Every so often, someone will ask, ‘Have you ever worked with a [specific type of] nonprofit?’ Whether it’s a medical, human services or environmental, clients often wonder if subsector expertise is crucial when hiring a nonprofit consultant.
The short answer is typically, “no.” Your nonprofit consultant needs to be an expert in working with nonprofits and guiding organizations through strategic decisions and challenges. They don’t necessarily have to have the deep expertise you do.
With that being said, there are situations when nonprofits require more specialized nonprofit consultants. For example, your nonprofit should consider a specialized nonprofit consultant when:
- You require local expertise
- You are experiencing a crisis
- You need specific support with board development
- You are looking for advocacy or public policy support
- Your planning needs call for deep financial expertise
There are also specific nonprofit subsectors well suited to work with specialized nonprofit consultants, including:
- Community foundations
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
- Universities and higher education institutions
- Churches and faith-based organizations
- Arts and culture institutions
- Federated organizations
Let’s explore each of these specialized nonprofit needs a bit further.
When Should You Consider a Specialized Nonprofit Consultant?
When your nonprofit requires local expertise
Community-based organizations that serve very specific geographies–for example a specific neighborhood in Seattle–can benefit from working with a local or community-based nonprofit consultant. Consultants that specialize in hyperlocal work know the community, its challenges and opportunities as well as the local funding and political landscape. While a remote nonprofit consultant can learn about some of these things and may be able to get up to speed, there is most certainly a capable local resource who will already knows the community like the back of their hand. You can also pair a local consultant who has community expertise with a remote nonprofit consultant who may have capabilities or experience the local consultant does not.
When your nonprofit is in crisis
When your nonprofit is experiencing a challenge (imagine your CEO leaves with little notice, your board dissolves, or you are facing a legal dispute… I don’t wish these things on any of you), you could benefit from working with a nonprofit consultant that is specifically designed to support organizations through these issues. There are also nonprofit consultants who act as interim nonprofit CEOs and will step in to steward an organization in crisis.
When you need specific support with board development or education
Again, there are nonprofit consultants dedicated to helping nonprofits specifically with board governance and sustainability. This includes training and workshops on topics that range from fundraising to strategic planning.
When your nonprofit needs advocacy or public policy support
If your nonprofit is engaging in a major advocacy or public policy effort, you could benefit from working with a nonprofit consultant that focuses in this area. These individuals and firms should have a strong grasp on the local or national political landscape and can help you set public policy goals and build plans specifically designed to helping you achieve them.
When your planning needs call for deep financial expertise
If your strategic planning process is going to require robust financial modeling and planning – for example you’re poised for or experiencing significant growth, you are changing your nonprofit business model or you are launching a social enterprise – you will want to work with a nonprofit consultant that specializes in nonprofit strategic planning with a financial lens (and there are many)!
Nonprofit consultants for specialized subsectors
There are also certain nonprofit subsectors that have their own set of unique needs.
Some of these include:
- Community foundations
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
- Universities and higher education institutions
- Churches and faith-based organizations
- Arts and culture institutions
- Federated organizations
If your organization is in one of these subsectors, finding a nonprofit consultant with specific expertise in these areas can be beneficial.
Why Hiring a Nonprofit Consultant Matters—Even Without Specific Sector Expertise
I’ll conclude by sharing, if you choose to work with a consultant or firm, choose one that has deep experience in working with nonprofits. Nonprofit subsector expertise can be important too, but for most situations and organizations, it’s going to be most beneficial to partner with a firm that has broad experience working with a wide range of missions and organization types. The relationship between consultants and their nonprofit partners is ultimately the most important factor. I always say, “Our success is our clients’ success.” There must be transparency and trust between the two parties in order for real change, and therefore positive impact, to occur.
