The Mystery in the Online Procurement of Nonprofit Consultants

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

by David Kassel

Many nonprofits need help with strategic planning and other managerial functions; and there are many management consultants out there willing to help them.  Yet,  nonprofits rarely seem to post online advertisements for management consultants – or consultants of any type, for that matter.  At the same time, there are many websites available on which nonprofits post advertisements for full-time jobs in their organizations.

Why is there a difference in the way nonprofits select full-time staff and consultants; and is this a potential problem?  I examine this mystery in this article and end with three recommendations intended to standardize the selection process for both consultants and full-time staff, and thereby improve the quality of the work that gets done.

Best Kept Secret: CharityChannel

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

by Norman Olshansky

 It seems strange to me that one of the best resources for nonprofit leaders and professionals, has such a low profile...

Professional Development Through Peer Engagement

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

by Norman Olshansky

True professionals are always looking for ways to improve their practice, to be more effective and to keep abreast of new trends which could affect their work. Nonprofit professional work can often be lonely, with few opportunities to exchange ideas with others who have similar backgrounds and responsibilities. While there are many online networks and professional associations, they are usually accessed from a “distance” and opportunities to attend conferences and seminars, for face to face exchanges are often limited due to distance and cost.

Consultant-Facilitated Multi-Organization Collaboration

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

by Norman Olshansky

Multi-organization collaborations can be very successful, especially when planned and initiated with a well-thought-out and executed process led by an experienced professional.

Consulting vs. Full-time Employment, Pros and Cons

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

by Stacey E. Abate

After successfully consulting for five years I was suddenly confronted with an unexpected downturn.... I panicked.

Approaches to Tribal Grant Writing and Project Planning

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

by Carrie Rothburd and Alisha Drabek, with Jane Hexter

The grant consultant has the unique opportunity to work with a client whose worldview has been marginalized for the last 200 to 500 years. This article shares the experience of an Alaska Native organizer and a non-Native grant consultant who have collaborated with several tribal groups to develop successful programs.

Charities and Trade Exchanges: How Consultants and Nonprofits Can Benefit from Bartering (Part 2)

Friday, March 19, 2004

by Kevin D. Feldman

Where I live, The Norfolk Foundation is the largest of the community foundations serving the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. The Foundation established a matching gift program called "Arts Match" that provides a 1 to 2 match on cash donations made to eight area arts organizations. It just so happens that these 8 nonprofits are also members of the local trade exchange, The Barter Authority.

Charities and Trade Exchanges: How Consultants and Nonprofits Can Benefit from Bartering (Part 1)

Friday, February 27, 2004

by Kevin D. Feldman

In this issue we will cover:

• The Modern-Day Barter/Trade Exchange Organization
• Bartering Non-Cash Gifts
• Key Benefits of Bartering for the Consultant
• Key Benefits of Bartering for the Nonprofit

Business Plans (Part 2) - Products and Pricing

Friday, December 12, 2003

by Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE

In our last article we talked briefly about how to determine what products you want offer as a consultant. This article will examine product selection in more detail as well as discuss pricing your services.

Free Stuff - If There Really Is Such A Thing - For Those Thinking About Consulting

Friday, November 21, 2003

by Patricia A. Smith

When environmentalist Barry Commoner coined the phrase There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch (TANSTAAFL), it was a reference to one of his four laws of ecology, briefly that in nature's equation both sides of the scale must balance-- for every gain there is a cost. Why is this a lead-in to an article about "free stuff" for new consultants? Well, because while the majority of the information and assistance is free, there is still a cost of time and energy involved.

Getting the Job Done Even When Your Client is Seriously Dysfunctional

Tuesday, November 4, 2003

by Jane Savitt Tennen

...To paraphrase Chekhov, every organization is dysfunctional in its own way. Nonetheless, some are in significantly worse shape than others. How do you work effectively with them? Here are some strategies....

Your Business Plan -- the Market Research Component

Friday, October 17, 2003

by Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE

So you've decided to become a consultant! Now what? Do you hang out your shingle and hope that the business will come?...This article will focus on selecting the types of services you want to provide and the types of clients you want to serve.

M-a-r-k-e-t-ing Find Out What It Means To Me

Friday, October 10, 2003

by Stacy Dieter

... Now that I am a full-time consultant without a marketing department, marketing means something completely different. In this and future articles, I am going to explore what marketing means to consultants, how marketing can help us, and why it is so important to never stop.

The Top 10 Ways to Sabotage Your Consulting Business

Friday, September 19, 2003

by Patricia A. Smith

David Letterman has perfected the top 10 list and admittedly many of his choices are silly and inane. This list, however, is foolproof. If you practice only one or two of these, you may be able to stay in business. For best results and to totally sabotage your consulting business you must follow all 10.

Putting First Things First as You Enter the Consulting Profession: The Why's and the What's Before the How's

Friday, August 29, 2003

by Katherine Driskell Felts

On a pretty regular basis, a new consultant, or someone considering being a consultant will ask the CONSULTANTS listserv on CharityChannel a how question. "How do I set my fees, now that I'm grantwriting?" "How do I write my contracts, will you give me yours?" "How do you educate the clients so they know what to expect?" and its sister "and so they don't make me crazy?" Each of these questions is very important, and will be considered when you put together your business plan. However, to ask them too soon puts the cart before the horse.