Blackbird Non-Profit Performance Consulting
You work so incredibly hard and yet it's not quite enough. Nonprofit administrators face endless constraints while fighting for resources to save and heal the lives of the people you serve. You wear multiple hats, but you cannot simply wear all the hats. We strive to offer a fresh perspective and high-level skills in fundraising, administration, communications, public relations, marketing, and grantwriting that even the most staffed organizations simply cannot do alone.
Nonprofits are historically chronically understaffed and this isn't going to change anytime soon. We're here to lend a hand and to pitch in. We provide expertise, guidance, and support in critical areas of your operation so you can focus on being an all-star community leader. Instead of haphazardly wading into a situation where you don't quite feel comfortable, hire an expert to get the job done right.
You owe it to your stakeholders and donors to be good stewards of the funds they've invested in your programs. Don't let them down.
Hiring a nonprofit consultant will help you improve productivity, strengthen resources, avoided added employment and benefits costs associated with hiring a new full time staff member, and overall will help you produce better results. Keep reading, we've listed some projects when hiring a consultant may be most useful.
Nonprofits are historically chronically understaffed and this isn't going to change anytime soon. We're here to lend a hand and to pitch in. We provide expertise, guidance, and support in critical areas of your operation so you can focus on being an all-star community leader. Instead of haphazardly wading into a situation where you don't quite feel comfortable, hire an expert to get the job done right.
You owe it to your stakeholders and donors to be good stewards of the funds they've invested in your programs. Don't let them down.
Hiring a nonprofit consultant will help you improve productivity, strengthen resources, avoided added employment and benefits costs associated with hiring a new full time staff member, and overall will help you produce better results. Keep reading, we've listed some projects when hiring a consultant may be most useful.
Fundraising Coach
Grantwriting |
Special Events
501c3 Formation |
Communications
Consulting |
Why should you hire a consultant?
Your organization is considering a new fundraising strategy, but you want an independent perspective on how well it might work. You’re thinking of purchasing a donor database system, but you aren’t really sure that anyone on your staff has the expertise to make the right choice. You need an extensive research paper written, but you don’t want to bring in additional staff for what is likely to be a short-term project. Consultants can be used to free up time for managers and directors or provide expertise that the organization lacks. Here are some other reasons why a nonprofit might choose to hire a consultant:
- Start or fix a fundraising or capital campaign
- Identify problems in an organization and help solve them
- Research new trends, obstacles, or events and assess their potential impact
- Train staff or volunteers in essential skills
- Help an organization’s managers reach their goals
- Develop new systems for conducting daily business or offering services
- Help train and recruit new board members
- Help set new goals and develop strategies for meeting them
- Find and install the best technology for a particular task
- Offer a fresh perspective on an organization’s strengths and problems
- Develop “messaging” for an organization
- Provide an independent perspective on a management decision
- Execute highly skilled work for a limited period of time
How much does it cost to hire a nonprofit consultant?
- Many people wonder if they could afford to hire a nonprofit performance consultant. Our answer is simple in many cases: you can't afford not to. Do you want to be the best leader possible? Do you want to spend all of your energy working toward you mission? Would you like to improve in areas where you feel you face more challenges? These are all good reasons to hire a consultant.
Rates and fees vary greatly among consultants locally and nationwide. Some consultants charge by the hour or provide a flat rate based on the project. It's really hard for us to give you an estimate of how much a project will cost until we dive deeper into the details. We know that's not exactly the answer you're looking for but it's an honest one. Some consultants charge per hour, some a flat rate, and others require a long-term monthly agreement with a contract.
Generally, a "one-off" short term project that involves highly skilled work on a very temporary, short-term basis (1 hour to 2 weeks) will cost a little more than an agreement where there is an ongoing, retainer-based relationship with guaranteed work over a longer period of time or for a larger project. If you hired Blackbird to completely manage, plan, and organize all aspects of an entire special event -- this would be charged as a flat fee rate on a payment structure that works for both parties. If you're looking to hire Blackbird for a short term project, you might end up having an agreement where our services are charged by the hour. Long story short, there's no one size fits all plan. Read more on our blog.
Some things you'll want to knock out of the way before you hire a team to pitch in at your organization:
- Know exactly why you need a consultant and what you want him/her to do
- Ask for word-of-mouth recommendations or consult professional associations
- Interview candidates to assess skills, experience, and fit with your organization
- Check references
- Determine fees and payment schedule
- Have a detailed written agreement
