5 Easy Steps: A Guide to Hiring a Fundraising Consultant

Hiring a fundraising consultant, while incredibly important, can be tricky. With so many firms and so many service packages, how can you tell which is the right choice for your nonprofit?

Well, don’t worry! We’ve broken the process down to 5 simple steps to help you figure it all out:

Understand your organizationRead up on consulting servicesUse your networkBe thorough throughout the hiring processCommunicate and sign

Read on to see our tips for hiring a fundraising consultant!

5. Communicate and sign

When you’ve decided on a consultant, your candidate’s proposal can act as a rough draft of their contract.

But you’ll need to discuss the details first:

Establish your expected communication and timeline.

When it comes to communication, you’ll need to establish your expectations and schedule biweekly or weekly meetings. Determine what your consultant should come to you to discuss and what they can make their own judgments on.

Be sure to regularly voice your concerns and ask questions, and invite your consultant to do the same.

Finalize your timeline so both parties know how long the project will take and how much of your consultant’s time will be dedicated to this account.

Determine how your consultant will be paid.

You’ll also need to discuss the costs of the contract. How will your nonprofit pay your consultant? You may be paying a flat fee, a retainer, or an hourly rate.

Make sure both you and your consultant are comfortable with the final decision or your partnership will fall short of its potential.

Finalize your goals and responsibilities.

Determine your nonprofit’s goals and responsibilities, along with your consultant’s responsibilities. It’s important to know how your consultant will collaborate with your nonprofit's internal operations.

You’ll also want to discuss tracking your project’s success and decide on which metrics to pay attention to.

The takeaway: Communication is key for a successful partnership with your consultant so you’ll need to be upfront and direct when establishing levels of communication and pay, as well as the goals both you and your consultant are responsible for.

The relationship your nonprofit has with your consultant will rely heavily on open communication, so make sure both you and your consultant understand your project’s needs and goals from the beginning.

Remember: a consultant is the missing link. You’re hiring a consultant for advice and help, which won’t be effective unless you share the reins. Trust that your consultant knows what they’re doing but don’t forget to take an active role in your fundraising, too.

The post 5 Easy Steps: A Guide to Hiring a Fundraising Consultant appeared first on FundraisingCoach.com.