Our Approach to Consulting

Endeavour Volunteer Consulting for Non-Profits (Endeavour) is an independent non-profit offering pro-bono strategy consulting in management and business to non-profit and social-mission organizations in Toronto and neighbouring cities to help strengthen and sustain impact in the non-profit and social sectors.

Endeavour works with clients on a six-month consulting engagement during the spring/summer or fall/winter project cycle. Please review the information below to get a better understanding of our approach and the activities that you would be involved in as a client.

If your organization and project fit with our approach to consulting and Client & Project Selection Criteria, we invite you to fill out our Project Application Form for our pro-bono consulting service.

Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter Project Cycles

Endeavour’s project cycles correspond with the spring/summer and fall/winter seasons:

1) Spring/Summer: Mid-March to Mid-September - Project Application Deadline is February 1st

2) Fall/Winter: Mid-September to Mid-March - Project Application Deadline is August 1st

Three-Phase Cycle

Each project cycle is represented by three phases, as noted here, and explained in detail further below:

1) Pre-Engagement: Preparation

2) Engagement: Consulting

3) Post-Engagement: Evaluation

Pre-Engagement Phase: Preparation (2 months)

The pre-engagement phase involves about four months of work carried out by the Executive Team to prepare for a new set of consulting engagements, although the period from the project application deadline to the project kick-off is about two months. As outlined below, the pre-engagement phase begins with recruitment and ends with the VP Client & Volunteer Relations introducing the consulting team to the client.

Activities in Pre-Engagement Phase for Potential Clients

Client Recruitment

Endeavour recruits clients through various online channels and word-of-mouth. Applicants are required to complete an online project application form by the advertised deadline. As necessary, Endeavour’s VP Client & Volunteer Relations and/or President discuss the potential project with the prospective client.

Stage 1 Evaluation: Review of Project Applications

Endeavour’s Advisory Board, President and VPs review the project applications. Based on the Advisory Board’s approvals and recommendations, the most suitable candidates are selected to proceed to Stage 2. Declined applicants are advised of other consultants that may be more suitable for their proposed project and/or organization.

Business Case Development

Based on the Advisory Board’s approvals and recommendations, the VP Client & Volunteer Relations follows up with the selected project applicants to develop a business case. The business case development involves completing a detailed Client Information Form and scoping the project to achieve the organization’s most important goal(s) within a six-month consulting engagement.

Stage 2 Evaluation: Final Review

Endeavour’s President and VPs review the business cases. Questions or concerns about business cases are escalated to the Advisory Board for their review and recommendations.

Project Selections

Based upon the Advisory Board’s approvals and recommendations, the most suitable clients and business cases are selected for a new set of pro-bono consulting engagements. New clients are informed by email.

Approval of Client Information Form

The client and Endeavour approve the Client Information Form, containing client information and the business case. The Client Information Form is provided to the consulting team as background information on the client and project.

Project Staffing

The Executive Team staffs a consulting team on the project, consisting of an engagement manager, five consultants and a project advisor from Endeavour’s Advisory Board. Volunteers are matched to projects and clients based on project and client needs, volunteer backgrounds and interests, and to leverage the diversity of talents and experiences among the volunteers.

Client Agreement

New clients submit an online client agreement before receiving pro-bono consulting services from Endeavour.

Consulting Team Introduction

Clients are introduced to their consulting team via email by the VP Client & Volunteer Relations after the volunteer orientation and training.

Engagement Phase: Consulting (6 months)

The engagement phase involves about six months of consulting work carried out by the consulting team with the client. The engagement phase begins with the initial client meeting and ends with the final client deliverable. As outlined below, the consulting engagement can be broken down into three phases.

Client Activities in Engagement Phase

Phase 1: Months 1 to 2

The client activities in Phase 1 are:

· Meeting(s) with the Consulting Team: Within the first month of the consulting engagement, the client meets with the consulting team to lay the foundation for working together over the next six months.

Sharing Information & Resources with the Consulting Team: The client provides information and resources to support the consulting team in developing the statement of work, which specifies the consulting team’s deliverable(s) to the client and the process and milestones involved in producing the deliverable(s).

Reviewing & Approving the Statement of Work: The client reviews the statement of work developed by the consulting team. Revisions to the statement of work are made as necessary based on client feedback. The client approves the statement of work.

Phase 2: Months 2 to 6

The client activities in Phase 2 are:

Meeting and Corresponding with the Consulting Team: The client communicates and/or meets with the engagement manager and/or consulting team at least monthly to stay abreast of the consulting team’s progress, and to provide the requested information and feedback necessary to move the consulting project forward.

Providing Support & Resources to the Consulting Team: The client provides the available support, information and resources requested from the consulting team to help move the consulting project forward.

Providing Feedback to the Consulting Team on Work: The client provides feedback to the consulting team on their work to move the consulting project forward.

Mid-Term Feedback to the VP Client & Volunteer Relations: After three months of consulting work, the VP Client & Volunteer Relations will touch base with the client to receive feedback on the consulting team and engagement.

Providing Input into Development of Evaluation Metrics by Consulting Team: The client provides the consulting team with input into the development of metrics that will be used by the Endeavour Executive Team to evaluate the outcomes and success of the consulting engagement.

Phase 3: Month 6

The client activities in Phase 3 are:

Receiving Final Deliverable(s) from Consulting Team: The client receives a report and/or presentation deck summarizing the problem, methodology, key findings, options, recommendations and evaluation metrics.

Attending Final Presentation by Consulting Team: The client receives the deliverable(s) along with a final presentation from the consulting team, highlighting the key recommendations and next steps for the client. An Endeavour executive attends the final presentation.

Participating in Client-Consulting Team Photo Shoot: If possible, the client and consulting team participate in a photo shoot at the final presentation, courtesy of Endeavour’s photographer.

Post-Engagement Phase: Evaluation

The post-engagement phase involves feedback on the consulting engagement experience, and evaluating the outcomes of the consulting engagement over a period of two years and beyond. As outlined below, the post-engagement phase begins with feedback from the client, and is followed by periodic evaluations.

Client Activities in Post-Engagement Phase

Client Feedback Survey & Meeting

The client completes an online survey to provide feedback on the consulting team and engagement, and on Endeavour in general. The client meets with Endeavour’s VP Client & Volunteer Relations and President to follow up on the feedback.

Post-Engagement Evaluations & Impact Case Studies

The VP Client & Volunteer Relations touches base with the client every six months in the first two years post-engagement to evaluate the outcomes of the project using the metrics developed in the consulting engagement and to develop impact case studies. Endeavour will remain in touch with the client to evaluate impact in the longer run.

Returning as a Client

Endeavour wants to build lasting relationships with clients. If you are interested in returning as a client, let us know and we will contact you when we begin recruiting for our next set of consulting engagements.