The Mikuska Group  

Inherent suspicion

I love to network. I’m out at Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce events, at meetings of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, at community events and just generally around town. I’ve even been called a busybody, but I don’t mind. I just love to meet people and help build a stronger community.

There’s a distinct difference between my meetings at the Chamber and those with fundraising or nonprofit leaders. The Chamber welcomes and embraces its members, encouraging them to do business with each other, to refer those they do business with to colleagues, friends and family, and to connect businesses with each other when it makes sense. All of this contributes to a strong economy where people invest in local businesses. My membership in the Chamber has a huge return on investment by allowing me to meet people in this way.

Why is it, then, that many nonprofit leaders I meet at AFP meetings or elsewhere practically turn their backs when I tell them I’m a consultant? In the corporate community, it’s recognized that working with an outside consultant can result in huge ROI. Why is this different in the nonprofit sector?

My conclusion is that there is an inherent suspicion of consultants among nonprofit leaders.

I believe it’s perceived that we’re going to come in and do things to you and your organization. That we’re there to “sell you something” that you can’t afford. After all, you are nonprofit. I also believe that some of you have been sold a bill of goods by so-called “fundraising consultants” who promise big dollars with little effort on your part, with little or no results to show at the end of it. Or they throw piles of paper, plans and methodology at you when it has nothing at all to do with your organization.

Any consultant, in the for-profit sector or nonprofit sector, should be working collaboratively with you to improve your condition. That’s how we work and our clients are happy with that. We bring our vast knowledge of the sector to you and see where we can help. We’ve outlined our process here so you can understand how we proceed. We are most interested in building your own capacity so you can carry out your mission and keep the knowledge in-house.

Now, that’s not so scary is it?

Laura Mikuska

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