How to Choose a Strategic Planning Consultant for Your Nonprofit

Choosing a consultant to support your strategic planning process is an important decision, one that plays a pivotal role in the effectiveness of your strategic planning process and the impact of your plan. Here are seven important qualities to look for when selecting a nonprofit strategic planning consultant:

1. First-hand nonprofit leadership experience: Most nonprofit strategic planning consultants have never run a nonprofit, but the best ones bring first-hand experience working in and leading them. They understand how you need to balance priorities of the board, staff, community, fundraising, and operations — and can offer insights grounded in lived experience and serve as a thought partner and trusted advisor.

2. Proven track record of success: Look for successful case studies, strong references, and examples of strategic plans that are clear, specific, and actionable — not vague lists of ideas or things to do. As we’ve written about here, many strategic plans are not actually strategic.

3. Consulting and strategy expertise: Analytical, management, and research skills are essential to providing the analysis and insights necessary for problem-solving and decision-making. The best consultants conduct thorough assessments — reviewing data, financials, and input from interviews and surveys — to provide a clear picture of your organization’s current state. Content expertise is useful, but more important is strategy expertise. Management consulting, nonprofit business management training, and research expertise are all excellent skills to have on your strategic planning consulting team.  

4. Skilled facilitator: Effective facilitation ensures all voices are heard, builds agreement among participants, and helps navigate conflict. A skilled facilitator listens deeply and surfaces deeper meaning in conversations. Look for an experienced facilitator who uses a variety of tools and approaches; one who will customize interactions to fit the unique circumstances and needs of your team and organization.

5. Inclusive approach: Strategic planning should engage your board, staff, clients, and other constituents. An inclusive process results in more informed strategies and stronger buy-in, making the most of your efforts.

6. Client-focused values: Choose a consultant whose values align with yours and who is centered on serving you, your organization, and its mission. Beware if a consultant’s focus appears to be on promoting themselves or getting social media clicks. Look instead for someone who is authentically connected with our sector and is spending their time serving and providing value to nonprofit leaders and their organizations.

7. Tools for implementation and accountability: A strong consultant should have clear methods for tracking progress and holding your organization accountable. A strategic plan is only useful if it is owned and championed by everyone in the organization. A strategic planning consultant should provide a process and implementation tools for monitoring and tracking progress toward strategic plan goals.

How to find your strategic planning consultant:
The way you search matters. Top consultants tend to avoid responding to broadly distributed RFPs, as they prefer relationship-based referrals from their well-developed networks. Instead of issuing a broad RFP:

• Ask peers in your network for recommendations

• Research consultants who have a proven track record

• Meet with a small number of potential consultants to explore fit