ORGANIZATIONS WE SERVE

HIRING A CONSULTANT

In the words of...Pretend City

In the words of...Pretend City

"RBSCo is exceptional at strategy, masters of educating Board members about how to raise funds, and second-to-none in motivating them to do so. Since they have become consul to our project we have raised more money in two years then we did in the previous six. They have helped us reposition our case for support, develop a presentation that concisely and dramatically tells our story, and create strategies which routinely elicit a desire (on the part of the prospect) to participate at a significant level."

- Pam Shambra, President
Pretend City, The Children's Museum of Orange County
 

Our philosophy on hiring a consultant

Here are a few suggestions to help guide you in your decision to hire the right consultant:

  1. First, be willing to engage the consultant in an honest appraisal of your situation. What do you think you need? What are your expectations?  What is your fundraising goal? How are the funds you raise going to make an impact?

  2. Be open to the consultant’s assessment that there may be a better set of services to help you reach your goals; 
     
  3. Be sure to accurately characterize your Board/CEO relationship. Also, properly assess the extent of unity found on your Board for the proposed services;
     
  4. Consider just how likely your staff and Board will be to implement difficult recommendations made by your consultant;
     
  5. Try to ensure that, if you are interviewing several consultants, they represent similar-sized operations. If they do not, then tell each consultant that you are interviewing with different-sized concerns and what you want to learn from each one;                        
         
  6. Lastly, if you have included RBSCo on your short list, look for the chemistry between our people and your people. We have a specific style—we are candid, motivated to do well and we want to see that you do well. We are upbeat and enjoy a sense of humor; we understand that you are a client but we want to earn your friendship. Finally, you can trust us to do what we say and to fulfill your expectations.

The Western States Philanthropy Experts
With A Goal of Global Impact