, capital campaign planning, data mining, and prospect research.

  • Alumni Engagement and Communications: This firm knows that alumni engagement is essential for every fraternity and sorority chapter. That’s why Pennington & Company provides newsletter creation services and member management to help members stay within your chapter’s reach.

  • Website Development: The Pennington & Company website platform will set you up to streamline all of your digital communication efforts, from your events calendar to your alumni directory.

18. Jitasa - Nonprofit Accounting Consulting

Jitasa is a team of nonprofit accounting experts. This firm recognizes the unique financial needs of nonprofits, is dedicated solely to working with nonprofit clients, and can help you get your finances in order.

Jitasa provides nonprofit consulting specific to nonprofit accounting solutions.

Their services include:

  • Bookkeeping and Accounting: This team can assist with any aspect of bookkeeping and accounting, including expense reports and budget creation, which will help you kickstart sustainable growth.

  • Tax Filings: It’s no secret that nonprofit taxes are a little tricky, so relying on experts is critical. Jitasa can complete your Form 990 and your state filings.

  • Advisory: Tapping into the expertise of a team of former CFOs from nonprofits around the U.S., Jitasa is there to work out your toughest problems, using technology to help you prepare for the future.

19. Brian Lacy and Associates - Donor Data Consultants

Brian Lacy and Associates is committed to helping your nonprofit increase its capacity to fundraise. This firm works with nonprofits focused on higher education, healthcare, religion, and community. They provide solutions for any budget size.

Brian Lacy and Associates is another recommended nonprofit consulting firm.

Their services include:

  • Wealth Screening: With wealth screening and prospect research services, this team will position you to find new fundraising prospects and secure major donations.

  • Data Cleansing: Keep your database accurate with the Brian Lacy and Associates team, who can assist in everything from correcting addresses to enriching donor profiles with email and cell phone number information.

  • Matching Gifts: This firm can help your nonprofit create and grow its matching gift program, so you can tap into extra funds without asking donors to reach back into their wallets.

20. Whole Whale - Digital Marketing Consultants

Whole Whale is a digital marketing agency that uses data and technology to help nonprofits and social good companies fully leverage their digital tools. They have a variety of offerings, including online courses and a product that helps you test web pages for inclusivity.

Whole Whale provides digital marketing consulting for nonprofits.

Their services include:

  • Digital Impact and Web Analytics: Using Google Analytics, the Whole Whale team can measure how your nonprofit’s audience interacts with your website so you can maximize conversions.

  • Google Ad Grant Management: Whole Whale is part of the Ad Grant Certified Professionals Community, which means their team can get you up and running with the Google Ad Grant and avoid suspension.

  • SEO Marketing: If you’re looking to drive more traffic to your website, Whole Whale can teach you to write valuable web content that attracts attention from your audience and search engines.

In essence, a consultant provides guidance on new techniques and your underlying strategies in the broader context of your organization’s structure, health, and capacity. Their insights and plans can then be directed toward growing your fundraising capacity and improving other processes to spur long-term growth.

Common challenges nonprofit consultants resolve

Barriers to growth aren’t always located within your fundraising strategies or funding process. A nonprofit development consultant can pinpoint problems that your team might be unaware of, has grown too accustomed to, or simply didn’t realize are problems at all. These might include:

  • Issues with board recruitment or motivation

  • Mission drift or irrelevance to new donors

  • Vague or undefined communication strategies

  • Poor internal structures or unclear chains of command

Scaling up your nonprofit’s operations involves more than simply increasing your capacity to raise money. Identifying and resolving any obstacles to that growth is the key to sustainable development. With expert insights and fresh perspectives on your operations, a nonprofit consultant will help you find these issues and develop strategies to solve them.

After all, true organizational growth requires a strengthened foundation to support and maintain it.

How do consultants help nonprofits?

Nonprofit development consultants analyze your operations, identify opportunities, and craft solutions with the ultimate goal of increasing your fundraising capacity and growing your organization. But what does that work look like?

In the course of their engagements with nonprofits, consultants might employ a number of strategies, like:

  • Financial consultations. A consultant can examine your funding mix and internal systems to determine its overall health and suggest any necessary changes to support organizational growth, such as leveraging corporate philanthropy or diversifying income streams.

  • Strategic communication support. A development consultant may help draft compelling proposals and case statements, refine your marketing strategies, and make your materials more visually engaging.

  • General analysis and recommendations. Nonprofit development consultants are invaluable resources because of their new perspectives on your funding flow, fundraising processes, and internal structures.

When learning about nonprofit consulting services, you might wonder, “Why don’t I just do this myself?” Few nonprofits, even those with dedicated development programs, have the ability to take such a critical and comprehensive look at themselves. The right nonprofit development consultant will have the expertise and fresh perspective to help your organization pinpoint opportunities and develop a full plan for growth.

An example of how consultants help nonprofits

Organizations usually hire a nonprofit development consultant when aiming to reach a new funding level. This stage requires extensive effort and broad strategic thinking, not limited to fundraising alone. Nonprofit development doesn’t call for a niche expert. Rather, a consultant with a wide range of experience in nonprofit funding, development, and prospecting is a much better bet.

For example, the Donorly team helped an organization scale up as it grew substantially. We worked with staff and leadership to professionalize the organization’s operations and increase its fundraising capacity. We kicked off a multi-year fundraising campaign, focusing first on cultivating existing donor relationships and expanding beyond that inner circle.

Long story short, we raised campaign funds, stabilized the organization’s annual fund, and identified new avenues for financial support. During the campaign, the nonprofit’s staff doubled in size, and the operating budget increased by 38%.

What makes a good nonprofit consultant?

Nonprofits do important work but face unique challenges. To help them succeed, nonprofit consultants need a mix of special skills and capabilities. A good nonprofit consultant brings value to an organization through several key qualities:

An effective nonprofit development consultant will offer these qualities, written out below.
  • A deep understanding of the nonprofit sector, including nonprofit operations and regulations for different types of nonprofits, from small grassroots entities to international NGOs

  • Passion for the sector and a genuine interest in advancing your nonprofit's mission

  • Proficiency in identifying funding opportunities, writing grant proposals, and executing fundraising campaigns based on what foundations and private donors are looking for

  • A network of corporate connections for the nonprofit's benefit, including facilitating partnerships, sponsorships, and corporate giving programs

  • The ability to create compelling content that communicates your nonprofit's brand, mission, and campaigns

  • Adaptability and innovative thinking, allowing them to adapt strategies as needed and propose innovative solutions to complex problems

  • Expertise in crafting and executing marketing and advertising strategies tailored to the nonprofit sector, including digital marketing, social media engagement, and advertising

Of course, the exact qualities you prioritize in a nonprofit consultant will depend on your needs. If you need help increasing revenue, proficiency in fundraising is essential. If you need help spreading awareness for your cause and its fundraisers, exceptional marketing and advertising skills may be your priority. However, some aspects such as passion and understanding of the sector are nonnegotiable.

How do you hire a nonprofit consultant?

Finding the right consultant for your nonprofit can be challenging, particularly if your team has limited experience with interviewing and hiring consultants. There are many possible ways to approach hiring a consultant, but common approaches include:

The hiring process for large projects

The first is how a nonprofit might hire a nonprofit consultant for a large campaign, such as a capital campaign:

These are the five steps to hiring a nonprofit consultant, written out below.
  1. Define your needs. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your current strategies with your board and other top leadership. Securing buy-in on working with a consultant will keep everyone on the same page. Remember to define your budget for working with a consultant and set goals for the relationship.

  2. Develop an RFP. A request for proposal (RFP) is a document that helps nonprofits communicate their needs and expectations to a consultant. Using your RFP, a consultant can pitch a strategy tailored to your organization’s needs.

  3. Begin your search. Identify potential consultants by using directories, searching online (including on lists like the one above!), and asking professional colleagues for recommendations.

  4. Reach out and submit RFPs. Call or email the consultants you’re interested in working with. Then, submit your RFP with a specific due date (such as two weeks) for when you’d like the completed proposal. You can also request a list of references from the potential consultant.

  5. Review proposals and make your pick. After receiving proposals from potential consultants, assemble a team to review those proposals and consultants’ references. One or two proposals will likely stand out, and you should reach out to those consultants to workshop any logistical changes. After you’ve found a nonprofit consulting firm you want to work with, reach out to hammer out the logistics of your engagement. Sign a contract and get to work!

The hiring process for small projects

For smaller projects, the process is fairly similar to the five steps above, albeit less formal and structured. Here’s how it might go:

  1. You contact the consultant you’re interested in working with. You may submit an RFP or a list of initial questions for the consultant to consider.

  2. The consultant sets up a discovery meeting with you to explore the possibility of working together.

  3. If both sides agree to proceed, the nonprofit development consultant will either draft a proposal for further discussion or collect additional information for a future proposal.

  4. Then, both parties meet again to refine the proposal and begin working together.

Want a deeper dive into the process of hiring a consultant? Our guide to hiring a fundraising consultant covers it in detail!

What does a consultant charge?

As with any specialized consulting service, nonprofit consulting requires a fully customized approach. Therefore, the final costs for a consultant’s services will vary greatly depending on your organization’s goals, timeframe, and budget.

The pricing structure for your chosen firm will play a major role in determining the final cost for your project. Nonprofit consultants typically price their services in the following ways:

A chart of common pricing models for nonprofit consultants, written below
  • Customized per-project flat fees: A set fee is agreed upon for the entire project and tailored to its specific requirements.

  • Flat monthly or annual fees for retained services: A consistent fee is paid either monthly or annually for ongoing consulting services.

  • Hourly pricing for scheduled support: Charges are based on the actual hours of consulting support provided and are scheduled in advance.

Certain types of nonprofit consultants favor one pricing structure over another. For instance, capital campaign consultants typically work on a per-project basis, while fundraising consultants managing an organization’s annual giving program might bill monthly for ongoing services.

As you begin researching, remember that clearly understanding your goals can help prospective consultants provide you with more precise quotes and prices. For instance, tell the consultant upfront if you have a strict budget. That way, you can collaborate to determine if you are a good financial fit without wasting time in your search.

How do you make the most of working with a nonprofit consultant?

When hiring an outside expert to guide your nonprofit’s development, you’ll need to actively participate to maximize the relationship’s impact.

Work with your consultant to set actionable goals for the engagement. Your nonprofit development consultant can identify and resolve funding challenges and operational issues. However, without a main goal for growth, you risk having scattered solutions with no solid plan for increasing funding and capacity. Data from your CRM or prospect research tools will be essential for establishing specific nonprofit development goals that are actionable and achievable.

Maximizing the benefits of a nonprofit consultant also means establishing a genuine partnership. Choose a consultant who is receptive to feedback and can tailor ideas to your organization's unique needs. At the end of the day, a good consultant will prioritize your nonprofit's interests and be collaborative in their approach.

Wrapping Up

Working with a nonprofit consultant is wise for any nonprofit looking to scale up its operations and improve its internal processes. Use this guide to nail down your understanding of nonprofit consulting, and leverage the list of recommended firms to begin your research.

Remember, no matter how you approach your next development challenge, you should partner with a nonprofit development consultant who takes the time to craft a fully personalized strategy that draws from a wide range of resources and methods. This will set you on the path to success!

Looking for more information about improving your nonprofit’s operations? Check out these recommended resources:

The Donorly Team