A Guide to Finding the Right Nonprofit Marketing Consultant

In this modern, digital era, a well-thought-out and data-driven marketing strategy is crucial to any organization or business. For nonprofits, in particular, your marketing strategy is an essential component of driving your mission and garnering support from donors.

Nonprofit marketing raises mission awareness, ensures you develop strong relationships with supporters, promotes your organization’s services, and so much more! However, it’s not enough to draft a couple of emails and post a few generic social media posts. That’s why organizational leaders often turn to nonprofit marketing consultants for professional help.

There are many different types of marketing consultants out there, each with their own specialty and qualifications that make them valuable to partner with. However, not every consultant will be able to help your nonprofit and understand your mission equally. 

A great nonprofit marketing consultant will work closely with your fundraising team to ensure that the steps in your marketing plan further your goals.

If you’re looking to supplement your marketing efforts with professional help, you’re in the right place. This guide will walk through:

• Nonprofit Marketing Consultant: Quick FAQ
• Steps To Finding The Best Nonprofit Marketing Consultant
• Top Nonprofit Marketing Consultants

At Getting Attention, we understand the impact the right consultant can have on a nonprofit. Marketing is a complex topic and implementing your strategy can quickly become a full-time job, which is why we’re dedicated to helping nonprofits forge long-lasting partnerships with the right nonprofit marketing consultant for them. Let’s get started.  

Nonprofit Marketing Consultant: Quick FAQ

Hiring a consultant can be a big investment for your nonprofit, so ensure you have completed your research and know the answers to essential questions, such as:

What is a nonprofit marketing consultant?

A consultant is a professional who provides targeted advice to organizational leaders. They typically specialize in a few areas of expertise, so their clients can strengthen their organizations’ weaknesses. 

This means a nonprofit marketing consultant is someone who gives advice on how nonprofits can take their outreach and donor engagement strategy to the next level.

Nonprofit marketing consultants can help with a variety of tasks, but ultimately they should work closely with your nonprofit to support your strategy no matter the stage you’re in. From general support to a complete overhaul of your marketing strategy, a consultant can help at any point during the process.

When should you hire a nonprofit marketing consultant?

Researching and partnering with a consultant can take time and require a significant investment of your nonprofit’s resources. Before diving into this process, take the time to consider if hiring a nonprofit marketing consultant is the right course of action for your organization at this time.

Nonprofit organizations hire marketing consultants for all sorts of reasons, including general support for their promotional efforts. However, there are also a few situations where it makes sense to seek out a marketing consultant’s unique expertise, such as:

• Before an upcoming major campaign. A fundraising campaign is a major undertaking, and if a campaign falls short of its goal, it can negatively impact your nonprofit’s credibility. If it’s your nonprofit’s first time launching a major fundraising campaign, or if you think you’ll need extra help, try looking into nonprofit marketing consultants with fundraising and campaign planning expertise. 

• To assist in big technology upgrades. It’s great when your nonprofit is ready to upgrade its technology, but it can also be accompanied by a work slowdown as employees get accustomed to your new software. With a consultant who specializes in nonprofit technology, you can speed up your onboarding process by getting professional assistance for managing your workflows. 

• When launching or revamping your fundraising strategies. If you’re looking to make a major change in your approach to fundraising, a consultant can provide the professional insight you need. Bringing in a consultant can help you get a fresh perspective on your old approach to fundraising, allowing you to create new strategies that capitalize on your previous methods’ strengths and avoid their pitfalls. 

• To apply for nonprofit marketing grants. Applying for a grant is often a long process that requires your team to carefully put together the strongest application possible. Bringing in a nonprofit marketing consultant who specializes in the grants you’re applying for can give your team new guidance and ensure you stick to all of your grant’s deadlines. For example, you’d want a Google Ad Grant consulting agency to manage your application for the Google Ad Grants program since they understand all the eligibility requirements.

It’s important to note that you don’t have to wait for an event or large campaign to seek out a nonprofit marketing consultant. If you simply want to revitalize your communication efforts or you notice a key performance indicator falling behind, a marketing consultant can step in at any point and provide assistance.

How can marketing consultants help your nonprofit efforts?

What exactly do marketing consultants do? First and foremost, they should have a deep understanding of your organization and audience, along with the specific goals you’re trying to accomplish.

Then they’ll come up with a marketing plan that incorporates all of that knowledge and aims to propel your nonprofit towards those goals. 

Along with strategic planning, here are the specific actions nonprofit marketing consultants might help you with when executing their plan:

• Copywriting. On the surface, you may think your nonprofit doesn’t need to write out that many marketing materials beyond a few emails. However, in reality, most nonprofits need a lot of copy for a variety of tasks, including their fundraising letters, thank you messages, social media posts, event invitations, grant applications, and more. Not to mention, compelling copy can be the determining factor in whether someone engages further with your nonprofit. 

• Nonprofit storytelling. Most donors give to causes they have an emotional connection with, whether it’s due to personal experiences, because of a friend or family member, or caused by the empathy they have for those affected by a nonprofit’s mission. Your nonprofit marketing consultant can help your team better engage supporters and invoke these emotions by creating effective stories to share with potential donors. 

• Content management. Content management includes all the tasks that need to be completed after your content is created, such as posting or sending it, managing a messaging calendar, and tracking engagement rates. Your marketing consultant can help you refine your content management strategy and make adjustments based on the results you’re currently seeing. 

• Print and web design. Effective marketing appeals are rarely just unformatted text. If your nonprofit doesn’t have a graphic designer on staff, a nonprofit marketing consultant can leverage powerful graphic design to transform your content into something that will stand out and drive donations.

• Data tracking and reporting. Sometimes when hiring external help, you might know you need to make a change but aren’t sure what exactly that change should be. Nonprofit marketing consultants that specialize in data tracking and reporting can analyze your current information on donors as well as your marketing performance to help make logical decisions for your nonprofit’s future. 

• Grant application. Applying for a grant will require your team to take on responsibilities that go beyond their normal fundraising efforts. Hiring a consultant with expertise in grant writing and management can help you create a smooth, timely grant application process. 

• Google Ad Grant maintenance. Google Ad Grants provide nonprofits with the funds they need to launch marketing campaigns. But making the most of those funds and ensuring your nonprofit maintains compliance with the grant’s stipulations may require the expertise of a marketing consultant. 

As you can tell from this list of services, there are a wide variety of consultant specializations that fit under the umbrella of marketing. Before hiring a consultant, try to narrow down what services your nonprofit will need so you can reach out to the right type of professional to help.

What are common nonprofit marketing consultant services?

The great thing about the expansive online space is that your nonprofit has a variety of marketing channels at its disposal. Each platform has its unique quirks, which is why there are nonprofit marketing consultants who specialize in one or several of these platforms. 

As you develop your marketing strategy, consider how you can use the following platforms and if a professional can help bring your strategy to the next level:

• Website. Your website is the face of your organization, and a nonprofit marketing consultant who specializes in website design can help you create a digital hub to store all of your content and make the best possible first impression on new donors. 

• Email marketing. Email is likely one of your nonprofit’s many methods for communicating with donors. Consultants who specialize in communication and online messaging can help you refine your email marketing strategy to craft more eye-catching, effective emails, whether they’re fundraising appeals or your monthly newsletter. 

• Social media. Social media has been a necessity for nonprofits looking to gain a wide audience online. However, keeping multiple accounts on different platforms active can be a challenge. By partnering with a digital marketing consultant, you’ll get expert advice on which platforms to use and how to make your content as effective as possible on them. 

• Google Ad Grant. Google Ad Grants are a unique marketing opportunity that allows you to amplify your nonprofit’s most important pages for cause-related keywords using free advertising credits. A Google Ad Grants consultant can get your nonprofit on the right track toward qualifying for a grant and help make the most of the funding you receive. 

• SEO. Search engine optimization (SEO) can help more supporters find your content organically through Google searches. Launching an SEO strategy isn’t something your nonprofit can just do overnight, however. Partner with an SEO nonprofit marketing consultant to learn how to leverage your current content and what new content you should be creating to start ranking on search engines. 

• Direct mail. Even with the rising popularity of digital marketing, direct mail isn’t dead. In fact, the sheer prominence of online-only marketing has caused direct mail appeals to stand out even more for some donors. If you’re interested in a multi-channel approach that incorporates physical mail appeals, try partnering with a direct mailing consultant. 
• Campaign marketing. Campaigns are always extensive undertakings that require a significant amount of your staff’s time and your nonprofit’s resources. A campaign marketing consultant can help you plan and promote the most effective campaign possible with the resources your organization has. 

This isn’t an exhaustive list— there are tons of different specialties that a consultant can help your nonprofit improve. Later on, we recommend some top marketing consultants based on these focuses.

Steps To Finding The Best Nonprofit Marketing Consultant

There is an abundance of marketing consultants out there, so how do you find the best one for your nonprofit organization? And what specialty should you seek out?  Does it matter if the team is local or not? 

If you want to find the consultant who best aligns with your nonprofit’s goals and can take your marketing strategy to the next level, we recommend the following steps:

1. Review your nonprofit marketing needs with an audit

Before you start thinking about partnering with a marketing professional, you have to get a sense of how your current marketing strategy is performing and determine your needs.

We recommend starting with a marketing audit. This might include a:

• SWOT analysis — A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning technique used to help a person or organization identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. 
• Gathering of current marketing assets — This way, you know what materials you have already and what you’ll need.
• Data analysis — Look at your past marketing data. What strategies have worked in the past? Were there any strategies that missed its mark? 

From there, you can create an action plan. Divide your needs into “immediate” and “long-term.” This way you can choose the best nonprofit marketing consultant for your highest priority needs!

2. Meet with nonprofit board and other key stakeholders

Before making any major decisions and hiring a marketing consultant for your nonprofit, you need to ensure that the rest of your nonprofit leadership team is on board and understands the exact help you’re seeking. 

When meeting with your nonprofit board and other key stakeholders, discuss:

• Guidelines for a general budget
• A target start date for the consulting service
• A general timeframe for the partnership 

Remember, these guidelines are just there to do just that — guide you. It’s important to remain flexible, as not everything can be predicted before the partnership even begins.

3. Compile a list of prospects that meet your needs

Once you have a good idea of your current marketing needs and what you want out of the partnership, it’s time to compile a list of possible consultants.

Here are some of the common ways that you might find potential nonprofit marketing consultant partners:

• Ask for recommendations from colleagues at similar nonprofit organizations.
• Take a look at online lists or directories of top nonprofit technology consulting firms.
• From here, consider what is most important to you. If you prefer to meet in person with a team, then look for an agency that is local. If you know that you need consulting in website development and support, make sure to review the agency’s specialties to see if they align with your goals. 

As you look through your list of consultants, consider their experience and client history. Try and look for a marketing professional that often works with nonprofits similar in size, mission, and needs as yours. That way, you’ll know you’re working with a reputable team that understands your unique needs.

4. Create an RFP (Request for Proposal)

Often, nonprofit leaders will create a request for proposal (RFP) when choosing a consultant. RFPs are used to request information from potential partners and communicate your nonprofit’s needs, mission, and any relevant goals that the prospective consultant might need. Requesting a proposal is likely the most direct and straightforward way to determine if a consultant is right for you. 

Your RFP will be unique to your organization, but we recommend including these essential components:

• An overview of your organization, any relevant history, your mission, and a brief description of your donor base.
• A description of your nonprofit marketing needs.
• The guidelines of the partnership, like the general budget and timeframe.
• Expected outcomes for the partnership. You can even include a list of tangible deliverables.
• Any questions or requests for the consultant team for additional information or background history.

Generally, your RFP should give consultants the necessary information to propose a strategy to address them. The more focused your RFP is, the more effective the proposal will be!

5. Reach out to top candidates

It’s time to compile a list of top candidates. This can be a tough choice, so reach out to your team and nonprofit leadership to rank their favorite choices and compare.

Once you’ve narrowed down your top picks and finalized your RFP, you should reach out to your prospects. Make sure that the consultants you connect with receive your RFP and know exactly how to get back in touch if they’re interested in working with you.

6. Ask for references and follow up

When you hire a nonprofit marketing consultant, you’re adding another player to your nonprofit team. It’s important to vet them just like you would a potential new hire.

Review the consultants’ proposals like you would job applications. Plus, don’t be afraid to ask for references or case studies from past clients. It’s important that you have an accurate understanding of each consultant’s past experiences to see if this relationship would work with you. 

Once you’ve selected your favorite candidate, it’s time to follow up and begin the partnership.

Top Nonprofit Marketing Consultants

Don’t fret if you still don’t know where to start! We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite marketing consultants for nonprofits right here divided by specialty. You’re bound to find the best partner for your unique needs:

• Getting Attention — Best for Google Grant management
• Kwala — Best for nonprofit graphic design
• DNL OmniMedia — Best for strategy development
• Kanopi — Best for nonprofit website support
• Capital Campaign Toolkit — Best for capital campaigns
• Meyer Partners — Best for direct mail marketing
• The Fundraising Coach — Best for training
• Big Duck — Best for brand promotion 
• Donorly — Best for Fundraising

Getting Attention — Best for Google Grant Management

At Getting Attention, the Google Ad Grant is our core marketing specialty. If you’re unfamiliar with the program, Google offers eligible organizations to amplify their most important landing webpages for the keywords their supporters are searching online. Using Google Ads and leveraging the Google Grant program is one of the most valuable ways to jumpstart your marketing efforts and promote your digital content!

As a Google Grant agency, our goal is to assist nonprofits in managing their account no matter if they’re just applying or want to revitalize an existing campaign. Our marketing team will work closely with your nonprofit to ensure that the strategies you use and the plans you carry out are aligned with your audience’s needs and your overall mission.

Standout Consultant Services

• Google Grant Application — Our professional consultants are here to walk you through every step of the Google Grant application process. We’ll check your eligibility and fill out the application for you, making sure you get approved in no time!
• Google Grant Hygiene — Both in your Google Grant and overall marketing strategy, data is important. You don’t want unclean or duplicate data bogging down your fundraising efforts. We’ll help you keep your data clean and organized.  
• Google Grant Reactivation — Maintaining your Google Ad Grant account isn’t as easy as one might think. Google will suspend your account if it doesn’t comply with certain guidelines. Our professionals can get your account back up and running in case you are suspended. 
• Keyword Research — Targeting the right keywords is vital if you want to take your digital marketing to the next level and show success in your Google Ads. That’s why keyword research is one of our main skills!
• Google Grant Management — Not only can our Getting Attention professionals track data and research keywords, but we can also make sure your campaigns remain compliant with all of Google’s official guidelines.

Kwala — Best for Nonprofit Graphic Design

Kwala is an unlimited graphic design company that specializes in mission-driven marketing. They understand the unique needs of nonprofits and know how to make your cause stand out through powerful marketing materials. Not to mention, they offer unlimited requests and revisions, meaning they’ll keep designing until your materials are perfect.

From improving your social media presence to transforming your direct marketing appeals, Kwala offers everything you need to build brand awareness and connect with supporters.

Standout Consultant Services

• Digital Marketing Materials: Kwala’s team of designers recognizes the need for a strong digital presence in today’s world. That’s why they offer web design services such as site design, web ads, and social media graphics.
• Physical Marketing Materials: Kwala won’t let your in-person efforts fall by the wayside. They offer design services such as fundraising flyers, business cards, brochures, and postcards.
• Logo Design: Your logo is the centerpiece of your marketing. Kwala can design a timeless logo that supporters will associate with your cause for years to come.
• Product designs: If you want to ramp up your product designs, Kwala can help you create t-shirt graphics, hat designs, and more.

DNL OmniMedia — Best for Strategy Development

DNL OmniMedia is a full-service nonprofit marketing consulting firm and is dedicated to helping fundraisers carry out an effective campaign and reach supporters. Their extensive suite of services can help large and enterprise-level nonprofits achieve a variety of goals, no matter how complex or time-consuming. 

Standout Nonprofit Marketing Consulting Services:

• Pay-per-click marketing
• Copywriting services
• Video and digital marketing
• Print and web design

Kanopi — Best for Nonprofit Website Support

Kanopi Studios is a digital website agency and a top partner for nonprofits looking to take their online marketing efforts to the next level. They currently support over 150 active sites and work closely with nonprofits to ensure that their content is effectively promoting their mission and supporting their overall marketing strategy. 

Standout Nonprofit Marketing Consulting Services:

• Website user research 
• Content strategy development
• User personas and mapped out user journeys 
• Full website growth plan

Capital Campaign Toolkit — Best for Capital Campaigns

The Capital Campaign Toolkit is made up of professionals aimed to help fundraisers tackle capital campaigns and market them effectively. Capital campaigns are usually ongoing and resource-exhaustive, so having a dedicated nonprofit marketing consultant on your team can be valuable.

Standout Nonprofit Marketing Consulting Services:

• A seven-phase capital campaign plan
• Templates, checklists, and worksheets
• A guided feasibility study for nonprofit professionals

Meyer Partners — Best for Direct Mail Marketing

Meyer Partners is a marketing agency for nonprofits dedicated to helping fundraisers craft effective direct mail appeals. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that direct mail is dead—it’s still a valuable channel when it comes to marketing your mission and connecting with supporters. Meyer Partners can help you harness that power!

Standout Nonprofit Marketing Consulting Services:

• Direct mail copywriting
• Creative storytelling advice
• Data collecting and reporting

The Fundraising Coach — Best Nonprofit Marketing Consultant for Training

Marc A. Pitman, AKA The Fundraising Coach, trains nonprofit professionals to improve their fundraising abilities. If your nonprofit is interested in improving your staff and leadership’s skills when it comes to asking for donations, sharing your nonprofit’s story, and overall fundraising abilities, The Fundraising Coach can provide training that will have lasting value beyond just one or two campaigns. 

Standout Nonprofit Marketing Consulting Services:

• Fundraising 101 training
• Coaching for executive staff members and leadership
• Access to training resources such as online courses

Big Duck — Best Nonprofit Marketing Consultant for Brand Promotion

What is your nonprofit’s brand voice? If you need help defining it, Big Duck’s consulting services might be right for your nonprofit. Big Duck helps nonprofits launch campaigns that represent their mission by first working to refine with brand voice. 

Standout Nonprofit Marketing Consulting Services:

• Brand strategy development
• Campaign planning
• Internal process management 

Donorly — Best Nonprofit Consultant for Fundraising

Fundraising encompasses a variety of skills and responsibilities. Donorly understands that and aims to help nonprofits improve their fundraising through a variety of methods, from capital campaigns to streamlining internal workflows. 

Standout Nonprofit Marketing Consulting Services:

• Temporary staffing support
• Multi-step fundraising assessment and rehaul process
• Capital campaign support

Additional Resources

Your nonprofit’s marketing strategy is a critical component of your overall success, so turning to a professional consultant might be your best bet. Make sure you do your research and reach out to agencies that align with your mission and audience. That way, you’ll find a reliable coach who can help you transform your promotional efforts.

If you want to continue learning more about nonprofit marketing and how to optimize your strategy, check out these additional resources:

• A 2021 Guide to Nonprofit Marketing. Before hiring a nonprofit marketing consultant, take the time to assess and improve your current promotional strategies. Our guide to nonprofit marketing can be a valuable resource for shaping your approach to marketing. 
• Nonprofit Marketing Plan in 8 Steps (+ Free Templates!). You know your nonprofit needs a marketing plan, but how can you get started? Learn more about creating a marketing plan and check out our free templates. 
• Google Ad Grants for Nonprofits: Everything You Need to Know. Interested in applying for a Google Ad Grant but not quite sure what it is or how it will help your nonprofit’s marketing efforts? Explore our complete guide that goes over everything your nonprofit will need to know to get started.