Consultants

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Comment by Ron P. Muriera on Friday

Hello everyone! I just joined this group and am looking to share knowledge and best practices as consultants.

Happy Aloha Friday!

~Ron

Comment by Mark Goldstein, CFRE on January 16, 2012 at 1:12pm

Welcome, Julia!

Comment by Julia Bethmann on January 16, 2012 at 1:01pm

Hello- I'm new to the forum and looking forward to getting to know all of you and your great work!

Comment by Melanie R. Negrin, GPC on January 4, 2012 at 5:05pm

Absolutely. I agree with Mark. Never stop learning. Always look to fill the gaps you see and that intrigue you. As you grow, your business grows.

Comment by Mark Goldstein, CFRE on January 4, 2012 at 4:29pm

I think you've summed it up nicely. I would add that, as my business has grown and/or aged, sometimes I've realized that with a little bit more training, I can (and want to) expand into areas that I see clients need and that I am passionate about exploring. Good luck and let us know if we can help, Dave.

Comment by Dave Todaro on January 4, 2012 at 3:53pm

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful comments.  It sounds pretty intuitive after all is said and done - you grow your practice based on what you already know.  While we may all accept a "stretch" challenge, it's wise to capitalize on what we already know our strengths to be.  Common sense perhaps, but comforting to hear from people who are already doing it, that "common sense" prevails in the arena of grants and non-profit consulting support.

Comment by Melanie R. Negrin, GPC on January 4, 2012 at 12:23pm

Hi Dave - I have found that each consultant grows the business gradually based on interests and preferences. Some like working project by project; others prefer long-term relationships. Some like working with well-established nonprofits; others are open to working with start-ups and other organizations that need a little more guidance to get grant ready. If you fall into the project-oriented category, you may find yourself sticking pretty closely to grant development for a specific type of clientele. If you fall into the guidance-oriented category, you may find yourself developing income streams like training, business planning, program planning, program evaluation, board development, etc. You may even venture into thought leadership through the development of blogs, newsletters, books and podcasts. The background you bring to your practice will also influence its development. If you come from a marketing background, like I do, marketing and public relations may become a key offering. If you come from an engineering background, focusing on grants for companies involved in new technologies might be your thing. If you come from a social services or health care background, focusing on grants for hospitals and health centers could be perfect for you. And if you come from an academic or scientific background, writing grants for scientific research might be your match. Each consultant I've met has found a different approach and niche based on the time they have available to commit to the business, their availability to travel, the types of clients they prefer, the unique background they have, and other preferences. You will too, but it may take some time to develop naturally. Join in the discussions and see where your interests lead you ... best of luck!

Comment by Mark Goldstein, CFRE on January 4, 2012 at 11:11am

Hi Dave, welcome to the forum. I am focused on grant proposal writing, but I do also provide additional services such as training and organizational development.

Comment by Kenya Lucas-Matos on December 29, 2011 at 3:49pm

Cheers Dave. Welcome to the forum! I launched my practice, Strategic Funds Development, about 3 1/2 years ago. We focus on grant writing and management. Our practice has not been expanded to the other areas you mention though we do engage in special projects. So far things have gone well. Launching with a built-in client base really helped. I would say to give a lot of upfront thought to the network you will bring to your practice. Leverage that as much as possible. I have many other thoughts on this topic and am happy to share on a sidebar if it makes sense.

Comment by Dave Todaro on December 29, 2011 at 10:32am

Hi, I'm brand new to this forum.  I look forward to getting to know many of you.  I'm still trying to figure out what a consulting practice that is robust enough for me to make my livelihood at, might look like.  Are you narrowly focused on grantwriting and management, or have you expanded your practice to also include consulting in other areas of non-profit management, leadership and development?

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