What do fundraising consultants charge?
This is a very difficult question to answer as the scale of charges which one might expect to incur are very wide ranging.
Some fundraising consultants will charge an hourly rate or day rate whilst others will charge to complete a specified task. Hourly rates and day rates will normally vary depending on the amount of work being commissioned, therefore a single day will often be considerably higher than a series of days or regular contracted days/hours.
As an estimate for hourly rates you could expect to pay between £20 to £35 per hour at the lower end of the scale and £75 plus at the higher end of the scale. We have heard of people charging well below the lower end of the scale and similarly we have seen organisations that charge £125 per hour.
Most reputable fundraising consultants will not be prepared to work commission, others however might, clients should however be aware that generally this is not considered as being best practice by either donors or the Charity Commission. Similarly the Institute of Fundraising and FundRaising Standards Board do not advise this form of payment as being acceptable for the donor, charity or consultant.
Given the very wide price spectrum it's probably best to decide a realistic budget ahead of contacting fundraising consultants or seeking tenders. Decide what hourly/day rate your organisation is prepared to pay and let people know when you enquire or advertise, this should save you and those you are contacting a lot of time.
One thing to remember is that price is not always indicative of the quality of service or likelihood of success, there are lots of very good fundraising consultants that will charge you £25 per hour and similarly lots of average ones that will change you £75 plus per hour. The main thing therefore is not to make price a major factor in your decision making process, be guided instead by the track record, experience and contract capability of the fundraising consultants that you contact.
Lastly most fundraising consultants will change for traveling expenses and other expenses incurred through carrying out work on behalf of a client. Some fundraising consultants will charge for traveling from the moment the leave their office, others will have factored travelling time into the day rates.
About fundraising consultants
What do fundraising consultants do?
What do fundraising consultants charge?
What to look for when hiring a fundraising consultant
The difference between a fundraising consultant and professional fundraiser
Things to consider before employing a fundraising consultant
Model template for commissioning a fundraising consultant
The tendering process
Working successfully with your fundraising consultant
Exit strategies
Monitoring and measuring the work of a fundraising consultant
Supporting your fundraising consultant
Where to find reputable fundraising consultants
