Consultant Referral Service

Support for Donors, Families, and Trustees
The National Center has helped connect qualified philanthropic consultants and advisors with hundreds of families and individuals looking for assistance in their grantmaking and governance activities.

Description of Services
Families submitting a request for a consultant will receive the following personalized services:

• Phone conversation with staff to discuss the types of expertise and characteristics you are looking for, and to help staff match an appropriate individual to your needs

• Referrals and contact information for 3-5 potential consultants

• Referrals and contact information to other relevant resources, such as community foundations, regional associations, and other families who have had similar experiences, when appropriate

• Complimentary copies of the Passages issue paper on "Family Meetings," and special discounts for other National Center publications

• A follow-up phone conversation/email to discuss the services provided (if requested)

Please contact Susan Price for additional information about requesting a consultant referral.

Additional Resources for
Engaging Consultants
The following National Center resources will be helpful to you and your family in preparing to work with a consultant and/or to prepare for a family board retreat:

"Family Meetings"
This Passages issue paper describes strategies for planning effective family meetings, including developing the agenda, choosing a location and setting for the meeting, facilitation, and follow-up. Includes sample meeting agenda and “rules” for family discussions

"Working with Consultants"
This chapter from the National Center's Resources for Family Philanthropy Journal discusses when you might want to engage a consultant; how you can identify appropriate candidates; how to define the scope of work to be accomplished; and how to evaluate the consultant's activities once they have completed their work.

"Voyage of Discovery: A Planning Workbook for Philanthropic Families"
This Workbook is the first resource designed exclusively for families thinking about the future of their giving programs. The Planning Workbook includes a sample plan, activities for board development, and a wide variety of suggestions for how to plan effectively.