ten questions to ask before hiring a nonprofit consultant

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Ten Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Nonprofit Consultant Laura Gassner Otting, Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group Emily Davis, MNM, EDA Consulting Use Twitter Hashtag #npweb Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

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Choosing a nonprofit consultant can be tricky business – look before you leap! Having the right process for searching for and selecting a consultant for your organization will save time and money. Identifying your needs, finding a credible and capable consultant, and finding the funds are all significant concerns in choosing the right individual or firm. Hear two nonprofit consultants discuss the questions they want their clients to ask before starting in on any project.

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Page 1: Ten Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Nonprofit Consultant

Ten Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Nonprofit Consultant

Laura Gassner Otting, Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group

Emily Davis, MNM, EDA Consulting

Use Twitter Hashtag #npweb

Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

Page 2: Ten Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Nonprofit Consultant

A Proud Sponsor of NonprofitWebinars.com

Helping ordinary people raise extraordinary amounts for nonprofits is all we do, and we love it.

Page 3: Ten Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Nonprofit Consultant

Today’s Speakers

Emily Davis, MNM EDA Consulting

Hosting: Sam Frank, Synthesis Partnership Assisting with chat questions: Chris Dumas, FirstGiving

Laura Gassner Otting Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group

Page 4: Ten Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Nonprofit Consultant

Hiring a Consultant: The Equation

Page 5: Ten Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Nonprofit Consultant

Determine Your Vision • Why are we hiring a consultant?

• What are our needs?

• Are the board and staff in agreement that we need a consultant?

• What are the outcomes we are hoping for when working with the consultant?

Page 6: Ten Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Nonprofit Consultant

Identify Your Resources • Are we prepared for the cost of hiring and

working with a consultant?

• Do we understand the long-term benefits of working with a consultant?

• How will partnering with a consultant enhance our long-term capacity?

Page 7: Ten Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Nonprofit Consultant

Set Timeline and Scope

• Are we clear on our deliverables for the project?

• Do we have realistic expectations?

• Do we have the time and energy to provide the consultant what s/he needs in order to be successful?

Page 8: Ten Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Nonprofit Consultant

Understand Your Rights • Know what the next steps are if the

engagement goes south, but understand how the consultant will prevent that from happening.

• Ask to meet the whole team first.

• Seek to understand the theory behind the fee structure.

Page 9: Ten Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Nonprofit Consultant

Ask the Right Questions •  Think about what you really want to

know. Are you asking stock questions or deeper, more probing questions?

• Don’t just accept the answer given, but follow up with additional questions, and then confirm with references.

• Ask what else you should have asked.

Page 10: Ten Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Nonprofit Consultant

Resources

http://www.NonprofitProfessionals.com

http://www.edaconsultingcafe.blogspot.com

Page 11: Ten Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Nonprofit Consultant

Find the listings for our current season of webinars and register at

NonprofitWebinars.com

Chris Dumas [email protected]

707-812-1234

Special Thanks To Our Sponsors