Hilary Robbins Consulting

Most nonprofit consultants work on one piece of the puzzle — a fundraising campaign, a strategic plan, an organizational assessment. What I do is different. I work at the intersection where financial strategy and mission meet, helping organizations get clear on the change they are actually trying to make in the world — and then building the business architecture that makes it possible to sustain and scale that change over time.

The place I almost always start is a question most organizations haven't been asked directly: not what do you do, but what happens because of what you do? It sounds simple, but it's a question that stops most leadership teams in their tracks — because organizations tend to become fluent in describing their programs and their activities, and much less fluent in describing the change those programs actually produce. Getting clear on that distinction is foundational to everything else. Once a team can articulate with precision and shared conviction what change they exist to make, the rest of the work — the delivery model, the revenue strategy, the funding mix — becomes something you can design intentionally rather than just inherit. You build toward the impact, rather than funding whatever you've always done.

Our WORK

In partnership with our clients, we work to address the financial stressors on an organization and to look at their assets as a way to define a new path to success, sustainability and growth. Focusing on business planning, identity and perception, audience development and messaging to optimize and connect with donors and supporters.

The areas of work include:

Revenue and Strategic Planning

We work with social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leadership to design funding models to strengthen revenue streams for fiscal success and sustainability. Together, we develop strategies to advance organizational mission and impact, by optimally aligning funding needs and resources with mission and vision. Including:

• Conduct revenue and resource analysis

• Model and analyze revenue and program income/expenses

• Develop business plans

• Develop strategic impact plans

• Develop multi-year budget projections in advance of campaigns

• Develop multi-year budget projections to support leadership decision making for organizations

• Develop varied revenue strategies as decision making tools for executive staff and boards

Messaging and Visioning Work

We work with organizations to align thinking around vision, and organizational assets, their distinct impact within the community they serve, and who is out there to invest in advancing their mission. 

• Facilitate group visioning work with staff and boards to articulate a shared future vision and associated benchmarks for success.

• Expand fundraising strategies and initiatives by thinking creatively about who is out there to support their work.

• Cultivate partnerships with foundations and corporations.

Fundraising Initiatives

We work with organizations to create new ways of engaging with their support audiences, through campaigns, new donor initiatives and messaging.

THE WORK WE DO