

The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants
Natalie Eckdahl, MBA
Are you a Nonprofit Consultant pulled between making an impact and running a profitable business? Join Natalie Eckdahl, MBA, on a podcast crafted just for you.
With 25 years of diverse experience as a management consultant, market researcher, small business owner and business coach, Natalie shares practical strategies to balance purpose and profit.
Through engaging discussions, trainings, and client stories, Natalie covers everything from pricing and proposals to maintaining client boundaries and tackling hiring and leadership hurdles. Her talent for simplifying complex ideas ensures you'll leave each episode with actionable insights to propel your consultancy forward.
But it's not all about numbers – Natalie also stresses the importance of mindset and resilience as a small business owner. As a mom of 3 and caregiver, she cherishes time with loved ones. With her guidance, you'll gain the confidence and clarity to overcome obstacles and reach your business goals while creating a fulfilling personal life.
Whether you're a seasoned consultant or an accidental entrepreneur, this podcast is your roadmap to success. Tune in and let Natalie help you unlock your full potential as a Nonprofit Consultant – and maybe even skip a step or two along the way.
With 25 years of diverse experience as a management consultant, market researcher, small business owner and business coach, Natalie shares practical strategies to balance purpose and profit.
Through engaging discussions, trainings, and client stories, Natalie covers everything from pricing and proposals to maintaining client boundaries and tackling hiring and leadership hurdles. Her talent for simplifying complex ideas ensures you'll leave each episode with actionable insights to propel your consultancy forward.
But it's not all about numbers – Natalie also stresses the importance of mindset and resilience as a small business owner. As a mom of 3 and caregiver, she cherishes time with loved ones. With her guidance, you'll gain the confidence and clarity to overcome obstacles and reach your business goals while creating a fulfilling personal life.
Whether you're a seasoned consultant or an accidental entrepreneur, this podcast is your roadmap to success. Tune in and let Natalie help you unlock your full potential as a Nonprofit Consultant – and maybe even skip a step or two along the way.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 23, 2025 • 30min
60: What to Do When Your Pipeline Slows Down
If you’re feeling the pressure to bring in more work, you’re not alone. And you’re not doing anything wrong. But your next move matters. In this episode, I walk you through what to do when your consulting pipeline slows down, how to rebuild momentum, and how to avoid this cycle in the future. Whether you’ve been heads down with client work or focused on hiring, this is your reminder to shift back into proactive business development. If your pipeline has been quiet lately, this episode will give you a clear plan to get it moving again. Mentioned: Episode 3: Positioning Your Consulting Business Episode 48: Stop Waiting for Referrals — The Dream 15 Strategy 🎉Let’s work together!! MASTERMIND 🔗 Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program)Next enrollments: September 2025 | January 2026 For experienced nonprofit consultants with revenue form $200K to $1M, who want to build an enduring business! 📌 Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensiveOpen to ALL consultants at ALL levels. Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you’re thinking about joining the next mastermind or just want to connect! 💛 Enjoy the episode? Follow/Subscribe to The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants so you never miss an episode.

Jun 16, 2025 • 30min
59: Five Things I Help EVERY Nonprofit Consultant With
Feeling stuck as you push past $200K toward $1M in annual revenue? This episode uncovers the recurring focus areas that will keep your business moving forward in that messy middle phase. In this episode, I break down the critical areas every consultant needs to revisit as they scale their business and share client stories and strategies to help you make progress. Episodes Referenced Episode 3: Deep dive on positioning, specialize by what you do and niche by who you do it for Episode 24: Sales strategies for nonprofit consultants Episode 29 through 32: Micro positions, the five team-member roles, and all things hiring and team building Episode 45 through 48: Conversations, sales growth, and the proposal process Episode 50: Christine Schweitzer’s journey streamlining her grant consulting offer Listen to This is Working podcast hosted by Daniel Roth to hear from other leaders RESROUCES AND NEXT STEPS Revisit any of the above episodes for deeper guidance on the area you need next Ready for personalized support? 📌 Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive Resources: 🔗 Join the Impact Collective Mastermind Waitlist (12-month program) Next enrollment: September 2025 | January 2026 🔗 See Impact Collective retreat photos Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you’re thinking about joining the next mastermind or just want to connect! 💛 Enjoy the episode? Follow & Subscribe to The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants so you never miss an episode. Learn more at NatalieMBA.com

Jun 9, 2025 • 45min
58: [client success] CEO Mindset Unlocked with Dr. Andrea Mantsios
Does delegating still feel risky? Hear how Public Health Consultant and Qualitative Research expert, Dr. Andrea Mantsios, moved from doing every task herself to leading a growing team. She also shares how navigated this unprecendented and extremely challenging time for the Public Health sector. In this “Client Success” episode you’ll learn: Why Andrea’s first shifted her mindset around help The simple exercise she used to decide what to hand off first How following our hiring course freed up billable hours The systems she installed so quality improved as the team grew The one metric she now tracks weekly to stay in CEO model I also ask her perspective of first working with me 1:1 and now inside the Impact Collective Mastermind. Connect with Andrea LinkedIn (tell her you heard her episode) Website (PHIA Consulting) Connect with NatalieLinkedIn (tell me you're a podcast listener) Website Other Episodes Mentioned (apple links) 5: From Accidental Consultant to Leading a Team of 6 with Rachel Cahill 12: The Power of Specializing with Leah Roman Let's Work Together! 📍If you’re earning $200K to $800K and ready for strategic support with your growth and to be part of a curated community of experienced consultants, please apply to my Impact💫Collective Mastermind Program. Doors open 2x's a year for new members to enroll in September and January. (all genders welcome) Apply here Need immediate assistance: • Book a 90-Minute Intensive (intensives are open to all levels of consultants)

Jun 2, 2025 • 31min
57: Coaching, Courses, or a Mastermind? How to Choose the Right Support to Grow Your Consulting Business
If you’ve ever asked, “What kind of support do I actually need right now?” you’re not alone. In this episode, I walk through the key differences between coaching, courses, masterminds, and membership sites. You’ll learn how to choose what fits your business stage, learning style, and goals as a nonprofit consultant. Here’s what to expect: • When 1:1 coaching, group coaching, or subcontracting makes the most sense • Why I don’t recommend masterminds for beginners, and when they truly work • The difference between learning and implementing • How to think about ROI in three ways: immediate, compounding, and future • Why sometimes the smartest investment isn’t a program at all You don’t need more noise. You need support that fits. 📍If you’re earning $200K to $800K and ready for strategic support with your growth, please apply to my Impact💫Collective Mastermind Program. Doors open 2x's a year for new members to enroll in September and January. Apply here Need immediate assistance: • Book a 90-Minute Intensive (intensives are open to all levels of consultants) DM me on LinkedIn and let me know you are a podcast listener! https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieeckdahl/ For more resources and ways I can support you visit NatalieMBA.com.

May 26, 2025 • 25min
56: What Even Is a Mastermind? And How to Know If You’re Ready for One?
Ready to trade busywork for revenue-boosting conversations? Hit play to discover what a mastermind really is, where the idea first took shape, and what today’s research says about its power. I also help you determine whether your smartest next move is building your own circle or joining one led by a seasoned coach-facilitator. NEXT STEPS Want in before my October Charleston retreat? Apply now to the Impact Collective Mastermind Program accepted summer applicants receive bonus mastermind-prep resources the moment they commit. Have an urgent challenge? Book an Intensive and get clarity in 90 minutes. Listen to Episode 49: Inside The Impact Collective Retreat to hear about our February retreat in San Diego. (apple link) Other Resources: Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill Benjamin Franklin: An American Life – Walter Isaacson Harvard Business Review – “The Power of Peer Groups for CEOs” (March 2024) Vistage × Ohio State University – “CEO Confidence & Growth Study” (2023 PDF) Visit: NatalieMBA.com for more information.

May 23, 2025 • 22min
55: What's Working Right Now for Nonprofit Consultants
Worried that growth has stalled for nonprofit consultants this year? After analyzing my clients whose businesses are growing, I'm sharing what is working right now. Links & Resources Book a 90-Minute Intensive ($997) – the fastest on-ramp to these shifts NatalieMBA.com/intensive Follow me on LinkedIn for daily tips and conversation Learn the Dream 15 outreach method in “Stop Waiting” (Ep 48) Impact Collective Mastermind – next cohort forms in September; retreat in Charleston, SC, October 2025 **open to all genders! Join the converation on LinkedIn for this episode Visit NatalieMBA.com for any other questions.

May 5, 2025 • 20min
54: Finding Opportunity in a Hard Season
If your consulting business is feeling the ripple effects of canceled projects, stalled funding, or client uncertainty, you’re not alone. In this episode, I share how to stay resilient during hard times, drawing on real client wins, business cycles, and lessons from the pandemic. We’ll talk about mindset, emergency funds, pivoting your messaging, and staying grounded in your numbers. There are still opportunities...let’s make sure you’re positioned to find them. Mentioned in this episode: 📌 Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive Resources: 🔗 Join the Impact Collective Mastermind Waitlist (12-month program) Next enrollment: September 2025 | January 2026 🔗 Work with me 1:1 (six-month program) 🔗 See Impact Collective retreat photos Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you’re thinking about joining the next mastermind or just want to connect! 💛 Enjoy the episode? Follow & Subscribe to The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants so you never miss an episode.

Apr 21, 2025 • 10min
53: Selling is Serving
If the idea of “selling” makes you cringe or even hestiate, you’re not alone. For many nonprofit consultants, sales feels out of step with your mission—even though your business depends on it. But what if selling wasn’t about pressure or persuasion? What if it was simply about making it easier for the right people to say yes? In this episode, I’ll walk you through a powerful reframe that will shift how you think about sales conversations. Whether you avoid follow-ups, downplay your value, or rely entirely on referrals, this mindset shift will help you step more confidently into your role as a leader—and open the door to more aligned client relationships. Mentioned in this episode: 📌 Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive Resources: 🔗 Join the Impact Collective Mastermind Waitlist (12-month program) Next enrollment: September 2025 | January 2026 🔗 Work with me 1:1 (six-month program) 🔗 See Impact Collective retreat photos Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you’re thinking about joining the next mastermind or just want to connect! 💛 Enjoy the episode? Follow & Subscribe to The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants so you never miss an episode.

Apr 14, 2025 • 49min
52: From Burned Out to Booked Out: How Kel Haney Scaled by Specializing
Kel Haney was doing a little bit of everything: directing theater, consulting non profits, coaching others, and it left her burned out and unsure of how to grow. But everything changed when she made the decision to specialize in mid-level donor fundraising. In this episode, Kel shares how focusing on the work she does best helped her build a thriving, fully booked fundraising business. We talk about the clarity and momentum that came with refining her services, why mid-level donor strategies are often overlooked, and how this specialization allowed her to scale with more ease and impact. If you’re feeling spread too thin or unsure how to grow, Kel’s story is a powerful example of what’s possible when you align your business with your zone of genius. Mentioned in this episode: Kel Haney’s Website Kel on LinkedIn Book: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks Resources: 🔗 BOOK A ONE TIME COACHING SESSION (90 minutes) Let's tighten your positioining so you can get fully booked. Includes a workshop to complete before our call so we can make the most of our time together. 🔗 Join the Impact Collective Mastermind Waitlist (12-month program) Next enrollment: September 2025 | January 2026 🔗 Work with me 1:1 (six-month program) 🔗 See Impact Collective retreat photos Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you’re considering working with me or just want to connect! 💛 Enjoy the episode? Follow & Subscribe to The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants so you never miss an episode.

Apr 7, 2025 • 10min
51: How to Set Revenue Goals Using the Good, Better, Best Method
If your revenue goal feels too ambitious or too safe, you're not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing one of my favorite tools for setting goals that support real growth without adding unnecessary pressure. The Good, Better, Best method is a simple way to create structure and momentum in your business. I walk you through how it works and share two client stories. Whether you’re setting Q2 goals or recalibrating mid-year, this episode will help you create a more grounded and flexible plan. I also share a reminder to make time for CEO-level reflection. You’re leading a business, not just delivering services. Taking time to reset and reconnect with your direction is part your hightest level work as a business owner. Mentioned in this episode: Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive Resources : 🔗 Join the Impact Collective Mastermind Waitlist (12 month program) ***next enrollment September 2025 | January 2026 🔗 Work with me 1:1 (six month program) 🔗 See Impact Collective retreat photos Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you’re thinking about joining the next mastermind! ➕ Enjoy the episode? Follow & Subscribe.