What is a fundraising consultant agreement?
When a nonprofit hires a consultant for a feasibility study, a capital campaign or a fundraising plan, a few points matter more than in most consulting work. Fundraising ethics codes generally discourage paying consultants a percentage of gifts raised. Donor lists and giving histories are among the nonprofit's most sensitive assets. And in some places, consultants who ask donors for gifts, or who advise on solicitation, must register or file their contracts.
This template engages the consultant for the type of work you choose, with the services, deliverables, end date and on-site time written out. It states that the nonprofit's own people ask for gifts while the consultant advises and never handles donated funds. The fee is flat — fixed, monthly or per phase — and expressly not a commission or tied to any gift, with expenses reimbursed on prior approval and an optional monthly amount that needs no advance approval. It includes no guarantee of results, strict donor data confidentiality and deletion at the end, a registration clause where you record who checks and what applies, ownership of work, independence and conflicts, notice to end early, and a liability limit.
- Best for
- Campaign counsel, feasibility studies, fundraising plans and coaching
- Signed by
- The nonprofit's authorised officer and the consultant
- Fee
- Flat: for the engagement, per month or per phase — never a percentage
- Length
- 3 pages, initialled on every page, signatures on the last page
When to use a fundraising consultant agreement
- A feasibility study before a capital campaign for a new building
- Campaign counsel through the quiet and public phases of a campaign
- An annual fundraising plan for a small charity
- Reviewing a major gifts programme and coaching the board
- Monthly strategy support for a new development director
What you fill in
21 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: nonprofit, consultant.
1 The parties
- Start date*
- Nonprofit*
- Charity or tax-exempt registration number (optional)
- Nonprofit's lead contact (name and email)*
- Consultant (you or your firm)*
- Your phone or email*
2 The services
- Type of engagement* a campaign feasibility study · capital campaign counsel · an annual fundraising plan · a major gifts programme review · fundraising strategy and coaching
- Campaign or project (optional)
- Services*
- Written deliverables (optional)
- End date*
- On-site days or meetings (optional)
3 Fee
- Currency*
- Flat fee*
- The fee is* a fixed fee for the whole engagement · a fixed fee per month · a fixed fee per phase
- Payment schedule*
- Expenses limit without approval (optional)
4 Compliance
- Consultant registration status* The Consultant will check and complete any registration that applies to it before the services start. · The Consultant confirms it is registered where required, as listed below. · The parties have checked and believe no registration applies to these services.
- Registration details (optional)
- Notice to end early (days)*
- Governing law*
5 Who signs
- Nonprofit signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The charity or nonprofit — usually signed by the executive director or board chair.
- Consultant signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The fundraising consultant or consulting firm.
What the fundraising consultant agreement covers
- Services
- Who asks for gifts
- Fee: flat, not a percentage of gifts
- No guarantee of results
- Donor data and confidentiality
- Registration and compliance
- Ownership of work
- Independence and conflicts
- Ending the Agreement and general
Using the fundraising consultant agreement, step by step
1 Name the parties and the engagement
Enter the nonprofit, its registration number if you want it shown, its lead contact, and choose the type of engagement and optional campaign name.
2 Describe the services
List the services, any written deliverables with dates, on-site time and the end date.
3 Set the flat fee
Enter the fee, whether it is for the engagement, per month or per phase, the payment schedule and an optional monthly expenses amount that needs no advance approval.
4 Record registration and send
Choose the registration statement that fits, add details if registered, set the notice period and governing law, and send it for signature.
Tips before you send it
- Check registration rules where the nonprofit is based and where its donors are. Some places require consultants or counsel to register or file contracts, even when they never ask for gifts themselves.
- Keep the fee flat. The agreement states it is not a percentage or commission, which matches most fundraising ethics codes.
- If you will contact donors directly to ask for gifts, add that in a signed change. It can change registration duties.
- Agree before feasibility interviews start how comments will be reported. The template keeps interviews unattributed unless the interviewee agrees.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Fundraising consultant agreement: frequently asked questions
Why a flat fee instead of a percentage of funds raised?
Most professional fundraising codes discourage percentage-based pay because it can put pressure on donors and divert gifts. The template states the fee is for time and expertise, not tied to any gift.
Does the consultant ask donors for money?
Not under this template. The nonprofit's board, staff and volunteers ask. The consultant advises, prepares materials and coaches, and never handles donated funds.
Does the consultant need to register?
It depends on where the nonprofit and donors are and what the consultant does. The agreement records who checks and what applies. It does not decide the question for you.
Who owns the donor data and reports?
Donor data stays the nonprofit's and is returned or deleted at the end. Reports and plans made for the nonprofit belong to it once paid for; the consultant keeps its general methods.
Can it be signed electronically?
Yes. E-signatures are generally valid for consulting agreements in the US, UK, EU and Canada. FileIt keeps an audit trail with the signed PDF.