Title of the post, 10+ Top Fundraising Consulting Firms: Find the Best Partner!

10+ Top Fundraising Consulting Firms: Find the Best Partner!

If you needed new brakes or a root canal, you probably wouldn’t try to take care of those problems on your own. In situations like these, you’d turn to an expert, like a mechanic or dentist. Similarly, when your nonprofit organization has a problem it can’t solve on its own, your best bet is to turn to a nonprofit consulting firm!

Nonprofit consultants assist organizations in various areas, from human resources to digital strategy development to financial management and more. But one of the most common types of consulting nonprofits seek is fundraising consulting.

Not every fundraising consulting firm is the same—each has a particular focus area, expertise, and approach to helping their nonprofit partners reach their goals. To help you find a consulting firm that fits your needs, we’ve created this guide to help you get familiar with your top options and the hiring process. We’ll cover:

As you explore this guide, consider your organization’s fundraising needs and the characteristics you want to see in your fundraising consulting partner. This will pay off as you start reaching out to consulting firms you’re interested in working with.

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Understanding Fundraising Consulting Firms: The Basics

What does a fundraising consulting firm do?

A fundraising consulting firm empowers nonprofits like yours to maximize their fundraising potential, which can ultimately help you get closer to accomplishing your big-picture mission. In general, consulting firms accomplish this by:

  • Providing guidance for building effective fundraising strategies
  • Assisting in planning and executing engaging and lucrative fundraising campaigns
  • Helping nonprofits develop long-lasting relationships with donors

Some nonprofit fundraising consultants are more hands-on than others. For example, some will take over the process of conducting prospect research or carrying out a capital campaign for you, while others will provide support to your internal team and help you learn new skills.

Common Fundraising Consulting Firm Services

No two fundraising consulting firms are alike—every consultant has a different specialty and approach to helping their clients achieve their fundraising goals, as you’ll see in the list of top firms below.

Here are some common services and offerings you can expect to see as you research potential partners:

  • Fundraising strategy development
  • Campaign planning and management for capital campaigns and annual fundraising
  • Campaign feasibility studies
  • Prospect and donor research
  • Grant writing and grant management
  • Training in areas like fundraising and donor relations
  • Major donor cultivation and stewardship
  • Planned giving program assistance
  • Fundraising technology consulting
  • Marketing and donor communications strategy development
  • Board engagement and development
  • Event planning and management

Most consultants will offer several of these services, so as you consider who you might like to work with, try to think ahead to services you might want to tap into in the future. This way, you can develop a strong relationship with your fundraising consulting firm and turn to them for assistance again and again.

How much do fundraising consulting services cost?

In general, consultants usually price their services in one of these three ways:

  • By the hour: Consultants often charge an hourly fee for simpler projects that don’t require as much hands-on involvement on their part.
  • By the project: This allows your organization to pay a fixed fee for a specific project that takes place over a set period of time.
  • On a retainer basis: This typically involves paying a fixed monthly fee to retain the consultant’s services for a set amount of time.

No matter the pricing model, the total cost of consulting services will vary based on the project you need help with, how long that project will take, and your consultant’s level of experience. Be sure to ask about pricing up front as you meet with potential consultants.

What to Look for in a Fundraising Consultant

As you begin connecting with potential consulting partners, you’ll not only want to evaluate their services, pricing, and unique approach to your project, but also determine how well you’ll work together. Here are some characteristics that can help you assess whether a consultant is a good fit for your organization:

  • Genuine interest in your cause: Your consultant should be invested in driving results for your particular mission, even if your organization is new to them.
  • Relevant experience: If your consultant promises to provide expert capital campaign assistance, for example, they should have plenty of experience planning or running capital campaigns.
  • Proven track record: Similarly, your consultant should have a strong track record in their area of expertise. Most consultants will provide you with case studies or references to contact so you can learn about their past work for yourself.
  • Innovative approach: You’re turning to a consultant to tackle problems or projects that your nonprofit couldn’t manage on its own, so ensure your consultant has a fresh, innovative way of addressing your organization’s needs and is up-to-date on the latest fundraising trends.
  • Great communication skills: Frequent and effective communication will be key when working with a consultant. Be sure to identify each other’s communication styles and make clear plans for how you’ll stay in touch throughout your project.
  • Adaptability: You don’t want to work with a fundraising consultant who declares, “It’s my way or the highway.” You know your organization best, and your consultant should be flexible enough to adjust their approach and recommendations to meet your needs. They should also be able to adjust their strategies should changes or additional needs arise during the course of your engagement.
  • Integrity: In many situations, fundraising consultants need to be privy to sensitive information or access secure donor data. Ensure your chosen consultant holds themself to the highest standards of integrity to help protect your organization and those it serves.

Top Fundraising Consulting Firms to Consider for Your Organization

Fundraising Consulting FirmArea(s) Of ExpertiseRanking
Aly Sterling PhilanthropyCapital campaigns, strategic planning, and executive searches#1
Getting AttentionGoogle Ad Grants#2
DNL OmniMediaWeb design and development, donor management, and data migration#3
Pursuant
Campaign marketing#4
Averill Fundraising SolutionsLeadership training, capital campaign direction, executive search#5
DonorlyProspect and donor research#6
Grants PlusGrant seeking#7
Greater MissionChurch and faith-based fundraising#8
Brian Lacy AssociatesAnnual giving consulting#9
Big DuckDigital communications and team building#10
Westfall GoldEvent 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. 

Aly Sterling is a full-service consulting firm with a whole host of nonprofit services.

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.

The Philanthropy Blueprint is a 6-step process that Aly Sterling consultants use to asses nonprofits.

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 Google Ad Grant Management

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. 

Getting Attention is the best fundraising consultant for nonprofits interested in the Google Ad Grant.

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 to improve everything from digital fundraising and marketing to data management and advocacy.

Team DNL’s experts are well-versed in the leading providers of robust nonprofit software, Blackbaud and Salesforce, as well as a variety of other popular platforms. Whether you need to build a comprehensive digital fundraising strategy, migrate to a new CRM system, or build custom integrations between multiple tools, Team DNL can optimize your technology to help your organization reach its fundraising goals.

Screenshot of the DNL website homepage

Expert services

DNL OmniMedia’s goal is to ensure your technology solutions help, not hinder, your fundraising efforts. This firm’s consulting services include:

  • Nonprofit technology strategy: Team DNL can identify and fill holes in your current technology stack. This could mean helping you implement a data warehouse, training your team to take full advantage of all your CRM has to offer, or creating a data management strategy for your organization.
  • Website design: DNL OmniMedia understands that a great-looking and functional website is the foundation of a successful digital fundraising strategy. Their team can handle all parts of the web design process, from initial architecture and design to content migration, quality assurance testing, and ongoing maintenance.
  • Nonprofit marketing: Team DNL will help you design your marketing strategy and can assist with several aspects of outreach, like email marketing campaigns, content creation, and search engine optimization (SEO).
  • Specialized Blackbaud and Salesforce solutions: Whether you’re tackling the implementation of a Salesforce CRM or navigating the world of Blackbaud’s fundraising tools, Team DNL can help you make the most of your software and provide long-term support.

DNL OmniMedia also offers CRM and data management services, advocacy assistance, data analysis, and web analytics services. No matter your specific technology needs, Team DNL is ready to help!

When to use this fundraising consulting firm

If your technology is holding your organization back from achieving its goals in any of its operations, especially fundraising, you should seek help from DNL OmniMedia.

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.

Learn more about the consulting services at Pursuant.

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.

Averill Fundraising Solutions are fundraising consultants who can help with leadership and campaign direction.

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.

Screenshot of the Donorly website

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.

Screenshot of the Grants Plus website

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.

Screenshot of the Greater Mission website

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.

Brian Lacy and Associates can help your nonprofit with online solicitation efforts.

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.

Big Duck is one of the top fundraising consultants for nonprofits.

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.

The fundraising Consultants at Westfall Gold can help plan and manage your 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.

Screenshot of the Aspire Research Group website

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.

How to Find the Best Fundraising Consultant Partner for Your Nonprofit

Now that you’re familiar with what fundraising consulting firms do and some of the top providers out there, you’re probably wondering what the process of finding the best partner for your organization looks like.

Here are the essential steps to find and hire the right fit for your nonprofit’s needs:

This image and the text below describe the steps to hiring a fundraising consultant.

  • Define your needs. Why does your nonprofit need to hire a fundraising consultant? Answering this question and determining your goals for working with an outside expert sets you up for a successful search. You may determine that your entire fundraising strategy needs an overhaul or want help with a specific project, such as leveling up your annual fundraising efforts.
  • Ensure alignment with your board. Everyone at your organization should be on board with your plan to hire a fundraising consultant and the goals of your project before you move forward, especially because consulting services require an investment on your organization’s part. Get your plans approved by your board early on to reduce friction during the rest of the hiring process.
  • Set guidelines. Outline guidelines for your project or general consulting engagement. Finalize your budget, decide on a start date, sketch out a flexible timeline, and determine what results you’re hoping to achieve from working with your consultant.
  • Create a request for proposal (RFP). An RFP is a document that lays out your needs and guidelines for working with a fundraising consultant. Most consultants accept these documents and use them to create proposals that communicate how they would assist your organization in achieving its goals or solving its problems.
  • Research consulting firms. Conduct internet searches, read reviews, browse top provider lists like the one above, and ask colleagues in the nonprofit space for recommendations to find potential consulting partners. Make a list of consultants you’re interested in reaching out to.
  • Review candidates. Review the list of consultants you’re interested in working with, involving team members who will be working with the consultant once they’re hired. Make contact and conduct initial conversations with the consultants you’re most excited about. Then, send your top candidates your RFP and give them a reasonable timeline for getting back to you with a proposal.
  • Review proposals. After you receive candidates’ proposals, review them with your team. You may also hold a round of proposal presentations with the fundraising consultants who prepared them. This gives you a chance to review the proposal together, ask questions, and get a feel for the consultant and their working style.
  • Choose your partner and get to work! Once you’ve found a fundraising consulting firm that you want to work with, let them know you’re ready to hire them. Your teams can then meet and align on the start date for the project. After that, you’re ready to get started working together!

Working with a fundraising consulting firm can be a transformative experience for your team as you discover new ways to design fundraising appeals, engage donors, and promote your campaigns. As you look for your ideal fundraising consulting partner, keep your specific needs top of mind and conduct careful research to find the best fit for your team.

In the meantime, check out these additional resources for more insights into fundraising and fundraising consulting:

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