Synopses & Reviews
Fundraising Consultants
Lowering net costs, realizing more money, and securing larger donations are just a few of the advantages to hiring a professional fundraising consultant. But how can you know you're picking the right consultant for your organization?
Filled with invaluable information to help you identify, select, retain, and work with development/fundraising consultants, Fundraising Consultants includes practical advice, tips, guidelines, possible outcomes of consulting, exemplary stories, and other useful information for nonprofit organizations of any size?considering the use of development/fundraising consultants.
Author Eugene Scanlana leading fundraising consultantoffers step-by-step guidance and resources to help you in your decision to use consultants, and then shows you how to go about getting the right one for the job. Its numerous case studies and practical toolsincluding sample invitation letters to consultants, sample requests for proposal, sample consulting budgets, samples of reports, and recommendationsequip you to implement the concepts introduced in the book.
Part of the AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series, this guide covers everything you need to know to make critical decisions for selecting and working with fundraising consultants and explores:
The request for proposal
Where to find the best consultant
Using the Internet and other sources in your search
The proposal for services
Pre- and post-proposal interviews
Selecting the right consultant
Drawing up a contract
Working with your consultant
Brimming with ideas, concepts, and information that will help you and your organization through the consultant selection and working process, Fund-raising Consultants?reveals what your nonprofit should look for when considering hiring a con-sultant or firm.
Intended as a guide for any nonprofit organization considering hiring a consultantto help the organization see if it is ready to raise money, to assist it in raising money, and/or accomplish the goals a good fundraising consultant can help the organ-ization achieveFundraising Consultants?is your insider guide to using fundraising consultants effectively.
Synopsis
Fundraising Consultantsoffers step-by-step guidance and resources to help nonprofits in their decision to use consultants, and then shows them how to go about getting the right one for the job. Chapters include: Types of Consultants (Individuals, Small Firms, Large Firms, Local/Regional, National, International), When to Consider Using a Development/Fundraising Consultant, When Not to Consider Using a Development/Fundraising Consultant, Identifying Your Organization’s Needs to Be Met by a Consultant, Identifying Consulting Process Products Your Organization Needs, Identifying Needed Resources – Financial and Other, Identifying Consulting Candidates, Selecting Your Consultant/Consulting Firm, The Consulting Contract, Expectations of Consultants, Expectations of Your Organization During the Consulting Process, Ethics, Confidentiality, and Other Considerations, Possible Outcomes and Products, and more.
Synopsis
Fundraising Consultantsoffers step-by-step guidance and resources to help nonprofits in their decision to use consultants, revealing how to go about choosing the right one to get the job done. Filled with case studies and practical tools, this practical guide provides tips, guidelines, and other useful information for nonprofit organizations of any size that are considering the use of development/fundraising consultants.
Eugene A. Scanlan, PhD, CFRE (Bethesda MD), is the founder of eScanlan Company, which provides a full range of nonprofit management consulting services, including organizational development and enhancement, organizational assessments, strategic planning, and development/fundraising services.
Synopsis
Praise for Fundraising Consultants
"In Fundraising Consultants: A Guide for Nonprofit Organizations, Gene Scanlan provides a thoughtful and deliberative guide for how to select, develop, and maintain successful relationships with consultants that can help organizations achieve their goals. It is also an excellent resource for consultants, both new and experienced, on how to best serve our clients."
Barbara L. Ciconte, CFRE, Senior Vice President, Consulting Services
Donor Strategies, Inc.
"Finally, a book that provides a balanced and informative perspective about fundraising consulting. Gene provides solid information for organizations to consider when using a consultant while also describing the consultant's point of view. All this can only lead to a more effective use of consultants and more successful nonprofits."
Sandra Renner, MSW, CFRE, Renner Consulting
Strategic Philanthropic Counsel
"This book is an excellent source for a development or foundation director to read before hiring any type of consultant. It guides you through the search process and tells you how to evaluate your prospects. This is especially important for small development offices or foundations that rely on outsourcing fundraising projects or campaigns to consultants. It even suggests how to use consultants as a creative resource!"
Jeanne G. Jacob, CAE, CFRE, Executive Director
Goodwin House Foundation
About the Author
Eugene A. Scanlan, PhD, CFRE, recently retired, is the founder of eScanlan Company, which provided a full range of nonprofit management consulting services, including organizational development and enhancement, organizational assessments, strategic planning, and development/fundraising services. A recognized and award-winning leader, author, and educator in the nonprofit sector, Gene has been actively involved with nonprofits since 1966, including seventeen years as vice president and senior vice president of a national consulting firm. Gene is also the author of numerous articles, reports, and contributed book chapters.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.
About the Author.
Introduction.
Chapter 1. No, We Don't Need A Consultant!
Summary.
Chapter 2. Yes, We Really Need A Consultant!
Summary.
Chapter 3. What Should We Do First?
Step One. Know Your Organization.
Step Two. Identify Your Organization’s Real Needs.
The Next Internal Steps.
Some Possible Alternative Arrangements.
Summary.
Chapter 4. The Request for Proposal – A Short Introduction.
RFPs: The Written External RFP.
RFPs: The Written Internal RFP.
RFPs: The Unwritten Consensus RFP.
RFPs: Advantages of The Internal RFP and RFP Contents.
Summary.
Chapter 5. Finding Consultants – Where Are They?
They're Everywhere, They're Everywhere!
Using Your Own Organization as a Source.
Asking Other Organizations.
Using Workshops, Seminars and Conferences as Sources.
Professional Organizations as Sources.
Professional Organizations of Consultants as Sources.
Using The Internet.
Summary.
Chapter 6. Information, Please!
Three Ways to Find Consultants: A Quick Review.
Using The Consultant's Web Site or Printed Materials.
Using Examples of the Consultant's Work.
Reference Checks As Critical Sources.
Using Informal Contacts With Colleagues.
Using Colleagues Active in Professional Associations.
Using An Online Search Engine.
Summary.
Chapter 7. The Proposal For Services.
Overview of Proposals.
Objectives of Proposals.
A Sample Proposal Outline.
Analyzing the Proposal's Content.
Who Does What.
Confidentiality.
Fee and Expense Structures in Proposals.
Timelines.
Who Will Deliver The Services.
Reviewing and Editing Materials.
Registration and Contract Filing Issues.
Legal or Ethical Disclosure.
Solicitor Registration.
Product/Outcome Definition.
Seeking a Revised Proposal and Negotiating.
Summary.
Chapter 8. The Interview.
Overview of Interviews.
Focus of Pre-Proposal Interviews.
Focus of Post-Proposal Interviews.
Alternate Interview Methods.
Summary.
Chapter 9. Selection and The Contract.
Importance of Group Process.
Contract Preparation Alternatives.
Contents of Consultant-Prepared Contracts.
Review of Contracts by Attorneys.
Summary.
Chapter 10. Working With Your Consultant.
Keeping Focused on the Project.
Consulting Partnerships.
The Staff Trap.
The First Day and First Steps.
Materials for Review.
Sharing Unwritten Information.
Working Arrangements.
Timelines and Meeting Review.
Procedures Defined.
Defining a Process for Written Materials Review.
The Case.
Letter of Invitation to Prospective Interviewees.
Interview Questionnaire.
Campaign Materials.
Policies and Procedures.
Meeting Materials.
Training Materials.
Prospecting Materials.
Other Written Materials.
Consultants As Creative Resources.
Events.
General Advice and Counsel
Some General Considerations.
Keeping The Consultant Informed.
Planning and Scheduling.
Meetings and Conference Calls.
Your Consultant's Other Skills.
Dealing With Issues.
Payment Issues.
Some Background Points.
Summary.
Chapter 11. Wrap Up and After.
The Consultant Always Leaves.
Delivering the Report and Recommendations.
What's Next?
When Nothing Happens.
Ensuring Follow Through.
End of Campaign Debriefings.
Summary.
Chapter 12. Conclusions.
Some Final Thoughts.
Who Gets the Credit?
The Best Fundraising Consultants.
Additional Selected Readings.
AFP Code of Ethics for Professional Philanthropic Fundraisers.
Donor Bill of Rights.
Index.