Hiring the Right Help: 5 Steps for Nonprofit Leaders Working with Consultants

If you’re like me, you’ve probably hired some amazing consultants… and also a few whose help just wasn’t all that helpful.

The truth is, the past few years have brought significant innovation in how consulting services can be delivered. There are new approaches and solutions out there—and as a nonprofit leader, you deserve to know about them.

That’s why, in a recent LinkedIn Live conversation, Hiring the Right Help: Real Talk for Nonprofit Leaders Hiring Consultants, I shared some important steps nonprofit leaders can take to improve how they identify, select, and work with consultants who are the right fit for their organization and their goals.

You can watch the full replay here: Hiring the Right Help Replay.

5 Steps to Hiring the Right Consultant

1. Focus on the Problem or Opportunity (Not the Solution You Think You Need)
   Start by getting clear on the challenge you’re trying to solve or the opportunity you want to pursue. That’s more valuable than prescribing a solution too early.

2. Understand Your Budget (and Share It!)
   Be upfront about your budget. Transparency helps consultants propose realistic solutions that match your resources.

3. Request Conversations (Not Proposals)
   Instead of lengthy proposals, prioritize real conversations. Talking with potential consultants helps you better assess fit, approach, and values.

4. Consider What Kind of Help Is Most Helpful
   Reflect on your availability and workstyle preferences. Do you need a strategist, a hands-on project manager, or a coach who builds your team’s capacity?

5. Start Now
   Don’t wait until the last minute. Short timelines limit your options and may prevent you from hiring the best-fit consultant for your needs.

Join the Conversation

These five steps can help nonprofit leaders set themselves up for better results with consultants—but there’s always more to learn.

👉 To see additional recommendations from consulting colleagues—and to share your own—you can join the conversation on LinkedIn here.

I’m Veronica LaFemina. I help CEOs and Department Heads at established nonprofits create strategic clarity and learn to lead change well.

Photo by Resume Genius on Unsplash