12 Top Fundraising Consulting Firms [Rated and Reviewed]
Is your organization looking for expert advice to boost your fundraising efforts? Look no further than fundraising consulting firms! From fundraising campaigns to donor stewardship to professional training, nonprofit consulting firms offer critical assistance to organizations in need.
However, not all fundraising consultants are the same. Nearly every consulting firm has a particular area of expertise. After all, you wouldn’t go to a grant consultant when you need help for your crowdfunding campaign!
To help you find a consulting firm that fits your needs, we’ve created a list of our favorite fundraising consultants. Whether you need help with prospect research, fundraising software, or a capital campaign, you’re bound to find the right consulting firm from our comprehensive list.
| Fundraising Consulting Firm | Area(s) Of Expertise | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Aly Sterling Philanthropy | Capital campaigns, strategic planning, and executive searches | #1 |
| Getting Attention | Google Ad Grants | #2 |
| DNL OmniMedia | Web design and development, donor management, and data migration | #3 |
| Pursuant | Campaign marketing | #4 |
| Averill Fundraising Solutions | Leadership training, capital campaign direction, executive search | #5 |
| Donorly | Prospect and donor research | #6 |
| Grants Plus | Grant seeking | #7 |
| Greater Mission | Church and faith-based fundraising | #8 |
| Brian Lacy Associates | Annual giving consulting | #9 |
| Big Duck | Digital communications and team building | #10 |
| Westfall Gold | Event consulting and planning | #11 |
| Aspire Research Group | Prospect research and wealth screening | #12 |
Aly Sterling Philanthropy – Top Overall Fundraising Consulting Firm
Fundraising consulting firm overview
Aly Sterling Philanthropy is the leading fundraising consulting firm in the Midwest and has worked with organizations across the United States. Their team of consultants aims to provide viable solutions that nonprofits can seamlessly integrate into their current fundraising infrastructure.
In addition to finding the most sustainable solutions, Aly Sterling takes every organization’s specific needs into account so that no plan is the same.
Expert services
Among the many services that Aly Sterling Philanthropy provides, their consultants focus on four essential areas:
- Fundraising Solutions: The team at Aly Sterling conducts feasibility studies, which provide valuable supporter feedback and insights into donors’ giving behaviors. This is vital information to gather ahead of major campaigns.
- Strategic Planning: By focusing on bigger-picture challenges, these consultants can help you stick to your core goals and improve your organization’s infrastructure from the inside.
- Executive Search: If your organization is looking for expert professionals to join your team, Aly Sterling Philanthropy can help with every aspect of your search—from drafting a job description to managing interviews.
- Board Catalyst: Aly Sterling can conduct workshops to help energize and strengthen your board members. That way, your directors are prepared to take on any challenge that arises.
From fundraising to internal management, Aly Sterling’s supportive team is there to provide the assistance you need when you need it.
When to use this fundraising consulting firm
With such a wide range of services, Aly Sterling Philanthropy is a consulting firm that organizations of all shapes and sizes can use. If you’re looking to launch a capital campaign, their consulting team can help draft your case for support and conduct unbiased feasibility studies to ensure your success.
Why they made our top spot for overall services
Aly Sterling uses their unique Philanthropy Blueprint, a five-step process to better understand their clients’ needs. The process helps the consultants assess the areas where organizations need the most help and create a plan of action.
Consultants at Aly Sterling take the time to fully understand the organization before suggesting solutions so your nonprofit can rest assured knowing you’re receiving the best support possible.
Plus, Aly Sterling’s team will help you every step of the way, meaning they’ll guide you through implementing their strategies once they create a plan.
Getting Attention — Our Top Fundraising Consultant For Digital Marketing
Fundraising consulting firm overview
The Google Ad Grant gives nonprofits the ability to market themselves for free, but unfortunately, many nonprofits only use a fraction of their allocated $10,000 monthly ad grants. This is where digital marketing consultants like Getting Attention come in.
Getting Attention is a rising Google Ad Grant consultant that provides professional expertise to nonprofit organizations interested in applying for, maintaining, and re-activating their Google Ad Grant accounts.
Expert services
Getting Attention helps nonprofits with nearly every aspect of the Google Ad Grant, including:
- Application and eligibility check: Is your nonprofit ready to apply for the Google Ad Grant? Are you even eligible? Getting Attention will put in the legwork to assess your nonprofit’s eligibility and walk you through each step of the application process.
- Account hygiene: Managing your account, assessing ad campaigns, and cleaning up data all take time and knowledge. With Getting Attention, you can trust that your account is in the right hands to save you from getting bogged down by duplicate and outdated data.
- Keyword research: Marketing on Google is all about targeting the keywords your supporters are searching for, and Getting Attention will point you in the right direction.
- Account reactivation: Google Ad Grant accounts lapse and get suspended. Sometimes this is due to neglect or accidentally breaking one of Google’s guidelines, such as maintaining a 5% click-through rate. If your account is suspended, Getting Attention will get to the bottom of what went wrong and work with you to get your account back up and running.
Getting Attention also prides itself on being knowledgeable when it comes to the Google Ad Grant. If you have questions about this opportunity or aren’t quite sure how something on your account works, feel free to ask!
When to use this fundraising consulting firm
If you’re considering applying for the Google Ad Grant, need help managing your current account, or want to reactivate an old account, get in touch with Getting Attention for a free consultation.
DNL OmniMedia —Our Top Digital Fundraising Consulting Firm
Fundraising consulting firm overview
DNL OmniMedia is a nonprofit technology consulting firm that helps organizations optimize their tech stacks for digital fundraising.
These technology experts have experience with the two leading providers of robust nonprofit software, Blackbaud and Salesforce, as well as a variety of other software platforms. Whether it’s building a comprehensive nonprofit digital fundraising strategy or handling the migration to new CRM systems, the DNL team can optimize your technology to help your organization reach its fundraising goals.
Expert services
DNL OmniMedia can help your nonprofit with services that support your online fundraising efforts. This consulting firm’s services include:
- Nonprofit technical strategy: The DNL team can discover and fill holes in your current technology stack. This could mean managing the migration to a new CRM, integrating your current systems, or even creating a data management strategy going forward.
- Web development and compliance: Team DNL can help your organization create a website that’s accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, ensuring all donors can interact with it, regardless of ability.
- Nonprofit marketing: The DNL team can develop a marketing strategy for your organization, manage content, and even handle video and digital marketing.
- Specialized Blackbaud and Salesforce solutions: Whether tackling a complicated Salesforce for Nonprofits implementation or navigating the world of Blackbaud’s peer-to-peer tools, the DNL team can help you make the most of your software and provide long-term support.
DNL OmniMedia’s technology consulting services are wide-ranging. If your organization needs help implementing new software, maximizing your current system’s potential, or creating a custom solution, Team DNL is ready to help.
When to use this fundraising consulting firm
Organizations looking for custom technology solutions should seek help from DNL OmniMedia. Whether you need help migrating to a new CRM or developing a unique online experience, this consulting firm has the knowledge to help.
Pursuant
Fundraising consulting firm overview
Pursuant was founded to help nonprofits reach more supporters and raise more for their missions. Their fundraising consultants achieve this by better understanding their clients’ donors to provide advice tailored to their unique audiences.
With insight into your organization’s supporters, Pursuant seeks to help create long-term fundraising solutions.
Expert Services
Pursuant has a wide range of services that provide donors with data-driven solutions. Some of their services include:
- Motive-based research. Learn which donors to focus on with Pursuant’s in-depth research into giving trends across the country.
- Personalization. Connect with donors on an individual level to form long-lasting relationships. Pursuant helps nonprofits determine what details to focus on and how to keep in touch with their donors to inspire continued support.
- Customized reporting. Pursuant is all about data, and their team is ready to track the results of your efforts in detail to help you learn exactly who your donors are and why your campaigns performed the way they did.
Pursuant also offers other marketing services, such as direct mail and social media marketing. That way, they can provide a full suite of promotional tools.
When to use this fundraising consulting firm
Pursuant works with large nonprofit organizations in various markets, including ministries, hospitals, health and human services, and higher education.
Your organization should consider working with Pursuant if you want support in multiple areas.
Averill Fundraising Solutions
Fundraising consulting firm overview
With experience in every corner of the nonprofit sector, Averill Fundraising Solutions can be your go-to consultant for capital campaign consulting, no matter who or what you’re fundraising for.
The Averill leadership team has consulted with notable established nonprofits in the fields of education, healthcare, faith-based, human service, arts and culture, and civics.
Expert services
Since Averill is a full-service fundraising consulting firm, their expert services run the gamut from before your capital campaign begins to long-term strategy. Here’s an overview of their services:
- Campaign planning and feasibility studies: Before you send your capital campaign’s first donation solicitations, Averill will prep your team for success by assessing how prepared you are.
- Campaign direction: Whether you’re fundraising for your annual fund, a capital campaign, or another project, Averill will stay with you every step of the way to help your leadership make smart directorial decisions.
- Embedded staffing: Averill will provide staff for partners if you need more help on the ground from day to day. You can bring on Averill staff either in the interim during times of need or the long-term for assistance with training.
- Leadership learning and executive search: Looking for your new leadership team but don’t know where to start? Ready to refresh your executives and volunteers on industry best practices? Averill offers workshops, retreats, and assistance in developing a recruitment strategy.
Averill works hand-in-hand with its nonprofit partners. If you need a consultant right alongside you to complete your goals, the Averill team is ready.
When to use this fundraising consulting firm
Call Averill before you undertake your next capital campaign—that means before you even start your planning. From beginning to end, Averill will be with you every step of the way.
Donorly
Fundraising consulting firm overview
Donorly is a firm based in New York City with experience collaborating with nonprofits of all kinds to find efficient fundraising solutions and expand fundraising capacity.
Their emphasis on research allows them to revolutionize their nonprofit clients’ tactics for reaching out to donors and optimizing fundraising success.
Expert services
Donorly’s team is prepared to help your nonprofit by:
- Conducting prospect research. Which of your donors have the potential to power your major campaigns? Donorly’s prospect research subscriptions provide the information you need to cultivate high-value relationships with donors.
- Managing a capital campaign. A lot goes into a capital campaign, and Donorly is ready to help every step of the way, from the initial feasibility study to continued counseling.
- Providing interim staffing. Growing nonprofits are often in an in-between stage, where they need to build their fundraising team but aren’t quite ready for full-time staff. Donorly’s team can step in and fill core roles while your nonprofit hunts for the right permanent team members.
No matter why you partner with Donorly, they’ll use their research experience and collaborative values to help you achieve your goals.
When to use this fundraising consulting firm
If you’re ready to take your nonprofit’s prospect research strategy to the next level and improve your fundraising ability, reach out to Donorly for a consultation.
Grants Plus —Our Top Fundraising Consulting Firm for Grant Seeking
Fundraising consulting firm overview
Grants Plus is the national leader in nonprofit grants consulting. Since 2007, this fundraising consulting firm has helped its nonprofit partners secure more than $300 million in grant funding.
Grants Plus is the behind-the-scenes engine that powers charitable organizations’ grant-seeking efforts. With their proven track record and ample experience, their team understands the diverse challenges nonprofits face when seeking grants, including those during hectic times of crisis.
Expert services
Grants Plus is prepared to help your team develop a strategic grant-seeking plan through the following services:
- Comprehensive Grant Prospect Research: They’ll develop a comprehensive game plan for pursuing the right funders at the right times for the right purposes.
- Writing Winning Grant Proposals: Grants Plus’s consulting team will develop a detailed project plan, collect essential information, craft a competitive application package, and handle submission on your organization’s behalf.
- Reviewing and Improving Grant Proposals: When you craft your own proposals, Grants Plus will review and optimize your applications so that your nonprofit is as competitive as possible.
- Short-Term Management of the Grant Seeking Program: Grants Plus will step in to bridge the gap during staff transitions, furloughs, or any other changes in the grants office.
- Long-Term Management of the Grant Seeking Program: Get support for every aspect of your long-term grants campaign, including building a targeted grants calendar, getting advice on funder strategies, and crafting winning grant proposals.
- Training and Coaching: Grants Plus will design an interactive, customized training plan based on the type of support you need.
Using these services, organizations can boost their grants potential and unlock new levels of growth.
When to use this fundraising consulting firm
Grants play an important role in enabling your nonprofit to continue its valuable work. Reach out to the Grants Plus team to enhance your nonprofit’s grant acquisition strategy and start achieving your goals.
Greater Mission – Our Top Church Fundraising Consulting Firm
Fundraising consulting firm overview
Greater Mission is a fundraising consulting firm dedicated to serving churches and faith-based organizations. Their passion is to inspire faithful charity and help clients fulfill their potential.
Through 100+ years of combined experience, the Greater Mission team brings unparalleled understanding, focus, passion, and experience to the church fundraising space.
Expert services
Greater Mission’s professional team brings a deep understanding of church fundraising through a range of specialized services, such as:
- Strategic planning: Optimally allocate time, human capital, and financial resources. By following Greater Mission’s strategic planning process, churches and faith-based ministries can plan for the future and avoid taking unexpected risks.
- Capital campaigns: Greater Mission works alongside dioceses and parishes to develop effective capital campaign plans based on four primary stages: the organization phase, the leadership phase, the participation phase, and campaign continuation.
- Major gift fundraising: Develop well-planned and thoughtful major gift campaigns. Their team will help you better understand major gifts and how to implement a plan of vision and success.
- Feasibility studies: Get the information you need to determine your major campaigns’ goals and strategies and position your campaigns for success. Greater Mission’s approach to feasibility studies is designed to inform, inspire, engage, build ownership, and raise sights.
Religious-based nonprofits take a unique approach to fundraising, and Greater Mission has the experience to provide the informed advice you need.
When to use this fundraising consulting firm
Greater Mission works alongside religious organizations, dioceses, parishes, churches, and agencies to fund new and growing facilities and ministries. Reach out to learn more about how their focused services can empower your faith-based organization to achieve its goals.
Brian Lacy & Associates
Fundraising consulting firm overview
With over 30 years of data service experience, Brian Lacy & Associates has helped organizations maximize their fundraising potential and engage donors.
The consultants at BL&A have a mission to “help charities be better,” and they achieve this by providing organizations with strategies to improve their year-round fundraising efforts and research donors.
Expert services
This consulting firm focuses on two core service areas: annual fundraising and data tracking. Brian Lacy & Associates also offers a full list of services, including:
- Audits. To get proper help, you need to know what’s currently happening with your nonprofit. Get a detailed assessment of your nonprofit’s current practices to learn what’s working well and where you can improve.
- Strategy development. Brian Lacy & Associates provides annual giving consultations, meaning your nonprofit can get a thorough overview of your entire strategy and assistance planning for the coming year.
- Fundraising coaching. Invest in your nonprofit by investing in your team. Brian Lacy & Associates can train your board and staff to overcome challenges and feel more confident when fundraising.
Along with the services listed above, organizations can also receive prospect screenings and get access to multiple lists of potential donors.
When to use this fundraising consulting firm
Brian Lacy & Associates serves organizations focused on healthcare, higher education, and religious missions. If your organization is looking for a way to boost your annual fund and create fundraising initiatives for the entire year, this consulting firm is right for your organization.
Big Duck
Fundraising consulting firm overview
Big Duck is a fundraising consulting firm that focuses on helping nonprofits raise money through effective communication.
This team works with nonprofits to craft the perfect outreach strategy through attractive branding, campaign management, and training.
Expert services
There are three main service areas that Big Duck helps organizations with:
- Branding: Big Duck works with your organization to create a cohesive brand. They can also help boost your social media presence to build awareness.
- Campaign strategy: Whether you need to raise awareness or money, Big Duck can help create an effective fundraiser. Their consultants will develop a campaign from the ground up so you can reach your goals.
- Team Building: Big Duck helps organizations train their staff and equip them with the right tools to raise money and communicate with donors properly.
Create a strong brand identity that supporters will remember with the help of Big Duck.
When to use this fundraising consulting firm
If your organization is looking to overhaul its fundraising brand or improve outreach, Big Duck offers the services to help you. They work with organizations in education, healthcare, and arts and culture.
Westfall Gold
Fundraising consulting firm services
Westfall Gold’s signature strategy is the major donor event. Through a combination of research and experience, this fundraising consulting firm has helped nonprofit organizations plan and execute large-scale events.
When nonprofits want to connect with their major donors, Westfall Gold can help them create a multi-day event.
Expert services
Westfall Gold goes beyond just booking a venue; they’ll help power your event from start to finish through the following services:
- Major donor consulting. Get help for every part of your major donor program, from initial prospect screenings to designing your fundraising pitches.
- Event logistics. Events need more than just a venue. Westfall Gold can coordinate catering services, contract negotiations, hotel bookings, on-site management, and more.
- Video production. Take your marketing efforts to the next level by letting Westfall Gold help you produce videos that tell your nonprofit’s unique story. These videos can be used to promote events, sent to donors as thank-you messages, or played during events to entertain guests.
When you work with Westfall Gold, you’ll be partnered with a senior consultant who will guide you through every step of the process and ensure your event runs smoothly.
When to use this fundraising consulting firm
Partnering with Westfall Gold is a good option for larger organizations that need extensive help creating a large, multi-day event.
Aspire Research Group
Fundraising consulting firm overview
Aspire Research Group specializes in prospect research and wealth screening to help organizations identify donors with the capacity to give.
This consulting firm sticks to three core values to help provide the best services to your organization: think like a fundraiser, pursue growth and learning, and be passionate and determined.
Expert services
Aspire Research Group offers a ton of services related to donor data, including:
- Identifying prospects. Looking for an active partner to help with your prospect research? Aspire provides in-depth research on nonprofits’ major giving prospects with the most potential.
- Creating a stewardship strategy. Once you identify major giving prospects, you need to build relationships with them. Aspire can help your team create donor cultivation plans that steadily move major donors through the giving process.
- Implementing a donor management plan. Ensure your major giving strategy is built to last. Aspire assists nonprofits in developing their major giving practices, enabling nonprofits to keep their programs going strong even when they take on new major gift officers or experience turnover.
Along with the features mentioned above, they also provide custom solutions to meet your nonprofit’s specific needs.
When to use this fundraising consulting firm
Nonprofits of all shapes and sizes can seek help from Aspire Research Group. If you’re interested in gaining deeper insights into your donors and pinpointing key prospects, this firm is a great option.
There’s a lot to learn about fundraising consulting firms, including knowing how to find a firm, navigating partnerships, and answering the question of whether you even need consulting services. Do your research to ensure your nonprofit makes the most of these valuable partnerships.
If you want more information about fundraising consultants, check out these awesome additional resources:
- How a Fundraising Consultant Can Rock Your Strategy: In case you’re wondering what a fundraising consultant can do for your nonprofit, check out these eight areas that fundraising consultants can help you with. You’ll be surprised by all the ways they can assist your cause.
- 6 Ways to Raise Money for Your Capital Campaign: One of the most popular ways fundraising consulting firms can help organizations is with the planning and execution of a capital campaign. Before hiring a consultant, look at our expert tips to help you raise more.
- Hiring a Fundraising Consultant: 12 Essential Tips: Now that you’ve reached the end of our list of top fundraising consultant firms, you’re probably wondering what the next step is. This comprehensive guide will lead you through the entire process of hiring a fundraising consultant.
