Consulting

• Affordable and competitively priced; $150 to $250 less per hour than the national average.
• Access to a wide array of incredible expert nonprofit consultants with experience in a large variety of areas.
• Contracts structured to meet your needs and advocate on your behalf throughout the consultation. 
• We (the Alliance) facilitates all payments with the consultant. 
• We provide flexible payment structures to support your organization's financial capacity.

• Consulting has a set price of $100 per hour of service. This is $150 to $250 less than the national average.
• You are NOT charged for a Diagnostic Consultation with a potential consultant.
• You will NOT be charged/invoiced without your approval in the form of a signed contract.
• We know some consultations can be very expensive so we offer flexible payment structures and establish those arrangements during the contract process.

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Do I get to choose the consultant?
If there is a specific consultant that you would like to work with, we will reach out to that individual and see if they are available for a Diagnostic Conversation. Based on that conversation, you and the prospective consultant will determine if you want to move forward.

Can I change consultants in the middle of a contract?
You can always stop a contract. However, depending on the circumstances, you may be required to pay for the services that were completed up to the point of cancellation. We want you to receive the services you need. We will do our very best to ensure that we have you paired with the right consultant early on.

What is a Diagnostic Conversation?
Before a consultation begins, it is critical for you to meet with a potential consultant and discuss what you are looking to accomplish with an engagement. This is also a time for a consultant to ask clarifying questions that will help them determine if they have the skills, expertise, and information they need to determine if they are a good fit for what you are looking for and, if so, what they need to complete a scope of work (that is used to generate a contract).

Additionally, this is a time for both parties to meet and see if they want to work together. A consultation is a very personal process. Both parties need to be a successful match. A major outcome of a Diagnostic Conversation is determining if you want to work together.

The Diagnostic Conversation is free.

Is the consultation in-person of virtual?
This is entirely up to you and the consultant. If it is agreed upon that in-person services are provided, you will be responsible for additional travel, hotel, and food expenses. This cost will be determined prior to any travel taking place.

What happens if I want to make changes to the contract?
We understand that things change, evolve, and need adjustment periodically. We try our best to ensure that the contract that is signed is agreeable to all parties before work begins. If a contract needs adjustment, we will set up a meeting between you, the consultant, and The Alliance to discuss the requested changes, determine how that impacts the existing contract, and see what accommodations can be made. Sometimes, it is more effective to stop a contract prematurely, and create a new one. This will be determined during the meeting.

Do I pay The Alliance of the consultant?
All payments and contracts are through The Alliance. Your interaction with the consultant is purely centered on the work outlined in the contract.

Are there any other costs I need to consider?
The only additional costs are for specific materials needed to complete the contract, travel, accommodations, and food. This will be quantified and communicated well before expenses are accrued. You will not be charged for anything without prior consent.

How long is a typical contract?
Every consultation is different. Most contracts fall into one of three categories.
1. Project Centered: this is a limited engagement that has very concrete and specific parameters and identified outcomes.
2. High Engagement: this is a complex project that consists of multiple phases with a substantial list of deliverables with time bound measures.
3. Ongoing: this is typically centered around a monthly allotment of hours/cost for a project that has less clear deliverables and/or will require an extensive period of time to complete.