I had a church hit me up not long ago. The pastor said, “Paul, we’re trying to raise money, but we don’t even know where to start. Everybody’s tired, the numbers aren’t moving, and the board’s looking at me like I’ve got the answers.”
I told him what I tell a lot of folks: If you’re trying to grow your giving, do it right, and stop burning out your people — you probably don’t need another spreadsheet. You need help.
But not just any help.
The right help. At the right time. With the right plan.
That’s where most churches and nonprofits get stuck.
They hire a consultant hoping for a miracle, but they don’t know what they’re actually hiring for. Or they wait too long and call once the wheels are already coming off.
This post breaks it down real simple — six questions to ask before you bring anybody in. These are the questions I ask before I ever agree to work with someone. Because if the timing’s not right, or the foundation ain’t strong, it won’t matter how good the strategy is.
So if you’re sitting there thinking, “We need help, but I don’t know if we’re ready,” keep reading.
This will give you the clarity — and the confidence — to move the right way.
1. Do you have real buy-in from leadership?
If your board, senior pastor, or executive team isn’t on the same page, it’s not time yet. You can’t drag people into a growth season. Everyone needs to be aligned and willing to invest — not just money, but trust, energy, and authority.
I’ve seen clients waste good advice because their board couldn’t get past “We’ve always done it this way.” And I’ve also seen teams raise over a million dollars in 18 months because their leadership said, “We’re ready. Let’s move.”
2. Are you willing to be coached and stay accountable?
Hiring help means someone will come in and ask hard questions. They’ll challenge the status quo. They’ll point out where the leaks are in your giving plan — and how to fix them. You’ve got to be open to that.
If your first instinct is to defend every system or explain away every missed opportunity, you’re not ready yet. But if you can say, “We want to grow, even if that means changing how we’ve done things,” now we’re talking.
3. Can you clearly define what you need help with?
“Fundraising” is a big word. Are you trying to raise $100K or $1M? Do you need help with grant writing, events, major donors, or your donor database?
If you’re not sure, a good consultant can help you assess — but it helps to start with at least a sense of the problem. When someone tells me, “We need to raise more money, but we don’t know why we’re stuck,” that’s a sign it’s time for a readiness audit before jumping into a contract.
4. Do you have time and energy to implement?
A consultant can give you the roadmap — but you and your team still have to drive.
I’ll be honest: I’ve worked with amazing churches who thought they were ready, but once we got started, the lead pastor was so buried in daily fires they couldn’t even send the follow-up emails. That’s not a failure — it’s just a sign that the timing might be off. Capacity has to be in place before growth can happen.
5. Are you expecting a consultant to fix everything for you?
If you want someone to “just do it all,” you’re better off hiring staff — not a consultant.
One of the biggest mistakes I see is churches expecting a consultant to run the whole campaign on their own while leadership stays hands-off. That’s not partnership — that’s avoidance. A real consultant helps you build systems, strengthen your team, and grow sustainable results. They don’t take your place — they make you stronger.
6. How will you measure success or ROI?
Let me make it plain: a good consultant will not just help you raise money — they’ll help you build a fundraising engine that keeps working long after they’re gone.
Let me tell you about a client I worked with in D.C. They were $40,000 in the red when they called us. Donor communication was inconsistent, there was no annual report, and people didn’t feel connected. We built a plan, brought in the right messaging, trained their team, and helped host a gala. In under two years, they were $100K in the black — and had a system they could repeat.
They didn’t just “get help.” They got results — and they kept the skills and structure to keep going.
Before You Hire, Ask These Questions.
If you answered yes to most of these, you’re probably ready to bring in real fundraising support. And if not — that’s okay too. Better to wait and build the right foundation than waste money and momentum before you’re ready.
Want to make the right hire?
This Consultant Vetting Checklist will walk you through the key questions to ask before bringing anyone on — what to listen for, what to look out for, and how to know if it’s the right fit.
It’ll help you move smarter and avoid wasting time or money on the wrong hire.