frequently asked questions

Pricing is typically project-based. A complete scope of work will be presented inclusive of big-picture goals, project-specific activities, deliverables, and timelines. Pricing can be broken down by line-item for clarity. 

Hourly rates are also available where appropriate. 

Length of engagement can range from a few months to a few years, dependent upon need. The time required may be steady throughout the engagement or may vary in different parts of the project. Pricing will reflect this. 

This is not about extra, unnecessary, pie-in-the-sky work, nor is it about spending hours on a fancy, but not-very-useful strategic plan that then sits on a shelf for years. Rather, we are talking about work that is critical to the short-term and long-term success of the organization. As we go, we will be looking for inefficiencies that can be rectified, freeing up staff to focus on the more interesting, mission-critical work that they came on board to do. 

Operational and fundraising consulting may be tapped because the organization:

• Wants an outside eye
• Needs extra horsepower
• Requires a skill set that does not exist in-house
• Would find it it helpful to have an unbiased eye when working on a challenging issue or contentious project 

Team members do need to be willing to provide information, share their thoughts, and be open to ideas that may sometimes be different from the status quo. 

Before engagement, there is an open dialogue to identify needs, understand pain points, and discuss how best to approach the development of solutions to the challenges faced by the organization. The process of asking open-ended questions and engaging in active listening generally unearths a great deal of information about the true needs of the organization. We believe this is preferable to the offering of a menu of services. 

While more specific solutions will be presented after the initial discussions, the three general areas of expertise are: 

1. Operational Strategy (all aspects of small/mid-size nonprofits) 
2. Fundraising and Contract Development Strategy (individual donors, foundation grants, fee-for-service contracts) 
3. Project Implementation

The value we bring is the ability to discern the critical issues and to think openly, thoughtfully, and creatively about how to approach them.

Success is measured against a set of well-defined project goals, quality of deliverables, completion of project within planned schedule and any budget that has been allocated, the quality of relationships (with staff and board) that develop, and the ability to make adjustments as needed. 

We will check in on success at pre-specified points along the way. Feedback (via survey) at the end of a project is appreciated - and is also welcomed informally as we go. 

Within the scope of the project, it will not be unusual to experience highs, lows, and surprises. We are there for it all!