Consultant Resources
There are many questions that a nonprofit should consider before hiring a consultant. While first determining whether contracting outside expertise is necessary and for what purpose it will be used are the most obvious considerations, how to identify, how to hire and how to manage the working relationship with a consultant are also important to long-term impact and success. Below is a list of resources addressing these issues, organized from the most general to the most specific. We encourage you to use them as you consider your use of consulting services.
What's a Consultant?
A short article that provides several definitions of the consulting profession and responds to some common myths about the nature of consulting. (This article is approximately 1 page.)
Generalist or Specialist? Which do I consult?
This resource offers a working definition of consultants who are either generalist or specialist in nature: what the key distinctions between them are and how to identify whether one or the other is best for you.(This article is approximately 3 pages.)
Guidelines for Choosing the Right Consultant
This short piece provides a bulleted list of questions to consider before hiring a consultant, ranging from the specific tasks the consultant will undertake and the professional qualities sought, to identifying your organization’s needs. (This article is approximately 2 pages.)
The Ethics of Consulting Fees
From the perspective of a national professional association for fundraisers, this article offers a clearly outlined argument against percentage-based compensation that expands upon how such an arrangement can become a conflict of interest. (This article is approximately 3 pages.)
Other Area Nonprofit Consultant Databases
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