1. What makes EMDCG different from other consulting firms?

In a word: experience. The principals each have 25 years or more of hands-on experience leading, managing, supporting nonprofit institutions. For our clients, this means that our perspective and advice is based on having "been in their shoes" and taking ideas and plans and understanding that implementation is everything.

With EMDCG, you will work with one or more of the principals. We do not have junior partners or assistants. Every client works with us.

And we are a true boutique firm in that we do not have standard packages to sell. Each project is tailored to the needs of the client and you will help design the project. You will not receive someone else’s recommendations with your name on it.

2. What are your fees and expenses?

Our fees are competitive, and we work hard to meet your budgetary constraints. Normally we work on a fixed fee. Expenses are billed in addition to fees and normally are only charged if travel is involved or professional printing is required.

3. Will subcontractors be involved?

At least one principal of EMDCG will be directly involved, and often no subcontractors are used. In some specialty areas, such as graphic arts, printing, data base management, site or facility planning, subcontractors will be used. One of our principals is also a professional photographer and occasionally this service is needed by one of our clients and can be provided.

4. We cannot afford to hire a consultant--what are our options?

Often times, the hiring of a consultant is the most cost-effective decision a "strapped" organization can make. The important issue is to know what you need, hire someone with a proven track record, and look at your project as a long-term investment that will save you money or earn you money. A great strategic plan can focus your efforts and make your organization and staff members more effective and therefore more attractive to potential funding sources. A better staffing pattern can save you money. A fundraising assessment and strategy can lead directly to new revenue.

There are also funders, often including individuals as well as foundations, that understand an outside analysis can be the spark that the organization needs to meet its potential and deal with its challenges. We can assist you in "making the case" to such potential donors.

5. What are the products that will be provided at the conclusion of a project?

The products are defined during the scoping of the project we do with you. When you sign a contract, you will know specifically what products you will receive. Normally this will be a detailed, written report summarizing the results of our work. Often these reports will contain specific recommendations and action items. Reports are usually provided on hard copy and can be provided electronically as well.

6. How can you assist us on a capital campaign?

We can do capital campaign feasibility studies, write case statements, and provide campaign counsel during your campaign. Capital campaigns are often preceded by strategic plans and fundraising audits, both of which we also do. We can also provide training for your staff on conducting a capital campaign and provide training sessions for your staff, board and volunteers in how to make effective "asks."

We are able to provide campaign counsel during the campaign to help you develop strategies, stay on target and meet deadlines, and provide general counsel to the campaign manager, CEO, board of directors and campaign committee. We believe that the day-to-day management of capital campaigns should reside with the staff so we do not provide "resident" counsel on campaigns. One of the long-term benefits of a campaign is often the "capacity building" of development staff, so we do not believe that this day-to-day effort should be contracted out to others.

7. What kind of management consulting do you provide?

This can vary dramatically on the needs of the organization. It can be quite specific, such as analyzing the staffing patterns and making recommendations on the management structure as we have done for some institutions. We have also provided detailed staffing recommendations on membership and development offices so the client can generate a greater return. We have provided boards with management recommendations during the interim period between executive directors. We can also provide coaching to senior executives on an on-going basis or for a specified period to work through particular challenges.

8. How do you work with Boards of Directors?

Usually our primary contact with an organization is with the Executive Director or Director of Development, but we often work with Board leadership as well. We often work with the Board as well as the staff in building and guiding a strategic planning process so the plans meet the Board's needs as well as those of the staff.  We can also provide Board training on the appropriate roles of the Board and its members or specific training on fundraising for Board members.

9. Will you conduct searches for staff positions?

Most of our searches have been for fundraising professionals, but we have assisted on searches for executive directors as well. In some cases, we can do an entire search; in others, it is more effective for us to assist the organization by designing the search, checking references or doing other specific tasks.

10. What kind of program work do you offer?

We work with clients who have museum-based or community-based programs. For example, we worked with a faith-based initiative to develop a community leadership program. We have also worked with botanical gardens to help them determine the appropriate program focus for their institution. We understand community participation and what will encourage people to use services.

11. What will a fundraising assessment do for us?

The vast majority of nonprofits need to increase their income from fundraising. One of the first steps in moving towards this is often a fundraising assessment. This is not a literal "audit," but rather a full assessment of your current fundraising program. This can lead to recommendations on areas of fundraising that are not producing as much income as should be expected; it may lead to recommendations to curtail certain activities in fundraising that are not cost-effective so greater concentration can be placed in other areas; it may lead to identifying some entirely new areas of good promise for the organization and thus new fundraising initiatives.

12. A lot of your work is in St. Louis. How do you work in other places?

Actually, the work done by the four of us has been literally all over the world. Since three of the principals are based in St. Louis, this has led to a number of our clients being there, and we are proud that we are used most where we are known best. But we work in many, many places. Because we do not focus on crisis work, travel can be planned in advance and costs kept low so that only a small part of any project’s cost is the travel expenses. Often, part or even all, of our work can be done from our offices in St. Louis and Sedona, Arizona. We always recognize and are mindful that our clients’ budgets are limited.

13. You provide a wide range of services--what DON'T you do?

As consultants to nonprofit organizations that have a lot of different kinds of needs, we provide a wide array of services. Our goal is to provide advice, guidance and counsel to suit the organization’s needs. We do not, though, provide the implementation. For example, we may recommend some special events, but we do not provide the staff or volunteers for the event. We can help you conceptualize a new newsletter or publications program, but the organization must implement it. But we do not abandon you once we have provided the advice. We can provide guidance during the implementation phase and this is part of what is determined during the initial scoping meetings.

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Consulting with nonprofit organizations in management,
strategic planning and fundraising.