Podcast
The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants
Hosted by Natalie Eckdahl, MBA · EN
Are you a Nonprofit Consultant pulled between making an impact and running a profitable business? Join Natalie Eckdahl, MBA, on a podcast crafted just for you.
With 25 years of diverse experience as a management consultant, market researcher, small business owner and business coach, Natalie shares practical strategies to balance purpose and profit.
Through engaging discussions, trainings, and client stories, Natalie covers everything from pricing and proposals to maintaining client boundaries and tackling hiring and leadership hurdles. Her talent for simplifying complex ideas ensures you'll leave each episode with actionable insights to propel your consultancy forward.
But it's not all about numbers – Natalie also stresses the importance of mindset and resilience as a small business owner. As a mom of 3 and caregiver, she cherishes time with loved ones. With her guidance, you'll gain the confidence and clarity to overcome obstacles and reach your business goals while creating a fulfilling personal life.
Whether you're a seasoned consultant or an accidental entrepreneur, this podcast is your roadmap to success. Tune in and let Natalie help you unlock your full potential as a Nonprofit Consultant – and maybe even skip a step or two along the way.
30episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
88: The 4 Consulting Business Models -Which One Are You Building? (Fractional to Scalable Series #2)
Mar 1800:26:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I walk through the four primary consulting business models and how each one impacts your revenue, capacity, and long-term growth. If you have reached a point where your business feels full but not scalable, this framework will help you see why. I also introduce the Consulting Model Matrix, a simple way to understand how your business is structured today. The X axis represents how your work is priced, from time-based to outcome-based. The Y axis reflects how dependent your business is on you, from founder-led delivery to a model where a team can deliver work independently. I also share why many fractional consultants plateau, how to identify your current model, and what actually unlocks the next level of growth toward a more scalable firm. Mentioned in This Episode 🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieeckdahl/ 🚀Book a 90-Minute SCALABLE OFFER Intensive: https://nataliemba.com/intensive 🎧Listen to the podcast: https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast Scalable Offer Episodes: 74: Why Everything Starts with Your Scalable Offer80: Inside the $200K–$400K Stage (Growing Pains Series) 66: Do You Have a Scalable Offer? (Scalable Series #1)
Transcribe →87: The $500K–$1M Version of You Makes Different Decisions (Fractional to Scalable Series #1)
Mar 900:18:36Tap to summarizeThere is a stage in your consulting business where things look successful… but feel increasingly fragile. You may be operating as a fractional leader, a trusted generalist, or the go-to problem solver for your clients. Revenue is steady. Your calendar is full. But every new opportunity requires more of your time. More customization. More of you. Growth starts to feel heavy. You begin to sense a ceiling. Not because you lack talent. Not because you are not in demand. But because the model itself depends on your personal capacity. In this episode, I unpack one of the most important decision points nonprofit consultants face as they grow. Do you continue expanding through effort and availability? Or do you make structural changes that shift how your business works? The decisions you make at this stage affect your pricing, your positioning, your team, your visibility, and your quality of life. Move too slowly and you cap your impact. Move too quickly and you destabilize what you have built. This episode also begins a new series exploring the distinct phases of growth consultants experience as they evolve from founder-driven, custom work toward building something more durable and scalable. Each phase requires different decisions. Different courage. Different leadership. If you are feeling the weight of growth and wondering what needs to change next, this episode will help you name it and navigate it. 🚀Book a 90-Minute SCALABLE OFFER Intensive https://nataliemba.com/intensive
Transcribe →86: From Contractors to Employees: What Changes When You Hire W-2 Staff with Dr. Tiffany Slater
Mar 200:45:05Tap to summarize*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:7579be24-3f02-4035-91c4-1e8d60aba6e1-8" data-testid= "conversation-turn-18" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Hiring your first W-2 employee changes more than payroll. It changes how you lead. In this episode, I'm joined by HR expert Tiffany Slater of HR TailorMade to talk about what actually shifts when you move from an all-contractor model to a hybrid team with employees. We discuss expectations, accountability, performance conversations, and the infrastructure your firm needs as you step into real team leadership. If you currently have one employee, are about to hire your first, or feel like your hybrid structure is getting messy, this episode will help you understand what changes and how to lead through it with more clarity. Links Mentioned Dr. Tiffany Slater Website: https://www.hrtailormade.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyslater Natalie Eckdahl Website: https://NatalieMBA.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieeckdahl/ The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast: https://NatalieMBA.com/podcast Let's Work Together 🎯Book a SCALABLE OFFER 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has one opening available. 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (for Sept start) A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Includes two in person retreats, group calls, training library and private 1:1 coaching.
Transcribe →85: How to Use Buying Signals, Circleback Calls, and Closing Language That Converts with Nikki Rausch
Feb 2600:56:39Tap to summarizeSales does not have to feel awkward, pushy, or unpredictable. In this episode, I'm joined by my friend and trusted sales expert Nikki Rausch. We unpack her Selling Staircase framework and talk about how to confidently lead a sales conversation from introduction to close. We cover buying signals, permission-based leadership, circleback calls, and simple closing language that prevents ghosting. If you are ready to move from hoping a prospect says yes to confidently guiding the conversation, this episode is for you. Connect with our Guest Nikki Rausch 💡Free Training Mentioned Website LinkedIn Sales Maven Podcast Connect with your host Natalie Eckdahl Website LinkedIn The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Let's Work Together 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has one opening available. 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (for Sept 2026 or Jan 2027) A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Includes two in person retreats, group calls, training library and private 1:1 coaching.
Transcribe →84: Why I Took My Longest Podcast Break in 12 Years
Feb 2500:14:35Tap to summarizeAfter 12 years, 2 podcasts and 711 total episodes, I took my longest break from podcasting. It was not planned. It was not strategic. And it taught me something important about leadership, margin, and what consistency is really for. You will learn what was happening behind the scenes in Q4, why I chose to pause, what shifted in my business as a result, and the unexpected breakthroughs that came from creating space. If you are a nonprofit consultant building a scalable firm, this conversation will likely resonate more than you expect. You will also hear what is coming next on the podcast, including interviews with: Sales expert Nikki Rausch Dr. Tiffany Slater on Hiring Employees Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieeckdahl/ Let's Work Together 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has one opening available. 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (for Sept 2026 or Jan 2027) A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Includes two in person retreats, group calls, training library and private 1:1 coaching. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast
Transcribe →83: Inside the $1M-$3M Phase (Growing Pains Series)
Dec 2100:22:08Tap to summarizeWhat happens when your consulting business no longer needs you in the work but needs you to lead the leaders? In this final episode of the Growing Pains series, I break down what it really takes to build a Scalable Firm. This phase, often experienced somewhere between $1M and $3M in revenue, is defined by adding leadership layers, stepping fully into the CEO role, and creating the operational clarity required to support a growing team. I share why letting leaders lead is essential, how complexity increases as your client base and team expand, and what can happen when scalable operations are skipped. I also close with a final vignette of Jean, our fictional consultant, to illustrate what this stage can look like when it's navigated with intention and strong leadership. This episode is for nonprofit consultants who want to build a firm that creates real impact, supports their life, and actually works. Better Together! 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (for Sept 2026 or Jan 2027) A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Includes two in person retreats, group calls, training library and private 1:1 coaching. 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast
Transcribe →82: Inside the $700K-$1M Stage (Growing Pains Series)
Dec 1400:19:46Tap to summarizeThe $700K–$1M stage is a pivotal moment for many nonprofit consulting firms. Visibility increases, stronger talent begins to find you, and leadership demands rise in ways that often feel heavier than expected. This is the phase where achievement must shift from personal client work to team success, and where many consultants plateau without meaning to. In this episode, I unpack what actually changes at this level, including the move toward a full-time team, the need to simplify and refine your offer, the importance of operational and financial maturity, and the leadership and mindset shifts required to stop rescuing the business and start leading it. This stage is not just about growth. It is about evolving into the kind of leader your business now requires so growth becomes sustainable instead of exhausting. Better Together! 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind (Apply by Dec 31) A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast
Transcribe →81: Inside the $400K–$700K Stage (Growing Pains Series)
Dec 800:20:36Tap to summarizeThe jump from four $400,000 to $700,000 looks simple on paper, but it is one of the hardest phases to navigate. In this episode of the Growing Pains series, I walk you through what happens when your consulting business reaches this stage, where scalable operations, stronger systems, and early full-time hiring become essential. You'll hear the stories of two fictional consultants, Riley and Jean, who both begin this phase in the low four hundreds but experience very different outcomes. Their experiences illustrate why some consultants get stuck here and what helps others move forward with clarity and stability. What I share on the podcast is a just a tip of the iceberg of what my clients get access to! Better Together! Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast
Transcribe →80: Inside the $200K–$400K Stage (Growing Pains Series)
Dec 100:18:16Tap to summarizeIf your consulting business is between $200K and $400K, it may look successful from the outside but feel surprisingly unstable on the inside. In this episode, I break down why Phase 2 is one of the most challenging stages of growth and why so many consultants feel stretched thin, busy, and at the edge of their capacity. You will also learn what needs your focus in this phase so your business can become more predictable and less dependent on you. This episode will help you understand what is normal, what to expect, and how to move forward with more clarity and confidence. Be sure to follow or subscribe so you do not miss the next episode in the Growing Pains series where scalable operations becomes the focus. Let's Work Together! 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast
Transcribe →79: Inside the $0-$200K Stage (Growing Pains Series)
Dec 100:16:06Tap to summarizeMost consultants start their business without a clear roadmap. They rely on referrals, hustle and hope. In this episode, I break down Phase 1 of the Scalable Consulting Firm Method: the Foundations Phase, from $0 to $200K in revenue. Whether you're consulting full time or part time, this stage can feel intense. You're learning how to deliver client work and run a business at the same time. I share common mistakes to avoid, what to prioritize and why keeping things simple will serve you best. I also share what kind of coaching support is most helpful at this stage, including how to find the right program or coach to help you build a strong foundation. P.S. I don't typically work with consultants in this phase, but I want you to have the roadmap so you know what to focus on now and when it makes sense to seek deeper support. Resources Mentioned 💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above. Applications are open now. 🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan. 💡Private 1:1 Coaching Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open. 🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast
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