Five Reasons a Fundraising Consultant Might Be Your Best Next Move

In “State of Nonprofits 2024: What Funders Need to Know,” the Center for Effective Philanthropy found that 95% of nonprofit leaders expressed “some level of concern about burnout.” Given the data in the Center’s most recent report “A Sector in Crisis: How U.S. Nonprofits and Foundations are Responding to Threats,” it stands to reason that the concern about burnout has not abated. More likely, it has intensified, especially since the new report notes that “71% of nonprofit leaders are concerned about their organization’s financial stability” given the current socio-political environment.

The most effective leaders recognize when bringing in outside expertise isn’t a failure of capacity but a strategic choice. Yet not all organizations have the means to hire a consultant or pay for fractional work. (This is one reason Wordhorse has moved to a hybrid consultancy model.) To complicate matters further, many board members and executive directors have had negative experiences with consultants.

A fundraising consultant, especially one who has experience in your field, can offer a new perspective and provide much-needed hands-on support, allowing you to lead with greater clarity and less exhaustion. But when is it time to seek help? Here are five reasons why a consultant might be the right move for your organization in 2026.

1. Refining Your Core Message

Sometimes, you’re too close to the work to see it with clear eyes. Executive directors, who live and breathe their organizations 24/7, can lose objectivity. The ability to speak clearly to others about the work becomes surprisingly difficult. The desire to honor all the work the staff is doing and all the hard-fought accomplishments of the organization can lead to the data dump, the laundry list, or convoluted storytelling.

A consultant can bring distance and a fresh perspective to your institutional messaging. They can help you identify which details matter most and how to shape those details into a narrative that creates genuine connection with an external audience. When donors understand not just what you do but why it matters, their engagement deepens.

2. Creating Strategic Clarity

A good consultant can help you stop planning for planning’s sake. Strategic plans, fundraising plans, and operational plans often fail not in their creation but in their execution. A comprehensive fundraising strategy requires more than good intentions—it needs realistic goals, clear timelines, and accountability structures that fit your organization’s capacity. And they often need a project manager or “air traffic controller” to keep everything on schedule.

A consultant works with you to understand your organization’s donor base, competitive landscape, strengths, and constraints. Together, you can develop an approach that feels achievable rather than aspirational, turning fundraising from an overwhelming demand into a series of purposeful actions. For hands-on consultants like Wordhorse, we can also help you implement the plan, help you adjust strategies, and keep the momentum going.

3. Bridging Staffing Transitions

Budget constraints are a reality, especially for the small- and mid-sized nonprofit arts organizations we serve. Many lack the resources needed to hire a full-time development director, or they've experienced staff turnover in the development department during a critical period. These gaps create anxiety, particularly because fundraising goals and timelines don’t pause for organizational transitions.

Experienced consultants can provide fractional or interim support, bringing expertise to the team without the overhead of a full-time salary. This allows your fundraising momentum to continue while you make thoughtful decisions about permanent staffing. It’s a way to maintain stability during periods of change.

4. Protecting Leadership Capacity

Working 60-70 hours a week is unsustainable. It depletes your energy, and it makes your leadership less effective. When you’re managing every aspect of fundraising alongside all of your other responsibilities, something has to give. The cans that get kicked down the road are often related to your ability to 1) think strategically, 2) maintain donor relationships, and 3) maintain the enthusiasm and passion that drove you to this work. This is the exact moment you can't afford to sacrifice donor relationships.

A consultant can assume specific responsibilities, freeing you up to focus on those tasks that only you can do, including articulating the vision for the organization’s, nurturing key relationships, and leading your team. And a consultant can help you keep those relationships front and center. This isn’t delegation for delegation’s sake. It’s recognizing that your most valuable contribution to the organization requires protecting your capacity to think clearly.

5. Building a Culture of Philanthropy

The most significant shift a consultant can facilitate isn’t tactical but cultural. So much of our work involves organizational culture and board/staff alignment. Many boards and staff members approach fundraising with discomfort, viewing it as transactional or intrusive. A consultant can help reframe fundraising, build consensus, and inspire your entire team to work with a shared purpose. This is often done through trainings, retreats, resources, and one-on-one coaching.

Imagine board members who feel confident engaging donors because they view fundraising as an invitation rather than an imposition. Picture a development committee energized by their role in connecting people to meaningful work. A consultant can guide these conversations, helping your entire team recognize fundraising as relationship-building that serves both donors and mission.

Moving Forward

Seeking expertise is an investment in your organization’s sustainability and your ability to lead. Whether you need to sharpen your messaging, develop a realistic plan, or find a creative partner (or extra set of hands) during a challenging period, the right consultant can help you get to the next level.

If you’re ready to explore how Wordhorse might serve your organization, visit our Services page or reach out to me (Bill at wbelcher@wordhorsellc.com) to discuss your specific needs. The work you’re doing matters too much to try and navigate it alone.