Being amazing at fundraising doesn't automatically mean you should take the leap to consulting. Just like being great at major gifts doesn't mean you want to plan a rubber-chicken gala, not ever consulting model is the right fit for you.
Before you trade your employee handbook for a business license, take this 3-minute free quiz to discover which path will have you building the consulting business of your dreams - not just recreating your current job with extra paperwork.
Cut out for Consulting?
Let's Find Your Perfect Path
You're done with:
Being asked to "write a letter to Oprah" while your expertise gets ignored
Working way more than you're paid for (hello evenings and weekends and “other duties as assigned”)
Trying to bribe non-fundraising staff time to collaborate with you because they “hate” fundraising - the loneliness is real
Banging your head against that glass ceiling trying to fight for the raise you deserve but are never awarded because “we’re a nonprofit and we have no money”
If you're going to ditch your job to be a consultant, you better be damn sure you’re on the right path that will lead to stable six-figure income and true flexibility - not constant hustle and unpredictable revenue.
Choosing the wrong path could leave you:
Playing "Find the Client" like it's a really bad game show - complete with cold emails that get ghosted and LinkedIn messages that scream "desperate"
Somehow working MORE hours than your old 60-hour nonprofit week while watching your dreams of "consultant life" transform into "chaos life with extra spreadsheets"
Riding the feast-or-famine rollercoaster where December has you feeling like a consultant rockstar... until January hits and your bank account does its best impression of a nonprofit budget (read: empty)
Creating an accidentally perfect recreation of your old job - except now you're also your own IT department, marketing team, and bookkeeper (because apparently "other duties as assigned" follows you into self-employment)
Exactly which consulting model fits your superpower sweet spot (because "general nonprofit consultant who does everything" is not a business plan, it's a recipe for burnout 2.0)
How to avoid the expensive rookie mistakes that make consultants cry into their coffee, lose potential clients, and wish they were back in-house
Your personalized roadmap to consistently earn more than your in-house salary (without cold-calling, writing awkward "pick your brain" emails, or lying awake at 3am wondering if you'll ever find another client)
In just 9 questions, you’ll discover
Meet Your Guide
With over 20 years of experience, Cindy Wagman's no stranger to the unique challenges of the fundraising world. Case in point: she vividly remembers the time at a wedding when a person literally walked away from her upon learning she was a fundraiser!
When she started consulting in 2015, she found she had to “deprogram” the nonprofit sector brainwashing that was holding her (and others) back.
Gone were the days of hiding her ambition.
She embraced consulting and created a life and business where she could go on field trips with her kids, and take a nap in the afternoon if she needed it.
Now all she wants is that for other fundraisers too!
Cindy has created this 3-minute quiz to help you discover your natural consulting style and map out your path to freedom - yes - freedom!
Whether you're feeling undervalued, overworked, or simply ready for a change, this quiz is your first step towards a thriving consulting practice that aligns with your expertise, lifestyle goals, and values.
