Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter Project Cycles
Endeavour’s project cycles correspond with the spring/summer and fall/winter seasons. The spring/summer cycle is from mid-March to mid-September, and the fall/winter cycle is from mid-September to mid-March. Each cycle consists of a new “round” of volunteers and clients. The number of clients and volunteers in each consulting round varies depending on the suitability of project applicants and Endeavour’s capacity. Consulting rounds consist of new and returning volunteers, and sometimes, returning clients as well. Our most recent consulting round (Round 4 - Spring/Summer 2009) consists of six clients and thirty-six volunteer engagement managers and consultants.
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 volunteer 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 Volunteers |
Activities in Pre-Engagement Phase for Potential Clients |
Volunteer Recruitment Endeavour recruits volunteers through various online channels and word-of-mouth. Applicants are required to complete an online volunteer application form and submit a current resume for the consultant or engagement manager position by the advertised deadline.
Stage 1 Evaluation: Screening of Volunteer Applications The Executive Team screens volunteer applications, with multiple screeners assigned to each applicant. The top candidates are invited to an interview.
Stage 2 Evaluation: Volunteer Interviews The top candidates emerging from the screening stage are invited to a 30-minute interview with two Endeavour executives. The interview consists of a standard set of behavioural, scenario and case questions asked of all interviewees for the consultant or engagement manager position.
Volunteer Selections The Executive Team reviews the interview evaluations, and selects the top candidates to fill the available consulting positions. Offers are made by email to the selected candidates for a consultant or engagement manager position on a new consulting project.
Project Staffing After offers have been made, new volunteers are given the opportunity to review brief descriptions of the new clients and projects, and indicate their preferences. 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 preferences, and to leverage the diversity of talents and experiences among the volunteers.
Volunteer Agreement New volunteers submit an online volunteer agreement before they begin volunteering with Endeavour.
Consulting Team Introduction Before orientation and training, new volunteers are introduced to their consulting team members, advisor and project via email.
Volunteer Orientation & Training New volunteers attend a weekend afternoon orientation and training. The afternoon begins with an Engagement Manager Training Session, followed by Orientation & Training Session I that brings together engagement managers, consultants, advisors and executives. Orientation & Training Session I include volunteer introductions, presentations on non-profit consulting and resources, and additional presentations and activities to prepare consulting teams for their engagements.
Client Introduction After the volunteer orientation and training, the engagement managers are introduced to their clients via email by the VP Client & Volunteer Relations to begin the engagement phase. |
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. 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.
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.
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Engagement Phase: Consulting (6 months)
The engagement phase involves about six months of consulting work carried out by the consulting teams. 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.
Consulting Team Activities in Engagement Phase |
Client Activities in Engagement Phase |
The monthly activities and the key activities specific to each of the three consulting phases are outlined separately below.
Monthly consulting activities include:
Phase 1: Statement of Work Development (Months 1 to 2)The activities that make up Phase 1 of the consulting engagement centre on 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). Key activities specific to Phase 1 are:
Phase 2: Statement of Work Execution (Months 2 to 6)
The activities that make up Phase 2 of the consulting engagement centre on executing the activities in the Statement of Work developed in Phase 1. Key activities specific to Phase 2 are:
o Month 2: Training Session II brings in an expert to speak with the consulting teams on their project topics, such as marketing, earned income, etc., to enhance understanding of the topics as they apply to non-profit or social-mission organizations.
o Month 3: Midterm Review Session brings together consulting teams to present their progress, key findings and questions, and to receive feedback from project advisors, executives and fellow consulting team members in moving forward with their consulting engagements.
o Month 4: Interactive Workshop brings together volunteers, consulting professionals, and members of the community to learn more about consulting from an expert and professionals from the consulting field.
o Month 5: Training Session III brings in an expert to speak with the consulting teams on topics, such as effective client presentations and developing evaluation metrics, to better prepare consulting teams for the final phase of their engagements.
o Month 6: Final Review Session brings together consulting teams to present their project status, client recommendations and questions, and to receive feedback from project advisors, executives and fellow consulting team members before giving the final client presentation.
Phase 3: Statement of Work Deliverables (Month 6)
The activities that make up Phase 3 of the consulting engagement centre on handing-off the deliverable(s) to the client. Key activities specific to Phase 3 are:
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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 volunteers and clients, and is followed by periodic evaluations.
Volunteer Activities in Post-Engagement Phase |
Client Activities in Post-Engagement Phase |
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Returning as a Volunteer or Client
Endeavour wants to build lasting relationships with clients and high-performing volunteers. If you are interested in returning as a volunteer or client, let us know and we will contact you when we begin recruiting for our next set of consulting engagements.