Newsletters, direct mail appeals, telemarketing campaigns, annual galas, golf tournaments, auction bid sheets, board appeals, grant deadlines, budgets, reports, social media posts, acknowledgments, end-of-year projections, legacy society, major donor visits, staff reviews, and board assessments!

As a non-profit executive, this is what you contend with every day. How many times have you asked yourself, “How are we ever going to get all of this accomplished while ensuring that we raise enough money to keep programs funded, meet payroll, and keep the lights on?” Not to mention plan for the future so that your organization continues to evolve and grow to meet the changing needs of the community that you serve.

Now imagine adding to the above list! You need to come up with a strategic plan that keeps your mission viable into the future. You have an opportunity to purchase the perfect building to accommodate your growing staff or to add new programs, or you need to take a deep dive into evaluating the effectiveness of your board.

Can your senior leadership team and development staff effectively manage something as important as a strategic plan, multi-year capital campaign, creation of a comprehensive development plan, or board assessment while ensuring that the day-to-day activities of the organization continue in an impactful way?

After 27 years in the trenches as a development professional, I can tell you from my experience that hiring a seasoned, trusted consultant with a long track-record of success is a sound investment in your organization’s future and ensures a high probability for success.

I’ve been with organizations that have tried to do strategic planning and even capital campaigns without the guidance of an experienced consultant, and it did not go well. Important steps were skipped, short cuts were taken and frankly, senior staff and board members alike simply did not have the expertise to successfully undertake these important initiatives while also managing the daily demands of their job. Staff were burned out; other tasks were being neglected and the results did not meet projections which made everyone feel like their hard work was in vain.

I’ve also witnessed what happens when you hire a consultant strictly based on a lower fee versus experience. It was a nightmare. The direction was poor. The focus kept shifting and they weren’t capable of keeping staff on task. It felt scattered and misdirected, and the end result was a weak strategic plan that was only partially carried out.

If your organization is considering a strategic plan, a capital campaign, a reworked development plan or board assessment, please also consider the merits of interviewing experienced consultants who will help your organization be successful. The return on investment evaluating and hiring the right consultant will be time and money well-spent!