Nonprofit Adviser

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Many nonprofit leaders are turning to consultants to help them navigate this uncertain moment. These experts offer services to juice fundraising, streamline budgets, improve program delivery, and more. But this advice doesn’t come cheap. To help you get the most value out of a partnership with a consultant, here are a few pointers from Geoffrey Hamlyn, chief operating officer of Trepwise, a strategy consulting firm for nonprofits, foundations, public entities, and other organizations.

Determine what you need — and budget for it. Before you bring on a consultant, define what you’re trying to accomplish. This doesn’t mean you need a fully built workplan, but you should be able to articulate the core challenge you’re facing and the outcome you want. You should also identify any constraints, like a tight deadline, staff bandwidth, or stakeholder expectations. A short request for proposals or two-page scope document will give both you and the consultant something concrete to respond to and build from.

Ask the right questions, both before and after you hire. Vetting a consultant’s credentials is important, but so is understanding how they work. Too often, organizations skip past the questions that most helpfully signal whether a consultant will be a good partner. During the interview phase, go beyond bios and boilerplate. Ask questions like: How have you handled a client whose needs changed midway through the process? What’s your approach to building buy-in across a diverse team? How do you communicate when something isn’t working — or when we’re off track?

For more advice on how your nonprofit can get the best results from working with a consultant, read Geoffrey’s full article, Hiring a Consultant? 4 Steps to Success.

Have a wonderful week,

Emily Haynes
Senior Editor, Nonprofit Intelligence

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The most advanced tech tool isn’t necessarily the best one for your organization. Jim Fruchterman, an early Silicon Valley entrepreneur and longtime investor in “tech for good,” shares his takes on how nonprofits can find the technology they actually need. First, he says, leaders need to listen. Build tools around frontline needs, not leaders’ assumptions. Next, they need to reframe their pitch for tech investment by funders. Position tech as part of programs, not overhead; this will help funders understand its essential value. And while you’re at it, he says, push for multi-year tech funding, not one-off project support. To learn more about Fructerman’s approach to nonprofit technology — and his recent book on the subject — read How Nonprofits Can Tap Technology in Lean Times and Avoid AI Hype.

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Tech-Driven Grants: The Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) is a nonprofit that unites and supports IT channel professionals across the globe. Through its grantmaking, GTIA invests in nonprofits and schools using technology to create meaningful change, particularly in under-resourced communities. Funding supports scalable solutions such as broadband expansion, AI learning tools, workforce training, and innovations that advance equity and opportunity. Priority is given to initiatives that improve education, bridge the digital divide, build workforce pathways, and foster tech-driven prosperity. Grants range from $25,000 to $50,000. Application deadline: September 15, 2025.