Volunteer FAQS

Serving as an ESC volunteer consultant requires an investment of time and energy. What it yields is new skills, interesting work and the opportunity to help northern New England nonprofits thrive.  Contact us to learn more  about becoming a volunteer consultant.

Why should I become a volunteer consultant with ESC?

Are you interested in leveraging skills and talents developed in your career to help nonprofits achieve their goals?  Do you have the time and enthusiasm to “give back” to the larger community?  With ESC, you can learn new skills, stay active professionally, get involved in fascinating projects, grow your network and remain socially connected.   Depending on your assigned project, you can further develop skills in strategic planning, improving board effectiveness, business planning, human resources, public relations, marketing, fundraising and more.

Do I need prior consulting experience?

No.  New consultants receive free training in consulting skills.  Additionally, for their first few projects new consultants get on-the-job training and mentoring under the leadership of a lead consultant.  Opportunities to progress to a lead consultant are based on skill development and interest.

What other training will be provided?

ESC requires new consultants to take three training courses: Orientation, Consulting Skills, and Finance and Governance.   These courses are free and are offered in the spring and/or fall and are taught by senior ESC consultants.

We also host quarterly consultant meetings where we have consultants present case studies of ongoing work and updates on best consulting practices.

What are the most important skills an ESC consultant needs?

The most important skills a consultant needs are the ability to listen, relate to the client, analyze data and information and communicate effectively. We need consultants who have developed good judgment, facilitation skills and perspective from years of senior experience and as well as those with in-depth skills in functional areas such as marketing, public relations,  human resources or fundraising.  Experience in nonprofit management, as a staff member, volunteer or board member is helpful but not required.

What level of commitment is expected of ESC consultants?

The level of commitment depends on you.  Some consultants prefer to take on only one project at a time and may contribute less than 50 volunteer hours a year. Others take on several projects a year and do several at one time.

Anyone who is considering becoming a volunteer consultant should expect a minimum of a two-year commitment and be available to meet with clients on the client’s schedule. Additionally, you need to be willing to take the training  and to report hours and write reports.

When you accept an ESC consulting project (of your choice) it should become a priority for you. Our clients pay a discounted fee (to support our infrastructure) and expect high quality, effective consulting services in return.

How do I join ESC?

The process for joining ESC is simple. The first step is to email Tom Mongeon or call Tom at 603-926-0752 and express your interest.  Next steps could include submission of your resume, completion of an application, a phone discussion and then a meeting, usually over breakfast or lunch, with Tom and one of ESC’s senior consultants.