Frequently Asked Questions about Convergent

FAQs About Convergent Services

Convergent stands out from other fundraising firms because of our approach and philosophy:

  • We focus on demonstrating the value of our clients’ outcomes so that your investors (we prefer this term to “donors”) understand the impact you will have on those you serve.
  • We position our clients as community assets, connecting your outcomes with the money you are raising. This encourages funders to respond with larger, more sustainable investments.
  • We ask for big dollars. Since we focus on Investable Outcomes™, we determine what is valuable to your investors, and when you deliver what they value, you get the right to ask for larger dollar amounts.
  • We prioritize the rational component of decision-making by delivering a Case for Investment that clearly lays out your ROI, so your investors know what to expect. 
     

As a national leader in capital campaign and fundraising consulting, Convergent aims to help nonprofits secure the funding they need. We do this by offering the following services:

Convergent mainly serves organizations in the following sectors:

Additionally, we work with nonprofits, associations, and foundations of all sizes. Some of the organizations we’re currently serving include the Orlando Economic Partnership, Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Atrium Health Foundation, and the Rodale Institute.

Although Convergent is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, we serve organizations throughout the United States.

What makes the Investment-Driven Model™ (IDM) different from traditional fundraising is that it reframes giving. Traditional fundraising views donating as simply a charitable act from donors, whereas IDM sees nonprofit fundraising as an opportunity for supporters to invest in measurable community impact.

Because of this, IDM highlights the strategic alignment between fundraising objectives, delivered outcomes, and each organization's overall mission. 

The Organizational Value Proposition™ refers to our philosophy of translating outcomes into specific benefits that your existing stakeholders and potential investors value.

Derived from our very own Tom Ralser’s book Asking Rights: Why Some Nonprofits Get Funded (and Some Don’t), Asking Rights™ refers to the idea that though all nonprofits have the legal right to ask for money, not all of them have earned the right to ask for it.

Asking Rights™ encourages organizations to embrace the specific steps that lead to sustainable fundraising, including making rational asks and focusing on the outcomes delivered.

We prefer “investor” to “donor” because of our unique strategic mindset. Because we approach fundraising by positioning our clients as indispensable community assets worthy of investment, reframing donors as investors shifts the focus from one-time contributions to sustainable funding.

FAQs About Fundraising Consultants

A fundraising consultant is an independent contractor you hire to help your organization with your fundraising strategy through services such as:

  • Analysis and audits: A consultant will analyze and evaluate your nonprofit’s fundraising needs, resources, fundraising activities, capacity, and philanthropic revenue model.
  • Strategizing and goal-setting: They will develop a comprehensive fundraising plan, complete with realistic goals and strategies.
  • Prospect research: They will identify all potential investors interested in supporting the fundraising campaign.
  • Training: They can provide training and coaching to your board members, staff, and volunteers on fundraising best practices.
  • Compliance: Fundraising consultants are up to date on fundraising trends, regulations, and emerging technologies, so they can assist with compliance issues.

The cost of hiring a fundraising consultant usually ranges from $2,500 to $25,000 per month. The rate depends on several factors, such as:

  • The services you’re booking: Are you only hiring them to do one specific task or several?
  • The project scope: Is this a simple fundraising plan, or is it more intensive?
  • The organization’s size and experience level: The bigger the nonprofit is, the more complex its needs will be.

Additionally, not all fundraising consultants offer the same rates or the same fee structures. Some prefer to charge a flat fee, while others bill hourly or use a retainer fee model.

Your nonprofit should consider hiring a fundraising consultant because they can provide you with fresh perspectives and new ideas you may not have considered before.

Some nonprofits don’t have internal staff with proven fundraising knowledge, which is where a consultant can step in with their expertise. Additionally, since consultants are third-party experts, they can provide you with impartial advice.

FAQs About Capital and Comprehensive Campaigns

A capital campaign is a time-bound fundraising effort to raise funds for a specific project (e.g., constructing a new building or purchasing new equipment). Meanwhile, a comprehensive campaign raises funds for a broad range of needs and helps the nonprofit achieve sustainable funding.

Capital campaigns typically take about 1–3 years to complete because they involve several phases, including feasibility studies, planning, private solicitations, campaign kickoff, public solicitations, and post-campaign stewardship.

You will know if your organization is ready for a capital campaign if:

  • You have a concrete project in mind.
  • Your board of directors is aligned and supportive of the project.
  • You have an engaged investor base.

To identify campaign readiness, most nonprofits conduct a feasibility study to assess where they stand on the insights above and determine whether their campaign plan still needs work.

FAQs About Feasibility Studies

Conducting a feasibility study is important before launching a fundraising campaign because it can provide useful insights and shape achievable goals. A feasibility study will also confirm whether your organization is ready to launch a campaign or whether there are any issues you need to iron out first.

Additionally, it’s important to hire a third party for your feasibility study because it will help you see things more objectively and get unbiased feedback.

The cost of conducting a feasibility study typically ranges from $20,000 to $500,000. These are the factors that affect the cost of feasibility studies:

  • Project complexity and scope
  • Consultant expertise and experience
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Site visits and field studies

Feasibility studies typically take 4–5 months to complete because they require comprehensive data collection and interviews to uncover hidden opportunities and detect possible pitfalls. 

When conducting a feasibility study, it’s essential that you include a diverse array of stakeholders, such as:

  • Major Investors: They offer the largest gifts during your past fundraising events, and they are also your most ardent supporters for your other programs. It’s crucial to interview them for the feasibility study because it gauges their interest in your current project, giving you an idea of whether they will invest in it.
  • Board Members: Ensuring that there’s internal alignment on the project is important, so you must interview your board members as well. They can also provide insight about the organization’s readiness for the project, and if they’re sure that this project is viable, they can secure necessary buy-ins as early as possible, preventing any future roadblocks.
  • Grantmakers: Interviewing the grantmakers who have supported your nonprofit in the past helps you ensure that you’re aligning more closely with them on this new campaign.
  • Nonprofit Staff and Key Volunteers: These individuals will be operating your fundraising campaigns and events, so they can identify any potential red flags in the current campaign plan.
  • Mission Beneficiaries: These are the people who will reap the benefits of your campaign. Interviewing them lets you know if the project will actually address their current needs.