What is
pro bono consulting?
Vetted, trained business experts help you tackle your most pressing business challenges โ for FREE.
Our team does the hard work of curating your project, so you can focus on what matters most. We:
- Work with you to scope a discrete problem a consultant can solve
- Recruit and thoroughly vet skilled volunteers for you
- Hand-curate volunteer consultant matches to fit your unique needs
- Train volunteer consultants to work with you effectively
- Actively support you and your consultants throughout the entire engagement
Why work with us
Bespoke
Results
Customized recommendations for your organization
Personalized data analytics
Tailored market research
Thought partner support
Actionable
Recommendations
Detailed presentations to your leadership & board
Financial models & analytic tools adapted for your situation
Facilitated focus groups and strategy sessions
Lasting
Impact
New connections to the local business community
Authentic, equitable relationships with local business leaders
New champions and supporters
Minimum elIgibility requirements
- Registered IRS 501(c)(3) organization
- Active Board of Directors
- Mission supports one of our metro-regions (Chicago, DC, Minneapolis-St. Paul, or Philadelphia)
- Mission does not promote specific religious beliefs or political parties
FIND YOUR CONSULTANT
Upcoming Information Session for Nonprofits
Wednesday, May 15 at 12:00 p.m. EDT
On Track
Free, in-depth guidance on your organizationโs complex strategic challenges
- 4-8 months
- Teams of 5-9 consultants
- Minimum organizational budget requirement varies by city
- Minimum staff size requirement varies by city
On Demand
Free, quick, high-impact support for acute business challenges
- 8 weeks
- Work 1:1 with a consultant
- No minimum organizational budget requirement
- No minimum staff size requirement
On track
Receive an entire team of hand-picked volunteer consultants equipped to tackle your organizationโs complex strategic challenge.
What you’ll get: A customized, evidence-based game plan to move your organization forward.
How it works: We’ll help you scope your pain points into a business strategy problem that a consulting team can solve. Then, we hand-pick, train, and support a team of volunteers to solve your challenge over a 4-8 month period.
Who you’ll work with: Vetted local business professionals from a variety of industries, many of whom hold MBAs from top-tier institutions.
Stay up to date
Join our mailing list
PROJECT SERVICE LINES
Every On Track project must fit within one of the following:
Board Development
Decision Support
Funding Strategy
New Ventures
Partnerships, Collaborations, and Mergers
Strategic Alignment
Strategic Marketing
Technology and Data Strategy
APPLICATION DATES & CITY SPECIFICS
ON TRACK 8-MONTH
Application dates: Coming soon
Additional Eligibility Requirements
- Mission supports Greater Washington (DC, Northern Virginia, and/or suburban Maryland)
- Minimum budget of $700,000
- Minimum of three full-time paid staff
ON TRACK 4-MONTH
Application dates: Coming soon
Additional Eligibility Requirements
- Mission supports Greater Washington (DC, Northern Virginia, and/or suburban Maryland)
Got questions? We’re here to help!
Beverly Ross
Program Director – DC
bross@compassprobono.org
ON TRACK 8-MONTH
Application dates: Coming soon
Additional Eligibility Requirements
- Mission supports Greater Philadelphia in the following counties: Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Burlington, Camden, and/or Gloucester
- Minimum budget of $650,000
- Minimum of three full-time paid staff
ON TRACK 4-MONTH
Application dates: Coming soon
Additional Eligibility Requirements
- Mission supports Greater Philadelphia in the following counties: Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Burlington, Camden, and/or Gloucester
Got questions? We’re here to help!
Tamica Tanksley
Program Director – Philadelphia
ttanksley@compassprobono.org
ON TRACK 4-MONTH
Application dates: Coming soon
Additional Eligibility Requirements
- Mission supports the Greater Chicago community
- Ability to support a team of six consultants during a 4-month engagement
Got questions? We’re here to help!
Melissa Lapica
Managing Director – Chicago
mlapica@compassprobono.org
ON TRACK 4-MONTH
Application dates: Coming soon
Additional Eligibility Requirements
- Mission supports the Twin Cities community
- Ability to support a team of six consultants during a 4-month engagement
Got questions? We’re here to help!
Mary Uran
Managing Director – Twin Cities
muran@compassprobono.org
On Demand
Work one-on-one for eight weeks with a hand-picked volunteer experienced in the acute strategic challenge youโre grappling with.
Applications accepted until May 3, 2024.
Choose from:
Thought Partnership
In a confidential setting, a Thought Partner (10+ years of experience) provides a trusted ear for scenario planning, courses of action, or facilitation of conversations among board, staff, and leadership. Depending on your needs, a Thought Partner can be available for informal calls or schedule formal, agenda-driven check-ins.
Consulting Project
From best practice research to customized analytic tools, a volunteer consultant (5+ years of experience) can provide you with strategic support on one topic. Volunteers are not expected to support implementation, although some do continue to work with their nonprofit client in a personal capacity after the engagement officially concludes.
How it works: Fill out our short application outlining your most pressing pain points from the topics below, and which type of project youโre looking for. Then, we’ll hand-pick a volunteer from the local business community whose expertise matches your needs.
Who you’ll work with: One of our vetted local business leaders, many of whom hold MBAs from top-tier institutions, with specialized skills in the project area you selected.
APPLY TODAY
Applications accepted until May 3, 2024.
PROJECT TOPICS
Finance
- Cash Flow Analysis: Evaluate cash inflows and outflows over a fixed period
- Financial Model Creation: Forecast for revenues and expenses for a fixed period, based on a revised assessment of finances
Fundraising
- Digital Strategy Review: Receive recommendations related to donation engagement online and related processes
- Donor Analysis: Support for identifying most valuable categories of donors for outreach, using historical data and trends
- Map the Donor/Member/Patron Experience: Conduct an audit of donor, member, or patron journey, and provide recommendations to improve interaction across platforms
- Research: Provide an annotated list of relevant grant and funding opportunities
Governance
- Board Development: Review governance challenges (e.g., the articulation of the roles/responsibilities or appropriate activities of a nonprofit board); propose course of action recommendations
- Bylaws and Policies: Review with proposed recommendations for bylaws or policies regarding board operations, may include liabilities
Human Resources
- Benefits and Compensation: Review with recommendations for new or existing policies
- Organizational Management: Evaluate staffing needs, organizational structure, or employee engagement
- Transition/Succession: Develop a plan for future continuity of operations and leadership
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Assess existing DEI efforts for updates; develop plan for staff or Board recruitment and retention
Marketing/Communications
- Communications Audit/Strategy Review: Review and/or refine messages for existing communications platforms
- Marketing Strategy Review: Review and recommend a plan, program or event; may include comparative analysis, market research, stakeholder analysis, etc.
Programs
- Partner Identification/Merger Assessment: Review the risks and benefits of a merger or partnerships, may include development of selection criteria, a feasibility review of existing programs, cash flow required to support programs, virtual options, suspension, etc.
- Programs Assessment: Assess feasibility of existing programs, may include review of cash flow required to support programs, virtual options, suspension, and partnerships
Technology
- Data Management: Assess data collection processes, tools, and analysis to better support decision-making
- Scouting: Support to identify requirements for new technology or tools; develop an acquisition and adoption strategy
- Technology Optimization: Assess existing technology capabilities and develop recommendations for more effective use of existing technology
APPLICATION SPECIFICS
On Demand projects are matched on an ongoing, real-time basis, dependent on the availability of volunteers with relevant expertise. As soon as an appropriate volunteer is available, weโll set up a call with you to re-confirm your project priorities, and then initiate the match. Most projects are initiated within 3-4 weeks of submitting an application.
Eligibility note: Nonprofits must serve one of our current metropolitan regions.
Got questions? We’re here to help! Email us at ondemand@compassprobono.org