How will we pay for consulting services?

This is often the first question that comes to mind when considering whether to hire a consultant, but the real question should be: Will this work add value to our organization? Will this investment strengthen and sustain our organization for the future? If the answer is yes, then there are some creative ways of finding the resources to make the investment. 

Often a donor or group of donors is interested in funding this type of long-term improvement project. Sometimes, sponsored institutions receive interest-free loans from their sponsoring congregations or parishes that cover expenses until additional funds can be raised. Additionally, many foundations are turning their focus to capacity building in organizations, and are providing grant money to fund these types of projects. These are just a few options.

The question isn’t, “Can we afford to do this work?” It’s “Can we afford not to?”