Nonprofit Consultant Survey

Key findings from this year’s report include:

• The consultants who responded to this survey charged, on average $141 per hour and billed an annual total of $102,286.
• Consultants of color charged more than their white counterparts. Black/AfricanAmerican consultants charged the highest hourly rate ($162).
• Consultants who identified as men charged more per hour ($159) and billed at higher levels ($128,282). Consultants who identified as women charged an average of $140/hour and billed $100,244.
• Genderqueer/trans/nonbinary consultants charged an average of $108/hour and billed $92,369.
• There was a clear correlation between education, nonprofit experience, consulting experience, and higher hourly rates. None of our consultants with more than 16 years of consulting experience charged below $76/hour.
• Respondents were geographically dispersed. The greatest geographical concentration was in New York State, where consultants charged an average of $168/hour.
• Unlike in other industries, most nonprofit consultants did not have to wait longer than 30 days to be paid.
• Our respondents spent an average of $11,789 on their businesses. Consultants who worked independently spent slightly less ($8,279.50) and those who own a firm with partners and/or staff and subcontractors spent about double that - an average of $19,389. Top expenses included technology, taxes, professional development, insurance, and subcontractors.

Key findings from this year’s report include:

• The consultants who responded to this survey charged, on average, $132 per hour and in 2021, billed an average of $105,728.
• Our findings on a gender gap in hourly rates reinforced current estimates of 84 cents to the dollar. Women charged $126 per hour and men charged $154 per hour on average.
• Although there were not significant differences between the hourly rates of white consultants and consultants of color, we found a substantial difference in annual billing.
• Non-white consultants billed an average of $80,001 in 2021 and white consultant billed an average of $112,867.
• Consultants who specialized in strategic planning, interim leadership, and justice, equity, diversity, inclusion (JEDI) work charged the highest hourly rates ($141-148), and those who specialized in grant writing charged the least ($97 per hour). 
• There were differences between consultants who worked independently and those who hired subcontractors.
• Independent consultants charged a lower average rate of $123 per hour and spent an average of $7,563 on their businesses. Consultants who hired subcontractors charged an average rate of $149 per hour and spent an average of $21,108 on their businesses.

• On average, respondents charged an average of $110/hour and billed $51,010 in 2020. They spent an average of $5,695 on their businesses.
• Consultants who did not have part-time or full-time jobs charged an average of $115/hour and billed $73,828 in 2020.
• Consultants who specialized in government relations and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work charged the highest averages ($130-132/hour). Fundraising and event planning consultants charged the lowest averages ($98-99/hour).
• Unsurprisingly, more experience in the nonprofit sector meant a higher average rate. However, there were respondents with 20+ years of experience who charged less than $50/hour and those with only 6-10 years experience who charged in excess of $201/hour.
• Our data was too limited to do a reliable analysis based on the racial or ethnic identity of respondents, but we did see a significant difference in the average rates of consultants who were the primary wage earner for their households ($128/hour) compared to those who were not ($108/hour).
• The data suggest that consultants bill far fewer than 2,000 hours per year (the total on which is based a typical full time salary is based). However, this does not mean that they work less than a full-time employee.