Smart Consultants Plan 2026 in November

Let me tell you something that might surprise you: November is one of the most important months of the year for nonprofit consultants. And no, not because of holiday campaigns, Giving Tuesday, or that one client who suddenly remembers they need a strategic plan before the board retreat in January.

I’m talking about the real reason—November is the month where clarity finally gets a chance to sit still long enough for you to hear it.

And this year? With the government shutdowns, grant delays, budget freezes, and the general economic “will-they-or-won’t-they” happening in every corner of the sector—this is the exact moment to pause, breathe, and build your plan for 2026.

The Data Doesn’t Lie: Planners Prosper

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, organizations that take time for structured strategic planning are 30% more likely to grow. And research out of the University of Oregon found that small consulting firms with written plans were twice as likely to bounce back after economic disruptions.

Listen… if this year shook your client pipeline, your revenue forecast, or your confidence, you’re not alone. Nearly half of small consulting businesses experience a Q4 slowdown—and nonprofit-facing firms are hit even harder because our sector follows government budgets, grant cycles, and donor mood swings.

But here’s the silver lining:

Slow seasons create space. And space creates strategy.

Early Planning Helps You Ride the Waves—Not Get Knocked Over by Them

The 2025 State of Nonprofits Report (Independent Sector) shows:

• 60% of nonprofits expect continued budget tightening

• 45% plan to increase consulting to reduce staff load

• 38% anticipate major board transitions

• 52% predict fundraising challenges

  
  

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Christal, those numbers sound like a headache.”

And yes, they do. But they’re also flashing neon signs that nonprofits will need strong consultants in 2026.

• Boards will need governance support.

• CEOs will need fundraising help.

• Organizations will need strategy, so they don’t drift.

• Leaders will need coaching, so they don’t burn out.

That means opportunity—for those who are ready.

Why November Is the Magic Window

The beginning of January is weird.  We’re all wandering around until MLK day. And then suddenly January is loud. Chaotic. Everyone wants something immediately. But November? She’s soft. Spacious. Honest. November doesn’t rush you. She gives you just enough quiet to dream and enough urgency to focus.

And studies from Duke University show we make our best long-term decisions when we’re not under stress. Translation: November-you is wiser than January-you!

So, What Should You Be Planning?

Here’s where you put on your CEO hat (not your “running-everything-alone” hat):

• Your 2026 service offerings: What are you known for? What will be in demand? What solves the sector’s current pains?

• Your marketing cadence: Are you showing up consistently? Thought leadership is currency—spend it wisely.

• Your ideal client mix: Don’t let one funder or one organization type make or break your year.

• Your partnerships: Who can you collaborate with to expand your capacity?

• Your professional development: What new skills will deepen your credibility and impact?

• Your systems: What needs tightening so you stop doing everything manually?

  
  

You’re not just planning goals. You’re designing your future ease.

Let’s Be Realistic… But Let’s Also Expect Joy

Yes, the economy is messy. Yes, nonprofit budgets are unpredictable. Yes, consulting can feel like feast or famine.

But nonprofit consulting has always been a resilient sector. During the 2008 recession, the field grew 13% because nonprofits turned to consultants for clarity. The same thing happened in 2020.

Chaos doesn’t kill our industry—it increases demand for wisdom, structure, and steady hands.

And hey… that’s you.

Your November Assignment

Take this month to:

• Reflect honestly

• Plan boldly

• Strategize intentionally

• Prepare spiritually

• Position yourself wisely

  
  

Because 2026 has room for your brilliance—but only if you build the runway now.

You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a committed one.

And when the sector is ready—you’ll already be in motion.

And before I go, let me say this to my fellow nonprofit consultants — especially those of us who are tired, questioning, recalibrating, or wondering whether this path still has room for us:

You are not behind. You are not failing. You are not forgotten.

You’re navigating an industry that’s shifting under your feet and still finding ways to serve, support, and steady organizations that desperately need your gifts.

You are doing holy, strategic, world-shaping work.

So, give yourself the grace to reset. Give yourself the room to rethink. Give yourself permission to begin again.

November is not the end of the year — she’s the whisper before the breakthrough. She’s the reminder that preparation is momentum. And she’s your invitation to step into 2026 not scrambling, but grounded. Not hustling, but aligned. Not wondering, but ready.

Consulting is a long game, and you’re still very much in it.

So take heart. Take your time. And take November seriously.

Because a year from now, you’ll look back and realize that this moment —this quiet stretch of reflection and recalibration —is when everything started to shift in your favor.

Onward, my friends. We’ve got work to do — and 2026 is waiting for us to lead the way.

Your fellow consultant,

Christal

The Board Pro