Consulting Checklist

Find the right assistance for your nonprofit organization's project at the Nonprofit Management Fund's Technical Assistance Directory. This directory holds information on hundreds of local nonprofit management consultants, including IT consultants.

Consultants interested in being listed in the Fund's directory should sign up here.

In addition to the Checklist for Selecting Consultants, available from the Nonprofit Management Fund, ENTECH offers additional guidelines for finding the right IT expertise for your project.

Does the Consultant:

• Have considerable work experience with nonprofit organizations?
• Have examples of completed projects similar to yours?
• Have experience working under grant restrictions?
• Provide references/contacts?
• Work with hardware, software, etc. that your company uses or may need?
• Discuss how their solutions will help you and what possible alternatives there may be?
• Avoid technical jargon and speak at the organization's level?
• Provide a project timeline that is suitable for your organization?
• Provide a work plan detailing specifically what the consultant will be doing?
• Provide a written proposal from every party that will be involved in the process?
• Provide information about their present involvement with past customers?
• Gather information about your organization before the meeting?

Also, here are some related links from TechSoup:

• Who Do You Need: Volunteer, Consultant or Staff?
• Defining the Consulting Project
• Finding a Consultant
• Choosing the Right Consultant
• Writing a Contract
• Managing a Consultant
• Working with Corporate Volunteers and Consultants
• Consultants: It's Like Going to the Doctor
• Document Your Systems
• What To Do When Your Techie Leaves You