Join Linda Lysakowski and Susan Schaefer for a discussion on optimizing your own fundraising consulting practice. This session is designed for consultants to the nonprofit sector who want to garner more clients and those who are thinking about consulting. You will learn how to work with clients and how to use human, financial and other resources as efficiently as possible. In particular, we will focus on the many options available to grow, reinvent or reinvigorate your business given your changing needs and interests. Explore down-to-earth, practical experience from two consultants, with a combined 30+ years of experience. The goal of the session will be to stress the many ways in which a nonprofit consulting practice can be successful. Participants will hear about several ways to achieve each of these goals: * Building a robust client base * The many ways to address staffing structures * Options for starting, growing, or reinventing your business

1. 1
The Nonprofit
Consulting Playbook
!
3/13, 2014
1pm EST

2. Your Presenters
3

3. POLL
How long have you been consulting?
More than one year
Six months to one year
Less than six months
Just thinking about it

4. WHY CONSULTING?
Better hours?
More pay?
Freedom to set your own schedule?
Ability to work at home?
Variety of work?

5. ARE YOU CUT OUT TO BE A CONSULTANT?
EMPLOYMENT LIFE
Teamwork
Stable paychecks
Multi-tasking
Focus on one mission
Schedule predictability
Firm schedule
CONSULTING LIFE
Independence
Income instability
Wide-ranging multi-tasking
Multiple clients
Long, often strange hours
Flexibility

6. WHAT KIND OF CONSULTANT WILL YOU BE?
Single focused: writing, grants management, foundation
relations?
Full service: grants broadly, fundraising generally?
Ultimate business model: sole proprietor, small business, large
firm?
Single focus clients: human service, the arts, education?
Client size: large, medium, smaller organizations?
Client geography: local, national, international?

7. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO WORK?
HOME OFFICE
Ever-present workplace
Casual dress
Budget-friendly
No commute time
!
Another option: the virtual
office
“REAL” OFFICE
Prestige
Meeting space for clients
Few distractions

8. HOW DO YOU WANT TO STRUCTURE YOUR COMPANY?
Sole proprietorship
Partnership
LLC
Corporation (C or S)

9. LEGAL ISSUES YOU NEED TO KNOW
State registration
IRS regulations about contractor versus employee
Tax laws
Liability issues

10. MARKETING YOUR BUSINESS
Your website
Collateral materials
Social media
Professional organizations
Networking
Advertising
Speaking
Writing

11. Personal expenses
Health care
Retirement
Savings
Start-up costs
Travel
Experience
Competition
Hourly
Daily
Project-based
Retainer
SETTING FEES

12. SURVIVING AND THRIVING
Being flexible
Mentors and coaches
Adding/eliminating/changing services
Taking on or becoming an associate

13. Questions?

14. THANK YOU!
For more information, see The Nonprofit Consulting Playbook:
Winning Strategies from 25 Leaders in the Field
!
Consultant to Consultant:
Hourly, customized, one-on-one coaching
for aspiring, new, and veteran consultants.
!
Email us to learn more:
lysakowski-schaefer@charitychannel.com

15. Next Webinar:
!
Best Foot Forward:
Avoiding Common Capital Campaign Mistakes
!
4/24 1pm EST
!
Brent A Hafele, M.A.
!
https://bloomerang.co/resources/webinars/