The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants

You keep saying yes to small organizations whose missions you love. The dollars are precious. The ED is exhausted. You have the exact skill set they need. And every yes is keeping you stuck. In this episode, I share why you need to shift upmarket and the difference it will make in your own company as you build a scalable consulting firm. Work With Coach Natalie 🎯 Book a 90-Minute Intensive Let's build your scalable offer together or solve a team issue. You will leave with a clear Game Plan and my Sales Forecast Tool. [no risk, 100% refund if you are not satisfied with the intensive] 💡 Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has one opening available. 💫 Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (for Sept 2026 or Jan 2027) A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Includes two in-person retreats, group calls, training library and private 1:1 coaching. 🎙 The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

What if you could go from GENERALIST fundraising consultant to a FOCUSED firm with a SCALABLE offer - in just five months? That's exactly what Robin Engle, CFRE, founder of Abundance Catalyst, has done. In this client success episode of the Fractional to Scalable series, Robin shares how she built a scalable Major Gifts offer, narrowed her niche to movement organizations, climbed "Cringe🏔Mountain" on LinkedIn and why she chose to invest in coaching early rather than spend years figuring it out alone. If you've been stuck in the messy middle of multiple services and too many client types, this one is for you. Connect with Robin Engle Website: abundancecatalyst.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robin-engle Join Robin's email list: fundraising tips built for social justice and advocacy organizations Resources and Books Mentioned Ep 62: Land Clients on LinkedIn with Sara Royf's Relationship-First Method Connect with Sara Royf, LinkedIn DM strategy Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell Joe Sacco, graphic novel journalism (Palestine, Safe Area Goražde on Sarajevo) Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis Ann Rule, true crime author Work With Coach Natalie 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Let's build your scalable offer together or solve a team issue. You will leave with a clear Game Plan and my Sales Forecast Tool. [no risk, 100% refund if you are not satisfied with the intensive] 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has one opening available. 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (for Sept 2026 or Jan 2027) A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Includes two in person retreats, group calls, training library and private 1:1 coaching. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

Here is what nobody tells you about building a scalable consulting firm: it gets harder before it gets easier. In this episode, I walk you through what I call the messy middle, the transition phase where you are straddling two business models at once, still delivering inside the old one while trying to build the new one. I share why progress feels invisible even when you are doing everything right, and the moment almost every consultant hits where they wonder if it would just be easier to go back. If you have been feeling pulled in every direction and questioning whether this is all worth it, this episode will name what you are experiencing, remind you why you started and encourage you to go the distance. ➥ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieeckdahl/ Let's Work Together 🎯 Book a 90-Minute Intensive: Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. nataliemba.com/intensive 💡 Private 1:1 Coaching - A six-month customized program that guides you on the next best steps for your business. 💫 Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (next enrollment Jan 2027): A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Includes two in-person retreats, group calls, training library, and private 1:1 coaching. Natalie's Website https://nataliemba.com/

If you have been building your business through fractional work, you may be feeling the tension of what comes next. In this episode, I walk you through what it actually looks like to move from a generalist, founder-dependent model to a more specialized and scalable consulting firm. We explore why this transition does not happen overnight, how to begin testing a specialization without disrupting your current revenue, and the mindset and leadership shifts required to move forward with intention. I also reference the four consulting business models from the previous episode so you can better understand where you are today and what it takes to move to the next level. If you are starting to sense the ceiling of your current model but are not sure how to shift, this episode will help you see what is possible and what it really takes to get there. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieeckdahl/ Let's Work Together 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has one opening available. 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (for Sept 2026 or Jan 2027) A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Includes two in person retreats, group calls, training library and private 1:1 coaching. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

There is a stage in your consulting business where things look successful… but feel increasingly fragile. You may be operating as a fractional leader, a trusted generalist, or the go-to problem solver for your clients. Revenue is steady. Your calendar is full. But every new opportunity requires more of your time. More customization. More of you. Growth starts to feel heavy. You begin to sense a ceiling. Not because you lack talent. Not because you are not in demand. But because the model itself depends on your personal capacity. In this episode, I unpack one of the most important decision points nonprofit consultants face as they grow. Do you continue expanding through effort and availability? Or do you make structural changes that shift how your business works? The decisions you make at this stage affect your pricing, your positioning, your team, your visibility, and your quality of life. Move too slowly and you cap your impact. Move too quickly and you destabilize what you have built. This episode also begins a new series exploring the distinct phases of growth consultants experience as they evolve from founder-driven, custom work toward building something more durable and scalable. Each phase requires different decisions. Different courage. Different leadership. If you are feeling the weight of growth and wondering what needs to change next, this episode will help you name it and navigate it. 🚀Book a 90-Minute SCALABLE OFFER Intensive https://nataliemba.com/intensive

Sales does not have to feel awkward, pushy, or unpredictable. In this episode, I'm joined by my friend and trusted sales expert Nikki Rausch. We unpack her Selling Staircase framework and talk about how to confidently lead a sales conversation from introduction to close. We cover buying signals, permission-based leadership, circleback calls, and simple closing language that prevents ghosting. If you are ready to move from hoping a prospect says yes to confidently guiding the conversation, this episode is for you. Connect with our Guest Nikki Rausch 💡Free Training Mentioned Website LinkedIn Sales Maven Podcast Connect with your host Natalie Eckdahl Website LinkedIn The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Let's Work Together 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has one opening available. 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (for Sept 2026 or Jan 2027) A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Includes two in person retreats, group calls, training library and private 1:1 coaching.

What happens when your consulting business no longer needs you in the work but needs you to lead the leaders? In this final episode of the Growing Pains series, I break down what it really takes to build a Scalable Firm. This phase, often experienced somewhere between $1M and $3M in revenue, is defined by adding leadership layers, stepping fully into the CEO role, and creating the operational clarity required to support a growing team. I share why letting leaders lead is essential, how complexity increases as your client base and team expand, and what can happen when scalable operations are skipped. I also close with a final vignette of Jean, our fictional consultant, to illustrate what this stage can look like when it's navigated with intention and strong leadership. This episode is for nonprofit consultants who want to build a firm that creates real impact, supports their life, and actually works. Better Together! 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (for Sept 2026 or Jan 2027) A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Includes two in person retreats, group calls, training library and private 1:1 coaching. 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

The jump from four $400,000 to $700,000 looks simple on paper, but it is one of the hardest phases to navigate. In this episode of the Growing Pains series, I walk you through what happens when your consulting business reaches this stage, where scalable operations, stronger systems, and early full-time hiring become essential. You'll hear the stories of two fictional consultants, Riley and Jean, who both begin this phase in the low four hundreds but experience very different outcomes. Their experiences illustrate why some consultants get stuck here and what helps others move forward with clarity and stability. What I share on the podcast is a just a tip of the iceberg of what my clients get access to! Better Together! Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

Most consultants start their business without a clear roadmap. They rely on referrals, hustle and hope. In this episode, I break down Phase 1 of the Scalable Consulting Firm Method: the Foundations Phase, from $0 to $200K in revenue. Whether you're consulting full time or part time, this stage can feel intense. You're learning how to deliver client work and run a business at the same time. I share common mistakes to avoid, what to prioritize and why keeping things simple will serve you best. I also share what kind of coaching support is most helpful at this stage, including how to find the right program or coach to help you build a strong foundation. P.S. I don't typically work with consultants in this phase, but I want you to have the roadmap so you know what to focus on now and when it makes sense to seek deeper support. Resources Mentioned 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

**APPLICATIONS CLOSE 12/31/25 FOR IMPACT COLLECTIVE MASTERMIND** The Impact Collective Mastermind - A 12-month hybrid of mastermind and private coaching for nonprofit consultants between $200K–$1M in revenue. We focus on scaling through my Scalable Consulting Framework by refining offers, streamlining operations, hiring, and leadership growth. 90-Minute Intensives ($997) A focused working session for consultants who want quick clarity and a plan. Many people start here before joining a longer program. We both have some pre-work before this and you leave with a gameplan! Book a virtual chat with Natalie to learn more about Impact Collective. NatalieMBA.com

Scalable operations turn you from the person doing the work into the person creating the environment for great work to happen. That is what my guest Christine Schwitzer, the founder and CEO of Holistic Grants, and member of my Impact Collective Mastermind has found. Christine shares what it looked like to move from spreadsheets and mental checklists to real systems that give her visibility, structure, and peace of mind. We discuss how operational clarity helps her delegate with confidence, strengthens client delivery and allows her to lead her growing team with ease. Her story is a powerful reminder that scalable operations aren't just about efficiency, they are a pathway to better leadership. Connect with Christine Schwitzer: Linked In Holistic Grants Website Previous Episode:50: [client success] From Solo Grant Writer to Agency Owner with Christine Schwitzer Let's grow your consulting firm together! 🔥Currently reviewing applications for our 2026 Impact Collective Mastermind Program. ***Ideal for consultants earning $300K to $1M in annual revenue. Apply for The Impact Collective Mastermind Program: NatalieMBA.com/impact-collective 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive Best first step for us to work together. Investment: $997. Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan. Clarity Guarantee: Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours. Visit my website: NatalieMBA.com

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 consultants—Riley and Jean—and see exactly what changes when you stop being the business and start leading one. 📸See Photos from The Impact Collective Mastermind Retreat Want help applying this to your firm: Book a 90 minute Intensive. NatalieMBA.com/intensive Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan. ***Clarity Guarantee. Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours. 🔗 Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program) Next enrollments: January 2026| September 2026 ☎️Book A Complimentary Call - Let's see if we are a fit! For consultants who have revenue above $200K a year. 📩 Get my newsletter.

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 Book a 90 minute Intensive. NatalieMBA.com/intensive Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan. ***Clarity Guarantee. Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours. 🔗 Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program) Next enrollments: January 2026| September 2026 ☎️Book A Complimentary Call - Let's see if we are a fit! For consultants who have revenue above $200K a year. 📩 Get my newsletter.