Created By: Campbell Lake Posted March 17, 2025 The challenges today’s nonprofits face are complicated and varied. Between juggling program management, fundraising efforts, and organizational initiatives, we know that nonprofit professionals tend to feel stretched thin. On top of that, a persistent lack of team capacity makes it even more challenging to keep up. Sound familiar? The nonprofit sector is no stranger to dealing with scarce resources—studies show that over 40% of nonprofits report a lack of finances to support their mission-critical activities, and 68% plan to cut services in the coming years. That’s where nonprofit consulting comes in. At a time when adaptability and resilience are imperative to sustainable fundraising success, investing in external support can provide your nonprofit with not only the capacity but also the expertise and outside perspective it needs to overcome challenges and grow its impact. In this guide, we’ll review how to choose the right fundraising consultant for your organization’s specific needs and help you get started with 15 top consultancies. Fundraising Consultant FAQ 15 Best Fundraising Consultants for Any Need Fundraising Consultant FAQ What do fundraising consultants do? Fundraising consultants provide nonprofits with expert guidance on optimizing fundraising strategies, streamlining operations, and executing successful campaigns and initiatives. As you begin your search for the right consulting partner, you’ll likely encounter the following common consultant offerings: Prospect research: The process of gauging potential supporters’ likelihood of donating to your cause based on certain historical indicators and data. Grants: Funds provided by a foundation, government body, or company that may have certain reporting or fund usage requirements. Board and staff development: The process of continually educating team members, leaders, and the board of directors about best practices related to their roles as ambassadors of your organization. Corporate sponsorships: A partnership between a nonprofit and a business wherein the business funds nonprofit initiatives, often in return for positive publicity. CRM implementation: The process of integrating a new donor management software into a nonprofit’s existing tech stack, daily operations, and fundraising strategy. Marketing and digital fundraising: Leveraging multi-channel marketing strategies and digital campaigns to build an organization’s brand awareness and reputation and generate funds through effective messaging tactics. Events: Highly-organized gatherings of donors, stakeholders, and constituents aimed at generating financial support while also raising awareness, building deeper community connections, and fostering a stronger base of support for an organization’s mission. Planned giving: The process of donating cash, property, or other valuable assets to a nonprofit through a financial or estate plan. Philanthropic advising and management: Wealth planners who act as liaisons between nonprofits and donors to maximize philanthropic potential while promoting optimal financial health, flexibility, tax efficiency, and aligned impact. As previously mentioned, each consultant brings unique experiences and skills that influence their service offerings. Before choosing a fundraising consultant to partner with, you’ll need to assess gaps in your strategy and determine which consulting services would be the most helpful for your particular needs. What are the elements of a great fundraising partnership? Nonprofits are guided by their values, and those should not be compromised when entering a partnership with an outside consultant. Here are several characteristics that make up a positive consulting partnership, regardless of the service or scope provided: Collaboration. Your partnership with a fundraising consultant should feel like a hands-on, reciprocal collaboration rather than a distant transaction. Ensure the consultant can serve as an embedded team member, taking your organizational priorities and needs into account and providing tailored solutions. Commitment to the work. Above all, nonprofits are driven by decisions that will move their mission forward. The right consulting partner should hold this mindset close throughout your engagement, aligning every suggestion and action with your organization’s values. Transparent and frequent communication. Consultants perform best when they understand the full story behind a nonprofit’s challenges. Establishing an honest and open communication style will allow your consulting firm to ask the right questions and design the right solutions. Similarly, the right consultant will proactively seek to understand your organization from the inside out to make informed decisions on a path forward that will best serve your team. Expertise and innovation. An ideal consultant should be able to balance best practices and proven models with creative problem-solving and innovative approaches. Consultants who utilize data-driven decisions to elevate your unique strengths will empower your organization with the confidence to achieve sustainable success. Equitable and inclusive decision-making. Throughout your engagement, the right consultant should ensure your voice remains at the forefront of any decisions that are made. Understanding that your values and reputation are top-of-mind, your partner should incorporate those into the work at hand to drive results that are reflective of your vision for the future. It is critical for your team to come together and decide what an ideal partnership looks like for you based on your values, priorities, and requirements. How can we choose the best fundraising consultant? Now that you have an understanding of what services nonprofit consultants provide and what an ideal engagement looks like, it’s crucial to prepare your organization for success before diving into a partnership. Here are key steps and considerations: 1. Define your goals Bringing on an external consultant is a significant investment. Before having conversations with potential partners, ensure your organization is aligned on what the engagement should accomplish. Whether you’re seeking specific services (like launching your next capital campaign) or have a less defined vision to generally elevate your fundraising operation, being able to communicate your goals with prospective partners from the onset will allow you to connect with the right partner for your needs. 2. Research consultants Once you begin your research, the sheer volume of consultants might seem overwhelming. Consider evaluating your options based on trust-building factors as well as specific criteria, including: Pricing/rates Case studies and external reviews Information about provided services and approaches Staff qualifications Specializations in your industry, like healthcare or education In addition to online searches, seek input from colleagues or peer organizations in the sector to determine if they have experiences or insight into certain consultants. 3. Make a connection Introductory conversations with potential partners will help you narrow down your list and better determine the right fit for your organization. This is your chance to ask the consultant about their experience, express questions or concerns, and assess alignment with your needs and their solutions. These conversations will also help you realize sooner rather than later any dealbreakers or limitations that might prevent a partnership. 4. Request proposals Once you’ve determined your priority list, request a formal proposal from the consultant. This is their time to prove how they’ll help your nonprofit achieve its goals by outlining their specific approach and processes. Make sure you’ve established a review committee (consisting of key leaders and board members) to ensure stakeholder approval and buy-in throughout the process. Keep in mind that the review process may entail several rounds of interviews with candidates in order to make informed recommendations. 5. Bring findings to leadership Set a meeting with key decision-makers at your nonprofit when you have your top choices of proposals to decide between. 6. Align on contract terms Once leadership has decided on your consultancy of choice, touch base with their team to finalize a contract. If possible, have a lawyer or contract expert review it to ensure both parties are adhering to their organizational policies. Make sure that critical details are crystal-clear, such as fee structures, key performance indicators, and the execution timeframe. 7. Get started! It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for—kick-off! As you embark on this exciting new partnership, communicate regularly to align on roles, responsibilities, and next actions to get your plans off the ground. 15 Fundraising Consultants, Vendors, and Tools for Any Need As you bring in outside support to help you kickstart growth and overcome capacity hurdles, know that there isn’t one model of consultant to look for. Expert help can come from traditional consulting services, outsourced services, technological support services for tools that will help you upgrade your strategies, and more. With that in mind, we’ve curated a diverse list of nonprofit providers for any need. Best Overall Fundraising Consultant: Orr Group Nonprofits need more than a consultant — they need a partner who understands their mission and can provide tailored solutions to help them overcome complex challenges. Orr Group is a full-service nonprofit consulting firm that provides the people and resources you need to drive your mission forward. Why Orr Group is the Best Fundraising Consultant Embedded partnership. Our team will embed in yours, supplying you with hands-on expertise and strategic counsel to achieve and exceed your goals. We launch every partnership by understanding your team, listening to your stakeholders, and ensuring we embrace your mission from the inside and out. We offer holistic support. From capital campaigns and capacity building to talent management and board development, our expertise goes beyond fundraising. A business mindset. As experts in philanthropy, we’ll help your nonprofit operate more efficiently for greater impact. We leverage the power of data, analytics, and metrics to design solutions that are rooted in reality and proven for success. Proven track record. Over the past 30+ years, we’ve collaborated with nonprofits to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to drive transformational change. Read our case studies Services Strategy. We’ll help you build customized fundraising strategies that align with your vision for the future. With our guidance, you’ll confidently reach your milestones and make a lasting impact. Fundraising. Orr Group can assist in building operational efficiency and donor relationships by leveraging innovative approaches, analyzing data using technology, and implementing effective metrics tracking. Campaigns. Our team builds custom campaign strategies to turn your vision into reality. We’ll work with your leaders to craft an actionable plan and effectively communicate your vision with donors. We’ll also provide full-service management to ensure a successful campaign effort from start to finish. Talent. Orr Group can help you attract and keep great people, from recruitment and onboarding to developing and retaining talent. We’ll manage your HR operations, audit your practices, and enhance your culture to build a strong team. Planned giving. We’ll work with you to unlock the potential of planned giving and secure commitments from the wealthiest generation in history. Our planned giving strategies are designed to help your nonprofit build a sustainable future through legacy giving. Leadership. Our team will help you identify and develop leadership talent, embed experienced executives to fill crucial gaps, and ensure your leadership is aligned and driving toward your organization’s goals. Fundraising Consultant for Prospect Research: Comprehensive Prospect Research Overview Comprehensive Prospect Research (CPR) is a fundraising consultant that specializes in providing in-depth prospect research insights. Services Wealth screenings to estimate a prospect’s capacity to give. Data hygiene and lead sanitation to keep important data updated and ready to use. Cross-market research to help clients expand and engage new audiences. Why They Stand Out With their experience in corporate intelligence, business startups, and philanthropy, CPR offers a wealth of experience that can improve prospect research. Plus, CPR understands the risks of encountering misinformation on search engines, using advanced search methods to eliminate this data from your findings, giving clients the most accurate results possible. Grants Management Software: Bonterra Overview Bonterra is a robust software solution that allows nonprofits to manage all aspects of grant management and compliance. Services Simplified grantmaking workflows that allow users to master compliance and maintain good relationships with funders. Find ideal grant partnerships via Bonterra’s meticulously vetted FrontDoor Marketplace. Customize grant funding dashboards to simplify reporting and complying with specific grant stipulations. Why They Stand Out Not only is Bonterra a top software solution for grant management, but it also excels in multiple other nonprofit niches, such as corporate giving, case management, and fundraising. Its rich set of features integrates well with each other across all of its platforms, allowing high-growth users to flourish in all areas of nonprofit management. Fundraising Consultant for Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate Giving Connection Overview Corporate Giving Connection (CGC) is a fundraising consultant for nonprofits looking to forge and strengthen strategic corporate partnerships. Services Connecting corporations with like-minded nonprofits to achieve mutually beneficial goals. Organizing corporate giving campaigns with the help of the corporation and the nonprofit. Creating marketing materials for nonprofits and corporations looking to promote corporate giving opportunities. Why They Stand Out CGC provides more than just connections. Their team offers services in many areas, such as marketing, peer-to-peer fundraising, and public relations. Nonprofits can rest assured that this partner has a breadth of expertise that can help them leverage the best opportunities for sustainable growth. Fundraising Consultant for Planned Giving: Apex Legacy Consultants Overview Apex Legacy Consultants is a team of experts focused on planned giving strategy. Services Planned giving audit and strategy sessions in which the team and nonprofit will review organizational strengths and growth opportunities. Consulting on planned giving development, which is a sustainable, 10-hour/month plan to implement improvements to a client’s planned giving approach. Creating planned giving educational resources for nonprofits to share with prospective legacy donors. Why They Stand Out Apex Legacy Consultants is a small firm with deeply specialized skills in legacy giving. Their hands-on approach and intense focus on planned giving allows them to provide all types of nonprofits (from charities to schools, camps, and churches) with the guidance needed to secure sustainable support. Major Donor Events Management Software: DonorPerfect Overview DonorPerfect is a popular nonprofit CRM that helps organizations plan engaging major donor events. Services Online forms that streamline registration and information collection. A custom auction management tool, ReadySetAuction, that helps nonprofits manage one of the most lucrative fundraising events. Customizable report templates that allow staff to draw insights from the event efficiently. Why They Stand Out DonorPerfect has been a staple in the nonprofit technology world for years due to its user-friendly interface and scalability. It empowers nonprofit professionals to analyze data and make every event better than the last one. Fundraising Campaign Marketing Consultant: Whole Whale Overview Whole Whale is an agency that provides marketing and analytics services to nonprofits. Services Digital marketing campaigns and performance, from Google Analytics 4 configuration to search engine optimization (SEO) to content marketing. Google Ad Grant management to help nonprofits get the most out of $10,000 per month of free ad space. Speaking engagements for events, training sessions, and workshops. Why They Stand Out Whole Whale is a B Corporation, meaning they meet high standards for social and environmental performance. Plus, Whole Whale’s nonprofit-specific expertise helps organizations of all sizes mobilize support for their missions. Digital-First Campaign Management Tool: Gravyty Overview Gravyty is a digital platform made for organizations that want to engage the community, develop donor relationships, and raise more money. Services AI-powered outreach that coordinates automated communications without losing a human touch. Digital fundraising tools that make the giving process more approachable and convenient. Donor pipeline development tools that help nonprofits build and maintain long-term donor relationships. Why They Stand Out Digital campaigns are the future of fundraising. Gravyty uses cutting-edge technology to give nonprofit teams advanced insights with a single click. And, with frequent updates, you can feel confident in your ability to connect with donors and upgrade their support Direct Mail Fundraising Vendor: DM Pros Overview DM Pros is a direct-mail service that provides mailing and printing services for fundraising collateral. Services Diverse printing offerings (letterheads, envelopes, business cards, fact sheets, and more) that leverage new technology. Optimized mail services that take the work out of direct mail, from personalization to postal processing. Data analytics to fill strategy gaps, segment audiences, and send resonant direct mail offerings. Why They Stand Out Contrary to popular belief, direct mail is actually rising in popularity and even competes with digital fundraising results in many key verticals. DM Pros gives your nonprofit the infrastructure, resources, and (most importantly) expertise to inspire donations via mail. Support for CRM Implementation: Bloomerang Overview Bloomerang is a nonprofit CRM and implementation company that helps nonprofits achieve new heights with new tech. Services Hands-on CRM implementation training that makes complex processes approachable for new users. Free email and chat support for troubleshooting and other inquiries. Data migration that makes starting up with a new software solution stress-free. Why They Stand Out Bloomerang’s robust suite of solutions—trusted by over 26,000 nonprofits—makes its team members leading experts in all things CRM-related. Fundraising Website Development Tool: Donorbox Overview DonorBox is a digital fundraising platform that provides advanced technological infrastructure for online fundraising. Services Configurable donation pages that boost donations without compromising on a professional aesthetic feel. Secure forms that empower nonprofits to collect in-depth information while maintaining donor trust. Integrations with popular content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Weebly, Wix, and Webflow allow you to collect donations conveniently. Why They Stand Out With DonorBox’s features, you can transform your fundraising website from top to bottom. Plus, DonorBox offers a back-end CRM that integrates seamlessly with its front-end pages. Expert Services for Philanthropic Advising: Valley Forge Financial Group Overview Valley Forge Financial Group partners with individuals, families, and privately held businesses to provide expertise on Wealth Transfer, Estate Planning, Investment Guidance, Life Insurance, Private Equity and Family Office Services. Services Life Insurance and Estate Planning to ensure successful planning techniques for charitable giving. Individual Wealth Management to meet donors’ long-term wealth-building goals. Multi-generational Family Stewardship services to sustain and grow family wealth across generations. Why They Stand Out Valley Forge Financial Group’s team of experts is well-versed in helping donors maximize their philanthropic impact while also meeting their financial goals. Nonprofits seeking to connect their donors with financial planning expertise will benefit from Valley Forge Financial Group’s deep understanding of the sector and guidance on meeting donors where they are in their investment journey. Fundraising Consultant for Nonprofits on a Budget: Donorly Overview Donorly is a fundraising consulting firm that tailors its services for nonprofits with budgetary constraints. Services A three-month action plan, Jumpstart, that helps small nonprofits launch fundraising efforts quickly. Donor relationship development, including cultivation, retention, and stewardship. Capital campaign management, from the planning stage through the end of the public phase. Why They Stand Out Cost can often limit small nonprofits from accessing professional fundraising expertise. However, Donorly understands how to help small nonprofits hit the ground running, making a big impact with fewer resources. Nonprofit Financial Management Consultant: Marcum LLP Overview Marcum LLP is a financial services firm that helps organizations across all industries maintain fiscal health. Services Tax filing for nonprofits to stay compliant with IRS regulations. Auditing and records management that help nonprofits track and analyze important financial information. Project consulting and staffing services to apply financial knowledge to other areas of nonprofit governance. Why They Stand Out Maintaining your tax-exempt status is a critical yet confusing aspect of nonprofit management. Marcum LLP offers a more convenient, less expensive alternative to hiring an in-house accountant, providing your organization with the financial support it needs to succeed. Plus, with experience across many industries, their team brings new perspectives and best practices to the table. Nonprofit Consultant for Board and Staff Development: BoardSource Overview BoardSource is a consultant dedicated to improving nonprofit board leadership and engagement. Services Custom educational resources and tools covering an array of topics, such as board roles, strategic planning, and fundraising tips. Board Support Program, a year-long crash course in governance and board management. Board assessments that help nonprofits gauge board performance and provide insights for improvement. Why They Stand Out Your nonprofit’s board provides crucial support in fundraising, relationship-building, and community outreach. BoardSource makes it easy to promote an engaging, meaningful experience for board members that makes them want to stay involved. Next Steps By keeping these tips and recommendations in mind, your team will be better equipped to choose the right partner for your goals and needs. While a significant investment, consultants can substantially elevate your work and help you grow faster, smarter, and stronger. If you’re curious to learn more about what a partnership with Orr Group looks like, get in touch today. We’re eager to help your nonprofit grow.
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