Many people aren't sure if—or how—they should work with consultants. Whether it's with a small or large organization, over a short or extended time period, our services are tailored to match your needs. We work in a staged way:

First Consultation
Some of our longest partnerships began years ago with a phone call. In this single, hour-long confidential conversation, we'll discuss the challenges and opportunities you face. Beforehand, we'll ask for materials or suggest questions to think about. We'll begin to identify your needs and how we might address them. And, you'll leave with a sense of our working style and process.

Initial Assessment
The Initial Assessment pinpoints problems and identifies solutions. In one or several meetings we'll examine key areas in more depth and identify the steps that are necessary to address them. To guide our thinking and enhance your product, we'll review a range of information related to programs, governance and promotion, including: fundraising and marketing materials, budgets, plans, work samples, board documents, and your website. Completed on a short turnaround, the Assessment provides clients with clarity and direction - and a helpful tool to fundraise for further consulting support.

Working in partnership allows you to think bigger and accomplish more over the long term. Together we can tackle projects that go beyond your capacity or expertise. While the Assessment may meet your needs, it could lead to one of the following typical options:

• Embarking on a strategic planning process - if you need one and how to approach it
• Improving the way your organization is managed
• Building relationships with audiences, members or funders
• Improving your return on direct mail and individual giving
• Increasing your success rate on grant proposals
• Creating a fundraising plan
• Preparing a case statement that unifies your fundraising messages
• Launching a capital campaign or other major fundraising initiative
• Increasing your board's effectiveness
• Obtaining ongoing fundraising guidance, to build staff's capacity while freeing them up to focus on programs
• Creating evaluation tools to measure your success
• Training your staff in evaluation
• Gathering data after a performance or during a residency
• Conducting a multi-year evaluation for an arts organization or academic department

Products meet a distinct need, yet are designed to have lasting impact. Tailored to the client, they might include the Initial Assessment; a comprehensive strategic or business plan; a written review of fundraising materials; new grant proposals; a case statement; a direct mail package; an evaluation training session or instruments; or a multi-year evaluation report. Some of our products are specifically geared towards the needs of arts departments in colleges.

These principles guide both our work and relationships with clients.

Available by appointment.