Ready to roll up your sleeves and take the leap into entrepreneurship? If you’ve been dreaming of starting a nonprofit consulting business, you’re in the right place. It’s a path that can give you the best of both worlds—career satisfaction and social impact. But let’s be real: it’s going to take dedication, strategy, and some good old-fashioned hustle.

Luckily, you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Below, I’m sharing the exact five-step framework that helped us build a six-figure nonprofit consulting business in less than a year. No fluff, no gimmicks—just real, actionable steps that work.

Step 1: Define Your Why and Vision

Let’s start with some soul-searching. Why do you want to do this? Maybe you’re tired of watching nonprofits struggle with outdated strategies, or you’re passionate about amplifying their impact. Your “why” is what’s going to keep you pushing forward when things get tough (and trust me, there will be tough days).

Once you’ve got that locked in, translate it into a clear, compelling vision statement. Think of it as your North Star—the thing that keeps you on track and attracts the right clients to your business. Make it bold, make it specific, and make it something that fires you up every single day.

Step 2: Assess Your Skills and Find Your Niche

Not all nonprofit consultants do the same thing, and that’s a good thing. The key to standing out is identifying what you bring to the table. Are you a fundraising whiz? A digital marketing pro? A grant-writing genius? The clearer you are on your expertise, the easier it is to position yourself as the go-to person in your niche.

Pro tip: Specializing in a specific area, like donor stewardship or event strategy, makes you more valuable (and charge higher rates) than trying to be a jack-of-all-trades.

Step 3: Conduct Market Research

Before you go all in, you need to know what’s happening in the nonprofit consulting space. Who are your competitors? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Where is there a gap in the market that you can uniquely fill?

Start by:

• Checking out nonprofit job boards to see what skills are in high demand.
• Studying other nonprofit consultants—what services are they offering? What do their clients say about them?
• Talking to nonprofit professionals to understand their biggest pain points.

The better your research, the easier it’ll be to position yourself as a must-have resource.

Step 4: Connect and Network Like a Pro

In this industry, relationships matter—a lot. Your next client could come from a LinkedIn post, a virtual coffee chat, or a comment on someone’s nonprofit thread. So start getting visible:

• Join nonprofit groups on LinkedIn and Facebook.
• Attend sector-specific conferences and networking events.
• Offer free workshops or webinars to showcase your expertise.

People hire consultants they trust. And trust is built through connection. So don’t be shy—put yourself out there.

Step 5: Develop Your Transition Strategy

Now, let’s talk logistics. How are you going to move from where you are now to running your consulting business full-time? Whether you’re leaving a job, freelancing on the side, or diving in headfirst, you need a transition plan.

Here’s what to consider:

• Financial runway: How much do you need saved before making the leap?
• Client pipeline: Do you have at least a few paying clients lined up?
• Time management: How will you balance consulting with your current commitments?

A smart transition plan reduces stress and sets you up for long-term success.

Final Thoughts

Starting a nonprofit consulting business isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for those who are willing to put in the work, embrace uncertainty, and trust in their own expertise. But if you’re serious about making an impact on the nonprofit world—while building a business that supports your life on your terms—this is the way to do it.

Follow these steps, stay focused, and remember: success in consulting isn’t about luck. It’s about strategy, consistency, and showing up for the people who need your help the most.

You’ve got this. 

Read our member stories to see how others made it happen!