The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants

**APPLICATIONS CLOSE 12/31/25 FOR IMPACT COLLECTIVE MASTERMIND** What happens when your consulting business no longer needs you in the work but needs you to lead the leaders? In this final episode of the Growing Pains series, I break down what it really takes to build a Scalable Firm. This phase, often experienced somewhere between $1M and $3M in revenue, is defined by adding leadership layers, stepping fully into the CEO role, and creating the operational clarity required to support a growing team. I share why letting leaders lead is essential, how complexity increases as your client base and team expand, and what can happen when scalable operations are skipped. I also close with a final vignette of Jean, our fictional consultant, to illustrate what this stage can look like when it's navigated with intention and strong leadership. This episode is for nonprofit consultants who want to build a firm that creates real impact, supports their life, and actually works. Better Together! 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (Apply by Dec 31) A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Includes two in person retreats, group calls, training library and private 1:1 coaching. 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

**APPLICATIONS CLOSE 12/31/25 FOR IMPACT COLLECTIVE MASTERMIND** The $700K–$1M stage is a pivotal moment for many nonprofit consulting firms. Visibility increases, stronger talent begins to find you, and leadership demands rise in ways that often feel heavier than expected. This is the phase where achievement must shift from personal client work to team success, and where many consultants plateau without meaning to. In this episode, I unpack what actually changes at this level, including the move toward a full-time team, the need to simplify and refine your offer, the importance of operational and financial maturity, and the leadership and mindset shifts required to stop rescuing the business and start leading it. This stage is not just about growth. It is about evolving into the kind of leader your business now requires so growth becomes sustainable instead of exhausting.   Better Together! 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (Apply by Dec 31) A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

**APPLICATIONS CLOSE 12/31/25 FOR IMPACT COLLECTIVE MASTERMIND** The jump from four $400,000 to $700,000 looks simple on paper, but it is one of the hardest phases to navigate. In this episode of the Growing Pains series, I walk you through what happens when your consulting business reaches this stage, where scalable operations, stronger systems, and early full-time hiring become essential. You'll hear the stories of two fictional consultants, Riley and Jean, who both begin this phase in the low four hundreds but experience very different outcomes. Their experiences illustrate why some consultants get stuck here and what helps others move forward with clarity and stability. What I share on the podcast is a just a tip of the iceberg of what my clients get access to! Better Together! 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

**APPLICATIONS CLOSE 12/31/25 FOR IMPACT COLLECTIVE MASTERMIND** If your consulting business is between $200K and $400K, it may look successful from the outside but feel surprisingly unstable on the inside.  In this episode, I break down why Phase 2 is one of the most challenging stages of growth and why so many consultants feel stretched thin, busy, and at the edge of their capacity.  You will also learn what needs your focus in this phase so your business can become more predictable and less dependent on you. This episode will help you understand what is normal, what to expect, and how to move forward with more clarity and confidence. Be sure to follow or subscribe so you do not miss the next episode in the Growing Pains series where scalable operations becomes the focus. Let's Work Together! 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

**APPLICATIONS CLOSE 12/31/25 FOR IMPACT COLLECTIVE MASTERMIND** Most consultants start their business without a clear roadmap. They rely on referrals, hustle and hope. In this episode, I break down Phase 1 of the Scalable Consulting Firm Method: the Foundations Phase, from $0 to $200K in revenue. Whether you're consulting full time or part time, this stage can feel intense. You're learning how to deliver client work and run a business at the same time. I share common mistakes to avoid, what to prioritize and why keeping things simple will serve you best. I also share what kind of coaching support is most helpful at this stage, including how to find the right program or coach to help you build a strong foundation. P.S. I don't typically work with consultants in this phase, but I want you to have the roadmap so you know what to focus on now and when it makes sense to seek deeper support.   Resources Mentioned 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

**APPLICATIONS CLOSE 12/31/25 FOR IMPACT COLLECTIVE MASTERMIND** If you're a Nonprofit Consultant earning anywhere from your first client to $1M+, this series gives you something most consultants never receive: a real roadmap. In this short kickoff episode, I share what the Growing Pains series is all about! This series is perfect for newer consultants who want to know where they are headed, and just as powerful for seasoned consultants who want to identify steps they may have skipped or understand what's coming next. ❊If you haven't yet, click follow or subscribe so you do not miss an episode in the Growing Pains series.   Resources Mentioned 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

**APPLICATIONS CLOSE 12/31/25 FOR IMPACT COLLECTIVE MASTERMIND** The Impact Collective Mastermind - A 12-month hybrid of mastermind and private coaching for nonprofit consultants between $200K–$1M in revenue. We focus on scaling through my Scalable Consulting Framework by refining offers, streamlining operations, hiring, and leadership growth.   90-Minute Intensives ($997) A focused working session for consultants who want quick clarity and a plan. Many people start here before joining a longer program. We both have some pre-work before this and you leave with a gameplan! Book a virtual chat with Natalie to learn more about Impact Collective. NatalieMBA.com    

If every 🔥fire routes back to you, your team has learned that only you can fix it. My guest and client Amanda Silver, a leadership consultant and executive coach,shares how to rewrite that pattern through practical tools for scalable leadership, coaching and accountability. 💡We talk about what it really means to lead as your firm scales, how to delegate effectively, build a healthy culture and hold authority without losing empathy. You'll learn: Why every consultant needs to develop Scalable Leadership as they grow. How to use the  "Skill and Will Matrix" to assess and coach your team. The mindset shifts required to move from doer to leader. How to balance empathy and accountability when leading a small team. If you are building a team of any size, this episode will help you step into leadership with more ease and purpose. ⭐️ Connect with Amanda Silver: Webiste:AmandaSilver.com Amanda's LinkedIn   Let's grow YOUR consulting firm together!  🔥Currently reviewing applications for our JANUARY start of the 2026 Impact Collective Mastermind Program. ***Ideal for consultants earning $300K to $1M in annual revenue. Apply for The Impact Collective Mastermind Program: NatalieMBA.com/impact-collective   🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensiveBest first step for us to work together. Investment: $997. Let's work on your Scalable Offer, Scalable Ops or ScalableLeadership! Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan. Clarity Guarantee: Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours. Visit my website: NatalieMBA.com

Scalable operations turn you from the person doing the work into the person creating the environment for great work to happen. That is what my guest Christine Schwitzer, the founder and CEO of Holistic Grants, and member of my Impact Collective Mastermind has found. Christine shares what it looked like to move from spreadsheets and mental checklists to real systems that give her visibility, structure, and peace of mind. We discuss how operational clarity helps her delegate with confidence, strengthens client delivery and allows her to lead her growing team with ease. Her story is a powerful reminder that scalable operations aren't just about efficiency, they are a pathway to better leadership. Connect with Christine Schwitzer: Linked In Holistic Grants Website Previous Episode:50: [client success] From Solo Grant Writer to Agency Owner with Christine Schwitzer  Let's grow your consulting firm together!  🔥Currently reviewing applications for our 2026 Impact Collective Mastermind Program. ***Ideal for consultants earning $300K to $1M in annual revenue. Apply for The Impact Collective Mastermind Program: NatalieMBA.com/impact-collective 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive Best first step for us to work together. Investment: $997. Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan. Clarity Guarantee: Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours. Visit my website: NatalieMBA.com

Your scalable offer is where everything starts. It informs your operations, your team, your pricing, and your client experience. In Episode 67, I introduced the concept of a scalable offer, and the response was overwhelming (in a good way). Clients and listeners have been rethinking how they structure their services, teams, and operations around this one idea. In this follow-up episode, I go deeper into how to design a scalable offer that creates more freedom, profit, and impact. I share why I no longer teach building a business around your Zone of Genius (and what to focus on instead), how to identify when you've built a "menu" instead of an offer, and what it looks like to narrow your focus even when it feels uncomfortable. You'll also hear real examples from consultants who've done this work—from fractional fundraisers and grant consultants to strategic planners—so you can see how these shifts play out in practice. Mentioned in this episode: Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan. Clarity Guarantee: Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours. Apply for The Impact Collective Mastermind Program: NatalieMBA.com/impact-collective (after you apply you'll book a call with me to see if the program is a mutual fit) Referenced episodes: Ep 8: LaKeesha Morris-Moreau on niching to serve cities and counties Ep 50: Christine Schweitzer on refining a scalable grant writing firm Ep 61: Frances Roen on shifting to capital campaign strategy Ep 63: Jennifer Hunter on specializing in strategic planning

If you're bringing in $300K or more, you've already built something successful. But what got you here won't get you to $1M—and it definitely won't get you more time, ease, or freedom. In this episode, I walk through what a scalable consulting firm actually looks like, from the offer that fuels it to the team and leadership shifts that make growth sustainable. You'll hear the story of two fictional consultants—Riley and Jean—and see exactly what changes when you stop being the business and start leading one. 📸See Photos from The Impact Collective Mastermind Retreat Want help applying this to your firm: Book a 90 minute Intensive. NatalieMBA.com/intensive Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan. ***Clarity Guarantee. Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours. 🔗  Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program) Next enrollments: January 2026| September 2026 ☎️Book A Complimentary Call - Let's see if we are a fit! For consultants who have revenue above $200K a year. 📩 Get my newsletter.

If growth feels stalled, the issue may not be your pricing or pipeline. It may be the size of the clients you serve. I explain why "too small" clients quietly drain profit and momentum, then share three signals you are downmarket and simple steps to reposition without abandoning your values. Listen to learn what to change, why it matters, and how to make your next sales conversation easier. Want help applying this to your firm Book a 90 minute Intensive. NatalieMBA.com/intensive Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan. ***Clarity Guarantee. Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours. 🔗  Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program) Next enrollments: January 2026| September 2026 ☎️Book A Complimentary Call - Let's see if we are a fit! For consultants who have revenue above $200K a year. 📩 Get my newsletter.

You got here by being the go to expert who does it all. That same approach is now the ceiling. In this episode, I show you what must change in your offer, operations, team, and mindset so your firm can run without you. We also check back in with our fictional consultants Riley and Jean. Same talent, very different weeks. Which one sounds like you right now? Want help applying this to your firm Book a 90 minute Intensive. NatalieMBA.com/intensive Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan. ***Clarity Guarantee. Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours. 🔗  Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program) Next enrollments: January 2026| September 2026 ☎️Book A Complimentary Call - Let's see if we are a fit! For consultants who have revenue above $200K a year. 📩 Get my newsletter.

Most consultants don't think about scalability until it's too late. By then the options are often shutting down, taking a job, or rebuilding from the ground up. In this episode, I share three stories that illustrate what happens when a business depends on one person to hold it all together. You'll also hear why a scalable consulting firm isn't just about growth, but about protection and possibility. You'll learn: Why waiting to scale can leave your business fragile What protection and possibility really mean for consultants. The four key facets of a scalable consulting firm. How scalability creates margin in your time, money, and energy. This episode will help you reflect on the foundations of your own consulting business and what might need to shift before life interrupts. 🎧 Listen now and start building it before you need it. Mentioned in this episode: Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive (This includes access to my sales forecasting tool, one of my workshops and my custom coaching tool which helps us anaylze your business in a way you may never have before. Our prework allows us to hit the ground running and accomplish in 90 minutes what can otherwise take months to acheive. It will be the best $997 you'll ever spend on your business!) ☎️Book A Complimentary Call - Let's see if we are a fit! For consultants who have revenue above $200K a year.   🎉Work with Me! MASTERMIND 📌 Apply to 1:1 Coaching (6-month program) For consultants with revenue greater than $100K per year. 🔗  Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program) Next enrollments: January 2026| September 2026 For experienced nonprofit consultants with revenue from $200K to $1M, who want to build a scalalbe consulting firm!   Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you're thinking about joining the next mastermind or just want to connect!Tell me you listen to the podcast.

Mindset blocks aren't always obvious. But they might be running your business. If you've been revisiting the same decisions, putting off your next hire, or waffling over your pricing, the problem might not be strategy. It might be mindset. In this episode, I walk through the Scalable Mindset framework and check in with the two fictional consultants we have been following, Riley and Jean, whose weeks look radically different based on how they respond to fear, capacity, and growth.   ☎️Book A Call - Let's see if we are a fit! For consultants who have revenue above $200K a year.   🎉Work with Me! MASTERMIND 📌 Apply to 1:1 Coaching (6-month program) For consultants with revenue greater than $100K per year. 🔗  Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program) Next enrollments: September 2025 | January 2026 For experienced nonprofit consultants with revenue from $200K to $1M, who want to build an enduring business!   Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you're thinking about joining the next mastermind or just want to connect!Tell me you listen to the podcast.

Are you the bottleneck in your business? Is your calendar packed with back to back appointments and constant task switching? Does every project depend on you? Have you mastered bringing in work, yet dread saying yes to one more client? Join us as we check in with our fictional consultants, Riley and Jean, to show how the same talent can lead to very different weeks when the business is set up differently. You will see that a scalable team is the engine that expands capacity without adding more of you. It sits on top of a repeatable offer and solid operations. When those foundations are in place, the team works independently, meets deadlines, anticipates client needs, and protects your calendar for true CEO work. Sounds dreamy, right? 🎉Work with Me! Book A Call - Let's see if we are a fit! For consultants who have revenue above $200K a year. MASTERMIND 📌 Apply to 1:1 Coaching (6-month program) For consultants with revenue greater than $100K per year. 🔗  Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program) Next enrollments: September 2025 | January 2026 For experienced nonprofit consultants with revenue from $200K to $1M, who want to build an enduring business!   Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you're thinking about joining the next mastermind or just want to connect!Tell me you listen to the podcast.

Operations can be your greatest growth asset or your biggest roadblock. In this episode, we return to Riley and Jean to see how their very different approaches to running their consulting businesses are playing out. One is stuck in complexity and constant firefighting. The other is building something that runs smoothly, even when they step away. We will explore what makes operations truly scalable and why it matters so much once you start to grow. You will walk away with a fresh perspective on where your own systems might be slowing you down and what to focus on next. Listen now to see which consultant's week feels more like yours and what could change if you focused on scaling simplicity. 🎉Let's work together!!  MASTERMIND 🔗  Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program) Next enrollments: September 2025 | January 2026 For experienced nonprofit consultants with revenue from $200K to $1M, who want to build an enduring business! 📌 Apply to 1:1 Coaching (6-month program) For consultants with revenue greater than $100K per year.   Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you're thinking about joining the next mastermind or just want to connect!Tell me you listen to the podcast.

Most consultants hit a ceiling. A scalable offer breaks it. If you're a consultant who wants to grow but still feels stuck in client delivery, don't miss this episode. You'll hear about two consultants. One is stuck managing everything. The other has space to think, lead, and grow. I break down what makes that shift possible. We walk through what a scalable offer actually is and why it matters. We're not talking about theory. We're talking about the difference between staying at capacity and building something that can run without you. I've helped clients make this shift again and again. It's one of the most important changes you can make if you want to lead a business that supports your life and has even MORE IMPACT! 🎉Let's work together!!  MASTERMIND Next enrollments: September 2025 | January 2026 🔗  Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program)   For experienced nonprofit consultants with revenue from $200K to $1M, who want to build an enduring business! 📌 Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive Open to ALL consultants at ALL levels. Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you're thinking about joining the next mastermind or just want to connect!Tell me you listen to the podcast.   💛 Enjoy the episode? Follow/Subscribe to The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants so you never miss an episode.  

WHAT IF TWO CONVERSATIONS A WEEK COULD FILL YOUR PIPELINE? Listen in as Impact Collective Mastermind member Kyle Huelsman of Advocacy Rising turns two STRATEGIC weekly conversations with ideal clients into a consulting firm overflowing with work and options. IN THIS EPISODE, KYLE SHARES the "two conversations" rule that keeps his pipeline warm how co-creating scope with a prospect turned a $5K idea into a contract 10x's larger how consistent revenue gave him the confidence to hire a full-time Senior Associate You'll hear the mindset shifts, practical steps, and quick wins that moved Kyle from hustle to momentum. If you need more consistency in your business development, his story will spark ideas you can use right away. Press play to discover what happens when steady outreach meets consultative selling. Then share your biggest takeaway with us on LinkedIn. Connect with Kyle: Linked In Advocacy Rising Website   🎉Let's work together!!  MASTERMIND 🔗  Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program) Next enrollments: September 2025 | January 2026 For experienced nonprofit consultants with revenue from $200K to $1M, who want to build an enduring business! 📌 Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive Open to ALL consultants at ALL levels.   Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you're thinking about joining the next mastermind or just want to connect!Tell me you listen to the podcast.   💛 Enjoy the episode? Follow/Subscribe to The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants so you never miss an episode.  

If your business is growing but YOUR ROLE still looks the same, it's time to make a bigger shift. In this episode, I walk through the real, and often messy, process of moving from solo consultant to business owner, and what that looks like day to day. We talk about the mindset, money, and leadership shifts that come with growth. If you're ready to move from doing the work to building a business, this episode will help you take the next step with clarity and confidence.   🎉Let's work together!!  MASTERMIND 🔗  Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program)Next enrollments: September 2025 | January 2026 For experienced nonprofit consultants with revenue form $200K to $1M, who want to build an enduring business! 📌 Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensiveOpen to ALL consultants at ALL levels. Connect With Me: 📩 DM me on LinkedIn if you're thinking about joining the next mastermind or just want to connect!   💛 Enjoy the episode? Follow/Subscribe to The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants so you never miss an episode.