the nonprofit consulting playbook
DESCRIPTION
Join Linda Lysakowski and Susan Schaefer for a discussion on optimizing your own fundraising consulting practice. This session is designed for consultants to the nonprofit sector who want to garner more clients and those who are thinking about consulting. You will learn how to work with clients and how to use human, financial and other resources as efficiently as possible. In particular, we will focus on the many options available to grow, reinvent or reinvigorate your business given your changing needs and interests. Explore down-to-earth, practical experience from two consultants, with a combined 30+ years of experience. The goal of the session will be to stress the many ways in which a nonprofit consulting practice can be successful. Participants will hear about several ways to achieve each of these goals: * Building a robust client base * The many ways to address staffing structures * Options for starting, growing, or reinventing your businessTRANSCRIPT
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The Nonprofit Consulting Playbook
!3/13, 2014 1pm EST
Your Presenters3
POLLHow long have you been consulting? More than one year Six months to one year Less than six months Just thinking about it
WHY CONSULTING?Better hours?More pay?Freedom to set your own schedule?Ability to work at home?Variety of work?
ARE YOU CUT OUT TO BE A CONSULTANT?
EMPLOYMENT LIFE
Teamwork Stable paychecks Multi-tasking Focus on one mission Schedule predictability Firm schedule
CONSULTING LIFE
Independence Income instability Wide-ranging multi-tasking Multiple clients Long, often strange hours Flexibility
WHAT KIND OF CONSULTANT WILL YOU BE?
Single focused: writing, grants management, foundation relations?
Full service: grants broadly, fundraising generally?Ultimate business model: sole proprietor, small business, large
firm?Single focus clients: human service, the arts, education?Client size: large, medium, smaller organizations?Client geography: local, national, international?
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO WORK?
HOME OFFICE
Ever-present workplace Casual dress Budget-friendly No commute time !Another option: the virtual office
“REAL” OFFICE
Prestige Meeting space for clients Few distractions
HOW DO YOU WANT TO STRUCTURE YOUR COMPANY?
Sole proprietorshipPartnershipLLCCorporation (C or S)
LEGAL ISSUES YOU NEED TO KNOW
State registrationIRS regulations about contractor versus employeeTax lawsLiability issues
MARKETING YOUR BUSINESSYour websiteCollateral materialsSocial mediaProfessional organizationsNetworkingAdvertisingSpeakingWriting
Personal expensesHealth careRetirementSavings Start-up costsTravelExperienceCompetition
Hourly Daily
Project-based Retainer
SETTING FEES
SURVIVING AND THRIVING
Being flexibleMentors and coachesAdding/eliminating/changing servicesTaking on or becoming an associate
Questions?
THANK YOU!For more information, see The Nonprofit Consulting Playbook:
Winning Strategies from 25 Leaders in the Field !Consultant to Consultant: Hourly, customized, one-on-one coaching for aspiring, new, and veteran consultants.!Email us to learn more: [email protected]
Next Webinar: !
Best Foot Forward:Avoiding Common Capital Campaign Mistakes
!4/24 1pm EST
!Brent A Hafele, M.A.
!https://bloomerang.co/resources/webinars/