The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants

If you're bringing in $300K or more, you've already built something successful. But what got you here won't get you to $1M—and it definitely won't get you more time, ease, or freedom. In this episode, I walk through what a scalable consulting firm actually looks like, from the offer that fuels it to the team and leadership shifts that make growth sustainable. You'll hear the story of two fictional...

If growth feels stalled, the issue may not be your pricing or pipeline. It may be the size of the clients you serve. I explain why "too small" clients quietly drain profit and momentum, then share three signals you are downmarket and simple steps to reposition without abandoning your values. Listen to learn what to change, why it matters, and how to make your next sales conversation easier. Want h...

You got here by being the go to expert who does it all. That same approach is now the ceiling. In this episode, I show you what must change in your offer, operations, team, and mindset so your firm can run without you. We also check back in with our fictional consultants Riley and Jean. Same talent, very different weeks. Which one sounds like you right now? Want help applying this to your firm Boo...

Most consultants don't think about scalability until it's too late. By then the options are often shutting down, taking a job, or rebuilding from the ground up. In this episode, I share three stories that illustrate what happens when a business depends on one person to hold it all together. You'll also hear why a scalable consulting firm isn't just about growth, but about protection and possibilit...

Mindset blocks aren't always obvious. But they might be running your business. If you've been revisiting the same decisions, putting off your next hire, or waffling over your pricing, the problem might not be strategy. It might be mindset. In this episode, I walk through the Scalable Mindset framework and check in with the two fictional consultants we have been following, Riley and Jean, whose wee...

Are you the bottleneck in your business? Is your calendar packed with back to back appointments and constant task switching? Does every project depend on you? Have you mastered bringing in work, yet dread saying yes to one more client? Join us as we check in with our fictional consultants, Riley and Jean, to show how the same talent can lead to very different weeks when the business is set up diff...

Operations can be your greatest growth asset or your biggest roadblock. In this episode, we return to Riley and Jean to see how their very different approaches to running their consulting businesses are playing out. One is stuck in complexity and constant firefighting. The other is building something that runs smoothly, even when they step away. We will explore what makes operations truly scalable...

Most consultants hit a ceiling. A scalable offer breaks it. If you're a consultant who wants to grow but still feels stuck in client delivery, don't miss this episode. You'll hear about two consultants. One is stuck managing everything. The other has space to think, lead, and grow. I break down what makes that shift possible. We walk through what a scalable offer actually is and why it matters. We...

WHAT IF TWO CONVERSATIONS A WEEK COULD FILL YOUR PIPELINE? Listen in as Impact Collective Mastermind member Kyle Huelsman of Advocacy Rising turns two STRATEGIC weekly conversations with ideal clients into a consulting firm overflowing with work and options. IN THIS EPISODE, KYLE SHARES the "two conversations" rule that keeps his pipeline warm how co-creating scope with a prospect turned a $5K ide...

If your business is growing but YOUR ROLE still looks the same, it's time to make a bigger shift. In this episode, I walk through the real, and often messy, process of moving from solo consultant to business owner, and what that looks like day to day. We talk about the mindset, money, and leadership shifts that come with growth. If you're ready to move from doing the work to building a business, t...

ARE YOU RIDING THE REFERRAL ROLLER COASTER? Listen in to hear how Impact Collective Mastermind member Jennifer Hunter of Gensyn Design turned a stop-and-start project pipeline into a multi-year contract that stabilized the business. Her next step was to narrow here services menu to a focused Strategic Planning offer that fuels steady growth. IN THIS EPISODE I sit down with Jennifer to unpack: why...

LinkedIn strategist Sara Royf joins me to share her Relationship-First DM Strategy: an active, conversation-driven approach that replaces content overwhelm and referral 🍀luck with steady pipeline growth. If you want genuine outreach that feels good and lands clients, this episode serves up the mindset shift and practical tips you've been missing. CONNECT WITH SARA ROYF: • Website • LinkedIn   🎉L...

ARE YOU STUCK AT CAPACITY BECAUSE YOU OFFER "A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING"? Listen in to hear how Frances Rowen of Fundraising Sol ditched the buffet of fundraising services, zeroed in on capital campaigns, and created a business that can scale. IN THIS EPISODE I sit down with Impact Collective Mastermind member Frances Roen to unpack: the aha moment that pushed her from generalist to go-to capital-camp...

If you're feeling the pressure to bring in more work, you're not alone. And you're not doing anything wrong. But your next move matters. In this episode, I walk you through what to do when your consulting pipeline slows down, how to rebuild momentum, and how to avoid this cycle in the future. Whether you've been heads down with client work or focused on hiring, this is your reminder to shift back...

Feeling stuck as you push past $200K toward $1M in annual revenue? This episode uncovers the recurring focus areas that will keep your business moving forward in that messy middle phase. In this episode, I break down the critical areas every consultant needs to revisit as they scale their business and share client stories and strategies to help you make progress. Episodes Referenced Episode 3: Dee...

Does delegating still feel risky? Hear how Public Health Consultant and Qualitative Research expert, Dr. Andrea Mantsios, moved from doing every task herself to leading a growing team. She also shares how navigated this unprecendented and extremely challenging time for the Public Health sector. In this "Client Success" episode you'll learn: Why Andrea's first shifted her mindset around help The si...

If you've ever asked,  "What kind of support do I actually need right now?" you're not alone. In this episode, I walk through the key differences between coaching, courses, masterminds, and membership sites. You'll learn how to choose what fits your business stage, learning style, and goals as a nonprofit consultant. Here's what to expect: • When 1:1 coaching, group coaching, or subcontracting mak...

Ready to trade busywork for revenue-boosting conversations? Hit play to discover what a mastermind really is, where the idea first took shape, and what today's research says about its power. I also help you determine whether your smartest next move is building your own circle or joining one led by a seasoned coach-facilitator. NEXT STEPS Want in before my October Charleston retreat? Apply now to t...

Worried that growth has stalled for nonprofit consultants this year? After analyzing my clients whose businesses are growing, I'm sharing what is working right now. Links & Resources Book a 90-Minute Intensive ($997) – the fastest on-ramp to these shifts NatalieMBA.com/intensive Follow me on LinkedIn for daily tips and conversation Learn the Dream 15 outreach method in "Stop Waiting" (Ep 48) Impac...

If your consulting business is feeling the ripple effects of canceled projects, stalled funding, or client uncertainty, you're not alone.  In this episode, I share how to stay resilient during hard times, drawing on real client wins, business cycles, and lessons from the pandemic. We'll talk about mindset, emergency funds, pivoting your messaging, and staying grounded in your numbers. There are st...

If the idea of "selling" makes you cringe or even hestiate, you're not alone. For many nonprofit consultants, sales feels out of step with your mission—even though your business depends on it. But what if selling wasn't about pressure or persuasion? What if it was simply about making it easier for the right people to say yes? In this episode, I'll walk you through a powerful reframe that will shif...

If your revenue goal feels too ambitious or too safe, you're not alone. In this episode, I'm sharing one of my favorite tools for setting goals that support real growth without adding unnecessary pressure. The Good, Better, Best method is a simple way to create structure and momentum in your business. I walk you through how it works and share two client stories. Whether you're setting Q2 goals or...

It's been a minute since I've featured a client success story, and today's interview with Christine Schweitzer of Holistic Grants was well worth the wait. Christine has experienced incredible growth, moving from solo grant writer to owner of a thriving consulting firm. Today, she's sharing openly about the highs and lows of scaling, including hiring her first employee, transitioning client relatio...

Let's go behind the scenes of the Impact Collective Mastermind Retreat —sharing why this experience exceeded my expectations and how it transformed both my clients and me. You'll hear: ✔️ The evolution of my masterminds—how I went from my first paid mastermind in 2015 to hosting curated retreats for experienced nonprofit consultants. ✔️ Standout moments, including hot tub hot seats , game-changing...

Most nonprofit consultants rely on referrals, but what if you could take control of your growth? In this episode, I introduce the Dream 15 strategy—a simple, proactive way to connect with your ideal clients. You'll learn how to build your list, why it works, and an easy research tip to stay engaged with top prospects. If you're ready to attract the right clients with confidence, this episode is fo...