We try to offer grantees a wide choice of consultants.
We are fortunate to work with over 750 professionals covering many geographies from Japan to Chile. We've worked hard to build a uniquely global localized network, though we know there's always room to grow. When we find gaps, we do our best to source new talent, often through network recommendations. And the grantee is always in the driving seat, able to bring their own consultants on board if that's their preference. We're here to make it work their way!
Our consultants and trainers are specialized in serving the nonprofit sector, bringing relevant, contextualized experience.
These are often solo consultants or small practices who bring valuable expertise – we call them superheroes (more on that later). When we come across consultants or trainers with innovative approaches, we make sure they reach global audience - we see ourselves as a connector of ideas, wherever they may come from. We helped more than one consultant launch a successful career in a sector that used to depend on personal connections as much as skill or experience. We bring new funds to capacity building and this helps talented consultants continue serving the sector rather than having to seek other employment.
We aim to keep pricing fair and sustainable.
First, we offer foundations pay-as-you-go contracts where you only pay if and when your grantee uses the service (if there's no uptake, you can have your money back – though we're grateful that demand is often strong!). Second, we do our best to facilitate fair arrangements, helping consultants charge fees appropriate for their experience and market while reviewing projects to ensure reasonable pricing. This approach tends to work well for everybody, grantees, foundations and consultants.
We try to make processes as smooth as possible.
We work continuously to reduce the administrative burden of capacity building. For example, a consulting project – once the grantee and consultant have met and the consultant has posted the project – can often be approved in just a couple of days. What helps us: a CRM system we've developed over time, a dedicated support team from different parts of the world, and a genuine commitment to helping your grantees succeed.
Our model helps grantees focus on their outcomes rather than worry about the cost.
This is what we hope makes the Nonprofit Builder useful: the grantee receives the service without payment concerns, with their foundation supporting in the background. We understand how challenging it is for nonprofits to allocate unrestricted funding for capacity building when urgent needs like payroll are pressing. Our model attempts to remove this barrier, helping grantees access the level and quality support they need without worrying about how to pay for it (their foundations cover the cost via our system).
We have learned a lot about grantee needs over the years.
Through working with many organizations and trying different approaches (more than 800 coaching or consulting engagements in the past 2 years!), we've gathered insights about what formats and models tend to work well. For example, we've found that projects of 6 to 10 consulting days often hit a sweet spot – giving consultants enough time to understand the grantee while keeping costs manageable.
We try to provide a range of services to meet different needs.
From one-on-one consulting to group training, coaching support, and we're exploring capacity building grants. We also facilitate cohort approaches, bringing together grantees facing similar challenges or transitions, from incubator programs to exit planning support.
Learn more about how we can support your grantees in this attached leaflet. We'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how this approach might work for your foundation – please don't hesitate to reach out when you're ready to explore the possibilities together!