Everything You Must Know About Nonprofit Consulting

What if expert guidance was available to strengthen your nonprofit? Nonprofit consulting provides specialized support to empower organizations.  

Consultants are experienced advisors who partner with nonprofits to uplift operations. They fill gaps, provide an outside perspective, and enable access to high-level skills. Whether revamping fundraising, improving technology, or strategic planning, consultants can be game-changers.  

Read on to learn how these talented professionals can benefit your mission. Discover the ins and outs to hiring the right fit for your nonprofit and elevating impact. 

What is a Nonprofit Consultant? 

Nonprofit consultants understand organizations’ unique needs and missions. They provide tailored guidance on software, systems and tools to strengthen operations. With specialized expertise, they ensure technology applied thoughtfully empowers organizations. 

How Tech Consultants Help Nonprofits 

These partners supplement your capabilities with a technology-focused perspective. Consultants identify opportunities to better utilize software and data to enhance efficiency. Offerings range from assessing systems to implementing integrated CRMs tailored for nonprofit workflows. The right tech consultant optimizes technology to help you best serve communities. 

Types of Nonprofit Consulting Firms 

Consultancies span from small boutiques of niche experts to large full-service agencies. Boutiques provide targeted tech guidance while larger firms offer diverse skillsets under one roof. Ideal partners have experience advising similar nonprofits. Vet their technology credentials and nonprofit track record. 

Services Provided by Nonprofit Tech Consultants

These versatile partners offer a variety of technology-focused services: 

• CRM Selection & Implementation – Tailored platforms to manage donors, fundraising, marketing, and programs 
• Database Management – Optimize infrastructure to glean insights from constituent data 
• Cloud Consulting – Assess and transition systems to the cloud for flexibility 
• Cybersecurity – Bolster security and compliance with encryption, access controls, etc. 
• Online Fundraising – Implement digital tools and techniques for fundraising 
• Change Management – Ensure smooth adoption of new technology and workflows 

The right consultant provides the technology guidance and expertise to allow your nonprofit to work smarter in pursuit of your mission. 

Selecting the Ideal Nonprofit Consulting Services 

Many qualified technology consultants can assist nonprofits. But finding an optimal match aligned with your mission and culture is key. 

Vet Technical Experience 

Opt for an established nonprofit technology consulting firm with a proven track record with organizations similar to yours. Review case studies and testimonials. Do they have expertise with nonprofit CRMs, cloud-based systems, and digital fundraising tools? Deep experience securing nonprofits? This niche expertise can be more valuable than general tech skills. 

Your ideal partner should be up-to-date on the latest nonprofit technologies, like online donation platforms, text-to-give solutions, volunteer management software, and virtual event tools. Avoid partners suggesting outdated technical approaches. 

Match Consultant to Your Size and Maturity 

Seek a consultant experienced advising nonprofits of your size, age and complexity. One only worked with small startups may overlook the unique technology needs of larger groups. And vice versa. A tailored fit sets the engagement up for maximum impact. 

Define Desired Technical Outcomes 

Articulate the technology goals, processes and results you want to achieve. Do you need to implement a CRM? Seek website design services? Migrate infrastructure to the cloud? Defining technology objectives upfront ensures the consultant brings relevant skills into the partnership. 

While nonprofit tech consultants offer invaluable guidance, own ultimate decisions. They advise but you decide. Ensuring solutions align with your nonprofit’s values and direction. An optimal partnership enhances your technology capabilities without imposing external preferences. 

With thorough research and clear goals, nonprofits can find the ideal tech consulting partner. One who feels like an extension of your team. Together, you will make great strides forward harnessing technology for good. 

The Step-By-Step Guide to Hiring a Nonprofit Consulting 

So, you have decided your nonprofit needs technical expertise. Follow this proven process to hire the ideal nonprofit consultant: 

Assess Technology Needs 

Pinpoint problem areas needing outside expertise. Do you need a CRM implementation? Cloud migration? Website redesign? Defining technology needs frames the project scope. 

Get Board Approval 

Present the needs assessment and recommended approach to the board. Discuss potential technology investments required and expected benefits. Obtain buy-in before proceeding. 

Set Technology Goals and Guidelines 

Clarify the key IT objectives and desired outcomes. Do you aim to implement a new donor management system? Improve volunteer engagement through an app? Website upgrade to enable online donations? Concrete goals allow consultants to tailor solutions. 

Also set expectations like budget parameters, involvement level, and timeline to ensure alignment. 

Research Nonprofit Tech Consultants 

Look for consultants with proven success addressing technology needs similar to yours. Experience with nonprofit-specific systems is invaluable. Boutique firms can provide specialized expertise at lower costs than large agencies. 

Create a Shortlist 

Narrow down the options to 3-5 top contenders based on experience, costs, and company culture fit. Look for a personalized approach. 

Send a Request for Proposal (RFP) 

Send RFPs detailing your nonprofit’s technology needs, goals, guidelines, timeline, and requested response date. This allows consultants to prepare tailored proposals. 

Review Submitted Proposals 

Assess each proposal against your defined technology goals and expectations. Compare approaches, expected outcomes, costs, and fees structures. 

Make Your Selection 

Choose the tech consultant whose expertise, proposal, and fees best align with your nonprofit’s needs and budget. Ensure your values and their approach mesh well. 

Follow this process to confidently hire a nonprofit technology consultant suited to help your organization’s mission. 

What Services Must Non-Profit Consulting Offer? 

Now let’s explore the key types of consulting support to strengthen nonprofit operations: 

Fundraising Management – Capital campaigns, analytics, corporate sponsorship, etc. Strategic guidance to boost revenue. 

Technology – CRM selection/implementation, website design, cloud migration, etc. Optimizing systems and data. 

Communications Management – Branding, social media, newsletters, annual reports. Amplifying your mission and impact. 

Strategy – Theory of change, strategic planning, growth mapping. Big picture thinking to fulfill your vision. 

Financial Management – Budgeting, analysis, audits, compliance. Using resources effectively and efficiently.

Resources – Hiring, onboarding, professional development, compliance. Upgrading your most vital asset, your people. 

Facilities – Office layouts, renovations, AV upgrades, etc. Optimizing your physical environment. 

Grant Management – Streamlining grant-related workflows for better efficiency and compliance. 

Donor Management – Fostering deep, actionable insights into donor behavior and preferences. 

The possibilities are endless. Whatever your biggest challenge or opportunity, the right consultant can provide a major boost. 

The Indispensable Value of Nonprofit Consulting 

While running a nonprofit is deeply meaningful, it is undeniably challenging. Nonrprofit management consulting empower organizations to fulfill their mission by: 

Filling Resource Gaps Even the most dedicated teams have limits. Consultants supplement staff and inject new capabilities where needed – no matter how specialized. With key functions covered, nonprofits can stay focused on serving communities. 

Providing an Outside Perspective Insulated teams can develop tunnel vision. Consultants offer an objective third-party point of view. Their insights deliver clarity, revealing problems and opportunities for improvement. 

Leveling the Playing Field Large nonprofits have extensive in-house expertise. Consultants allow smaller groups to access comparable specialized skills cost-effectively. A nonprofit’s size or budget no longer limits its potential. 

Enabling Access to Niche Skills Consultants hone abilities in narrow disciplines like capital campaigns and HR compliance. Rather than building these competencies internally, nonprofits can use targeted consulting. 

As Ellen, Executive Director of a youth nonprofit, shared: 

“Our consultant strengthened our fundraising capabilities overnight with their CRM. Their module eased our fundraising.“ 

Consultants also free up nonprofit teams to focus on their true passion – the mission. As Liam, a nonprofit founder, remarked: 

“I started this organization to help people, not manage databases. Our tech consultants CRM handled the volunteers so I could focus on our community.“ 

Specialized skills, an outside perspective and extra hands allow nonprofits to deepen community impact. So If your nonprofit needs expertise to reach the next level, a consultant may be the secret ingredient.  

Why Beyond Intranet is the Best Nonprofit Partner 

Finding expertise to advance your nonprofit is vital yet confusing. But one leading tech consulting service for nonprofits stands out – Beyond Intranet. 

We know how vast nonprofits are. So, we introduced RightCause, solely to serve nonprofits. RightCause works exclusively with organizations like yours. For years their sole focus has been helping nonprofits thrive through technology. So they truly understand your world. 

• Their customized SaaS nonprofit CRM brings all your data together in one place – donors, fundraising, marketing, finances, programs, volunteers – no more disjointed systems. 
• The Donor Management module enables seamless online donation collection from your website and emails. 
• The Volunteer Management module tracks volunteers and skills for better organization. 
• The Grant Management module streamlines writing, submitting and tracking grant proposals. 

RightCause doesn’t just recommend solutions. Their team personally implements the CRM, migrates your data, trains staff, and provides ongoing support. They handle the heavy lifting. 

The RightCause consultants have years of experience guiding nonprofits of all sizes. They invest time to comprehend your goals. Then they tailor their platform and guidance to make your organization work more smoothly and drive growth. 

RightCause has proven results from past clients – increased online donations, streamlined operations, better data utilization. Affordable pricing structures yield outsized impact. 

Susan at a nonprofit shared: “We asked RightCause for help with digital fundraising and efficiency. They tailored their CRM to us and their guidance allowed us to expand programs.” 

If you want to improve your nonprofit without extra staff, RightCause is an ideal technology partner! 

Wrapping Up 

Nonprofit consulting services can provide invaluable expertise to advance your mission. The right partner, like RightCause, empowers your team with tailored guidance and technology.  

Let’s connect to explore how mission-focused consulting services can unlock new potential and accelerate your impact.  

With proven consultants in your corner, your nonprofit is poised for greater heights.