We Don’t Love Consultants (And Why That Might Be a Good Thing) 

From Strategy to Impact: Your Nonprofit Consulting Success Kit

Let’s be real: most of us have rolled our eyes at the thought of hiring a consultant. 

We get it. We’re not huge fans of consultants either. 

Here’s the twist, though: we are consultants. But not those who fly in with jargon and fly out with your budget. We’re the kind who stick around, get into the weeds with your team, and help you move the needle. The kind who believes consulting can be transformative—when it’s done right. 

If you’ve had a bad experience, you’re not alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Let’s unpack why consulting often misses the mark—and what to look for when you want it to make a difference. 

Why Consultants Get a Bad Rap 

• 1. They give you a 10,000-foot view when you are stuck in the weeds.   
  • Strategy is important, sure, but if it doesn’t connect to your team’s actual time, energy, and budget, it’s just expensive air. 
• 2. They talk more than they listen.  
  • Great consultants ask better questions than they give answers. If a discovery meeting feels more like a monologue, that’s a red flag. 
• 3. They hand you cookie-cutter solutions.   
  • Your nonprofit isn’t a clone of the last ten they worked with. You deserve a real plan, not a recycled playbook. 
• 4. They don’t understand what being a small team is like.  
  • You don’t need someone telling you to “just invest in a CRM” when you’re also the grant writer, event planner, and social media manager—all before lunch. 

When Consulting Works 

Good consulting doesn’t feel like a handoff. It feels like a handshake. 

The best consultants: 

• – Co-create solutions with your team   
• – Build capacity instead of dependency   
• – Help define and measure success   
• – Stick to scope (and budget)   
• – Tell you when something isn’t worth your time or money   

They’re not here to impress. They’re here to support. 

How to Get the Most Out of a Consultant 

• 1. Know what you need. 
  • What’s the outcome you’re hoping for? A plan? A process? A second brain for a few months? 
• 2. Ask real questions.  
  • What’s their track record with small teams? Can they show you real impact? What does success look like to them? 
• 3. Don’t be afraid to push back. 
  • The right consultant welcomes questions, challenges, and dialogue. If they flinch, that’s a sign. 
• 4. Think beyond the task.  
  • The goal isn’t just getting a deliverable—it’s leaving with new tools, new clarity, and ideally, a little more confidence than you started with. 

Final Thoughts 

Consulting isn’t magic. And it’s not always the answer. 

But it can unlock real momentum when it’s done right—with partnership, humility, and a solid dose of practicality. 

So yes, we’ve been skeptical of consultants—especially the ones who show up with buzzwords and bounce. 

But the ones who roll up their sleeves, meet you where you are, and help you build something that lasts? We love those. And we work every day to be those.