Do You Need a Nonprofit Communications Consultant or Agency? 5 Signs It’s Time to Get Help

Picture this:

Your nonprofit’s mission is powerful, your team is passionate, and your programs are making a real difference.

But your newsletter open rates are tanking, your Google Ad Grants budget is never utilized, and your last fundraising campaign barely moved the needle.

Sound familiar?

If so, you’re not alone—and you’re not failing. You might just need a little help.

Nonprofit success hinges on effective communication. It’s how you build trust with donors, rally supporters, and amplify your mission. But when your messaging is inconsistent or your strategy is unclear, even the most impactful work can get lost in the noise.

This blog will help you determine whether it’s time to bring in a nonprofit communications consultant or agency. We’ll walk through five clear signs that it’s time to get help, explore the benefits of hiring a pro, and offer guidance on choosing the right partner for your organization.

What Does a Nonprofit Communications Consultant Do?

A nonprofit communications consultant is a strategic partner who helps organizations clarify their messaging, engage their audiences, and amplify their impact. They don’t just write press releases or schedule social media posts—they help you build a strategic communications and marketing strategy that aligns with your mission and drives results.

Typical services include:

• Messaging Development: Crafting clear, compelling language that reflects your values and resonates with your audience.
• Strategic Planning: Building a roadmap for how, when, and where to communicate.
• Public Relations: Managing media outreach, press coverage, and reputation.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Strengthening relationships with donors, volunteers, and community partners.

While consultants often work solo or in small teams, agencies typically offer a full-service approach. That means access to PR pros, copywriters, graphic designers, and social media strategists—all under one roof.

A great communications consultant brings more than just skills and decades of experience. Look for someone with:

• Strategic planning expertise
• Facilitation and collaboration chops
• Data-driven decision-making
• Experiencing with building capacity
• Fresh marketing tactics
• Deep insights in the nonprofit sector

Why Good Communications Matter for Nonprofit Organizations

Fact: you can’t fundraise, advocate, or grow your programs without strong communications plans. It’s the thread that ties everything together.

Here’s what good communications can do:

• Boost fundraising strategies: Clear messaging helps donors understand what you do and why they should give.
• Strengthen advocacy: Speaking with a unified voice across different platforms and media makes your cause harder to ignore.
• Engage supporters: Consistent, compelling content keeps your community connected and inspires social change.
• Align your team: When everyone’s on the same page, your internal culture thrives, whether you’re a start-up or your staff has years of experience working with one another.

On the flip side, poor communication can hurt your credibility. Your website may say one thing, your social media says another, and your annual report tells a third story. These discrepancies might not seem obvious to you when you’re in the midst of advocating for your cause, but small differences can distract and confuse your audience. Confused donors don’t give. Confused volunteers don’t show up. And confused staff? They burn out.

5 Signs It’s Time to Hire a Communications Consultant

1. Lack of a Clear Communications Strategy

If your team is constantly reacting instead of planning, that’’s a red flag. A scattershot approach—posting on social media when someone remembers, or sending newsletters without a clear goal—leads to wasted effort and missed opportunities.

An agency or consulting firm can help you build a strategy that aligns with your goals and ensures every message serves a purpose.

2. Inconsistent Messaging Across Platforms

Does your website say one thing while your Instagram feed says another? Mixed messages confuse your audience and dilute your brand. Consulting services can audit your communications and create a unified voice across all channels.

3. Poor Social Media or Low Website Engagement

If your engagement metrics are flat—or worse, declining—it’s time to dig deeper. Low click-through rates, stagnant follower growth, and high bounce rates are signs that your content isn’t resonating. A consultant can help you understand what’s working, what’s not, and how to fix it.

4. Stagnant Fundraising Results

Fundraising consulting and communications go hand in hand. If your donation numbers haven’t budged in a while, your messaging might be the culprit. A consultant can help you pick the right CRM, craft compelling appeals and campaign initiatives, segment your audience, and optimize your campaigns.

5. Difficulty Measuring Communication Impact

If you’re not tracking metrics—or don’t know which ones to track—you’re flying blind. A consultant can help you set up systems to measure success, from email open rates to donor retention, so you can make data-informed decisions.

The Benefits of Hiring a Communications Consultant or Agency

Still on the fence? Here’s what you gain when you bring in the pros:

• Expertise in the Nonprofit Sector: Consultants who specialize in nonprofit messaging understand your challenges, from tight budgets to mission-driven messaging.
• An Objective Perspective: An outsider can spot gaps and opportunities you might miss.
• A Full-Service Team: Need a new logo, a media pitch, and a social media calendar? Agencies can do it all.
• Training for Internal Teams: Consultants don’t just do the work—they teach your team how to do it better.
• Greater Social Impact: Better communication means more visibility, more engagement, and more support for your mission.

Want to see what that looks like in action? Check out how Big Sea helped WNC Health Network strengthen their communications and community impact.

How to Choose the Right Communications Partner

Ready to start your search? Here’s how to find the right fit.

1. Look for Relevant Experience

Choose someone who’s worked with nonprofits with a similar size, mission, or audience. They’ll understand your world and bring insights that matter.

2. Check Their Track Record

Ask for case studies or testimonials. Look for results like increased donations, improved engagement, or successful campaigns.

3. Align Your Values

Your communications partner should “get” your mission. If they don’t believe in your cause, it’ll show in the work.

4. Seek Both Strategy and Execution Support

Some consultants only offer high-level strategy. Others roll up their sleeves and help with implementation. Ideally, you want both.

We recommend issuing an RFP (Request for Proposal) to compare options, or schedule consultations to get a feel for their approach.

Making the Case to Board Members

Worried your board won’t go for it? Here’s how to make a compelling case:

• Show the ROI: Strong communications lead to more donations, better advocacy, and stronger programs.
• Use data: Present metrics like website traffic, email open rates, or donor retention to highlight current gaps.
• Set clear goals: Propose specific, measurable outcomes—like increasing newsletter subscribers by 25% or boosting social media engagement by 50%.

When board members see the connection between communication and impact, they’re more likely to support the investment.

The Bottom Line

If your messaging is muddled, your engagement is low, or your fundraising has plateaued, it might be time to bring in a nonprofit communications consultant or agency.

By recognizing the signs and choosing the right partner, you can amplify your mission, engage your community, and drive real impact.

Not sure where to start? Contact Big Sea to discover how we can enhance your nonprofit’s communications strategy.