Cut out for Consulting? Let's Find Your Perfect Path

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Quiz Questions

1.
People often think we need to be near retirement to be a consultant, but baby, I’m here to tell you that ain’t true! 😉 How many years of fundraising experience do you have?
- A.
  I'm just starting out in my fundraising career (1-5 years of experience)
- B.
  I'm hitting my stride (5-10 years of experience)
- C.
  I've been around the block a bit (10-20 years of experience)
- D.
  Been there, done that (20+ years of experience)
2.
Let’s geek out for a moment. Do you love all things fundraising or are you a specialist?
- A.
  I’m a total generalist and love a variety of fundraising activities.
- B.
  While I can do everything, I’d prefer to be focused on one area of expertise.
- C.
  I’m the “go to” on a specific area of expertise. It’s like the rest of fundraising doesn’t exist for me.
3.
Time to roll up your sleeves. What type of work do you find most satisfying?
- A.
  I love to see an organization make big process by getting into the details. If it needs to get done, I’ll do it!
- B.
  I love giving advice and stepping back to see the organization do the work themselves.
4.
We all work in this sector because we care. What organizations resonate most with your heart.
- A.
  I love the small organizations that are on the front lines of change.
- B.
  I’m the Goldilocks of fundraisers - I like the mid-sized organizations.
- C.
  I can’t get enough of the big institutions that are setting best practices and driving innovation.
5.
How would you describe your work style:
- A.
  I’m a total lone wolf. I like to get things done on my own time without much feedback.
- B.
  I love working with others and collaborating, but it’s not critical or it doesn’t need to be all the time.
- C.
  Don’t let me be alone for even one minute! I love working with others and can’t get enough of them.
6.
They say variety is the spice of life. How much variety do you want in your client work?
- A.
  I want to work with a few clients on a regular basis - really get to know them and become part of their success. Plus, that means less business development.
- B.
  I want to work with a variety of clients and have things constantly be changing. I never want to get bored.
7.
Is consulting risky? Maybe. What's your risk tolerance?
- A.
  Zero. Zero risk is the only acceptable amount. I have billz to pay!
- B.
  I'm ready to take some risk, especially if I can see the reward.
- C.
  Throw caution to the wind - big risk means bigger rewards.
8.
Now for the biggie, let’s talk about earning potential. If I could wave a magic wand and grant you a salary, what would choose:
- A.
  I’m happy with what I make now and would just want to replace that.
- B.
  I want to work less than I do right now but still earn consistent, decent money.
- C.
  I want to make more than I do now, with a bit more balance, but I’m not itching to be a millionaire.
- D.
  All bets are off - the sky's the limit with my earnings.
9.
What do you want your legacy to the sector to be?
- A.
  I want to have helped transform organizations internally through long-term support.
- B.
  I want to focus on leadership and changing things from the top.
- C.
  I want to share my knowledge and expertise by educating people.
- D.
  I want to develop new ideas and best practices.

Quiz Outcomes

1.
You're The Coach
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You have so much to give to the sector and you want to help shape nonprofit leaders to increase their impact. Being a coach means you get to work with a lot of different people and organizations and see your impact in many different ways!Here are 3 things you can consider as you get started:1. "Coaching" doesn't always mean certification. I see so many people want to start coaching but feel they need to invest tons into a certification. If you want to hone your skills then a certification program may be what you're looking for, but you can always start before. Especially if you're coaching around fundraising tactics. I guarantee you are way further ahead than the clients you want to work with.2. Your first clients are likely going to come from your network. Just like the best donors come from our existing donor base, your first clients are going to come from your network. Don't worry too much about marketing - start reaching out and connecting with folks you already know.3. You're NOT selling yourself. So often coaches feel like they are selling themselves, but I want you to remember that you're selling a transformation you can provide to your clients. 🎧 Want to hear what it’s really like behind the scenes of nonprofit consulting?Tune into Confessions with Jess and Cindy, where we pull back the curtain on the messy, magical, sometimes chaotic journey of building a consulting business that actually works—for your life and your bank account. If you’ve ever wondered “is it just me?”—it’s not. Grab your earbuds and join the conversation.
2.
You're The Fractional Fundraiser
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Fractional Fundraising is on the rise and these consultants are IN DEMAND!The word fractional implies that you're a portion of a staff person. So instead of hiring someone full-time, they hire a fraction of a person (or part-time). The different between this and a regular part-time person is that a Fractional Fundraiser is usually more experienced and has greater expertise than a part-time staff person.While Fractional Executives aren't new, the nonprofit sector is just starting to see how this can help smaller organizations access higher levels of expertise and hands-on help.As a fundraiser, the benefit to you is that you can build a stable consulting business with just a few clients, make more money, and have better balance and boundaries. Three things you can consider as you get started:1. There is HUGE demand for Fractional Fundraisers. This model is ideal for small organizations to access expert help at affordable prices. 2. Think long-term. Your best success and results for an organization with this model are when you can work with them for the long-term. That's when the consistent work starts to see significant growth. It also gives you stable revenue.3. You don't have to reinvent the wheel. We've been there. Done that. I spent over 5 years building and scaling a Fractional Fundraiser business and now I teach others to do the same. If you want all the inside scoop on the Fractional Fundraising, add yourself to the waitlist for the Fractional Fundraiser Academy below!
3.
You're The Expert
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You have so much knowledge and wisdom to share with the sector!Being an expert means deep diving into the one thing you want to be known for and figuring out the right way to share that with those who need it. So - what do you want to be known for? What's your gift to the sector?Three things you can consider as you get started:1. Start where you are. Your work and expertise will evolve as you get more consulting experience. Don't wait to be THE expert - just start with sharing what you know and love.2. Figure out the best way to help. Play around with the best mode to deliver your expertise. How are organizations going to best benefit from it? What will lead to their transformation?3. Develop your unique approach. Think about how you can package your knowledge in a framework, or system that makes it easy for others to understand.🎧 Want to hear what it’s really like behind the scenes of nonprofit consulting?Tune into Confessions with Jess and Cindy, where we pull back the curtain on the messy, magical, sometimes chaotic journey of building a consulting business that actually works—for your life and your bank account. If you’ve ever wondered “is it just me?”—it’s not. Grab your earbuds and join the conversation.
4.
You're The Agency
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Team work is dream work! The safest way to become a consultant is to join a team. An agency is a step outside of in-house work, but still secure. There are so many different agencies out there - start to get to know them.Three things you can consider as you get started:1. Network. Most jobs never get posted. If you want to work at an agency, start to network and get to know the various agencies that might be a good fit. As a bonus, you'll get to know more about the culture, which is so important to job satisfaction.2. Network. Seriously. It's that important that you have it twice!3. Start becoming a thought leader. Update your LinkedIn profile and start posting on things that you think will help you attract the agencies you want to work for.🎧 Want to hear what it’s really like behind the scenes of nonprofit consulting?Tune into Confessions with Jess and Cindy, where we pull back the curtain on the messy, magical, sometimes chaotic journey of building a consulting business that actually works—for your life and your bank account. If you’ve ever wondered “is it just me?”—it’s not. Grab your earbuds and join the conversation.