28: 5 Questions to Answer Before Using A Nonprofit Consultant (Heather Yandow)

028: 5 Questions to Answer Before Using A Nonprofit Consultant (Heather Yandow)

SUMMARY

As you move into senior leadership in the nonprofit sector, the opportunity to explore external contractors and consultants will likely present itself.  How do you evaluate such an option?  What are the factors you should consider before engaging such a resource?  These are exactly the questions Heather Yandow and I explore in this episode of the Path.  Through her experience founding Nonprofit.ist, she is the perfect person to help you evaluate any type of consultant, whether it be for fundraising, human resources, organizational development, program evaluation or anything else for that matter.  Also listen to this episode for practical advice that will help assure your use of a consulting resource is worth the time, energy and budgeted resources you might be willing to commit.   

ABOUT HEATHER

Heather Yandow brings more than 20 years of experience as an outreach coordinator, coalition leader, project manager, and fundraiser for Third Space Studio. She helps organizations with strategic planning, board development, change management, leadership development, and going from good to great. Heather’s most recent nonprofit position was as the Director of Development and Communications with the NC Conservation Network. She has also served on the Board of Directors of Democracy NC, ncyt: NC’s Network of Young Nonprofit Professionals, and the Beehive Collective (a giving circle). Heather holds a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and is a trained facilitator. 

EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES

* The Pomodoro Technique
* Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz' book The Power of Full Engagement
* What’s the challenge you want to tackle?
* Does everyone agree about the challenge?
* When do you want to do the project?
* How much money do you have to address the problem?
* How much organizational time and energy do you have to address the challenge?
* Michael Bungay Stanier's book The Coaching Habit