In certain professions and certain fields, it’s acceptable to hire just about anybody. A key role in a nonprofit is not one of those professions. Any key role—CEO, financial officer, resource manager, etc.—require a highly qualified candidate with demonstrable skill and expertise in their field. The article ‘In Search of the White Knight’ by Dr. Terrie Temkin concerns the particulars to search for while seeking a consultant for a nonprofit. The reasons for hiring a consultant may vary: aid in planning through a period of change, facilitating teambuilding among staff or board members, or compensating for a loss of staff after downsizing are all possible reasons to hire a consultant. But as Dr. Temkin advises, it is vital to hire the right consultant, not just anyone who happens to own a business card.

The first priority is the goals involved in hiring a consultant—what is the reason for the hiring? What change do you hope will result from the consultant’s intervention? What attributes do you expect to see in your ideal candidate? After those questions have been answered Dr. Temkin advises getting very specific on the details of the consultant’s role. What particular tasks will your consultant achieve? What resources will you contribute to ensure their success? How will the consultant be monitored and assessed? When you know all of this, Dr. Temkin recommends building a pool of candidates by asking colleagues, research professors in your field, community foundations, and other professionals which potential candidates they see meeting the criteria you’ve set. The final step is interviewing of your candidates, and in this Dr. Temkin advises having board members appoint a committee of stakeholders who understand the need and can successfully vet the pool. As the article details and elaborates, this process will ensure the selection of the best consultant for the organization, whose contribution will bring a long-term positive effect.

Terrie Temkin, Ph.D. ‘In Search of the White Knight: Finding the Perfect Consultant’. The Society For Nonprofit Organizations. 1 April 2017. Web. November-December 1999.

Last updated on January 15th, 2026 at 11:12 pm