Why should I choose FBC as our consultant?
Choose FBC if you want top notch service at an affordable price. Choose FBC if you want to work with mature professionals whose fundraising and technical skills give you an edge – with donors, colleagues, and board. Choose FBC if you really want The Raiser’s Edge to work for you!

How can I justify hiring a consultant?
Because you want to optimize your investment in The Raiser's Edge and fast-track your organizations' fundraising achievements by raising retention rates, lowering stagnation, streamlining event management, actively stewarding Major donors, and confirming significantly more Planned Giving expectancies. You have invested wisely in The Raiser's Edge. You are not prepared to join the majority of organizations who use less than 20% of its functionality. You want The Raiser's Edge to work for you. You want results!

What territory do you cover?
We serve clients across Canada.

Will you need remote access to our Raiser's Edge?
Although remote access is not essential it will substantially reduce your project costs. Testing to see whether reliable remote access is available is part of our Discovery process.

How do you establish your fee?
We work on a Project Fee basis, with our fee based on a thorough assessment of your requirements, the resources required to provide the solution you require, and taking in to account the quality of remote access to your network and Raiser’s Edge system. Following discovery we submit a detailed proposal, complete with fee information. Costs for reasonable travel, food, and accommodations required to complete the engagement are charged back to our clients at cost, upon provision of details and vouchers. We make every effort to contain out-of-pocket costs by striking the best possible balance between remote and on-site service delivery.

Will you provide a detailed project plan?
Yes. Upon agreement in principal over our proposal we will proceed to draft a Scope of Services document detailing the deliverables, schedule, and consulting staff we propose to assign to your project. If the project is extensive the Scope of Services document will include a detailed project plan. Irrespective of the size of project all work will be completed by us based on the terms of our Professional Services Agreement.

How can we keep costs down?
If you are able to provide us with reliable remote network access to your Raiser's Edge system our fees will be lower and you will also save on out-of-pocket living expenses for members of our team.

Ensuring that you have disclosed all of your requirements during the discovery meeting is also key to cost control. If additional requirements surface once the project is underway you will need to decide whether to allow a “Change of Scope”, or stick to the original plan. Additional work will never be undertaken without your prior written approval, so you will always be in control of costs.

How many students can attend an on-site classroom course?
The optimum class size is 10 students, and we encourage you to fill each class, as long as you are able to provide a workstation for each student. A class of 10 allows for lots of personal attention (even the smartest students struggle at some point) and it generates plenty of real-life experiences that our experienced trainers can incorporate “on- the -fly” into the learning experience (skill retention sky-rockets when we relate learning to real-life).

Who should attend Raiser's Edge training?
In addition to core users from the Development department there is a huge benefit to introducing executive assistants, and senior staff to the Raiser's Edge. These folks are often in contact with key supporters and privy to very valuable information. The more they understand about Donor Relationship Management, and the Raiser's Edge, the more likely they are to pass that information on. Plus, it helps to have well informed executives who can knowledgably relay progress, or answer Board questions.

Do you offer distance learning?
No. We specialize in on-site instructor led training.

Of the three training options – distance learning, on-site instructor led, and off-site instructor led – we believe on-site instructor led represents the best use of your training budget. It imparts a far higher degree of “organization specific” learning than the distance option, with far less disruption to daily life, less time away from job responsibilities, and a saving of thousands of dollars in travel, meals and accommodation costs over the off-site alternative. These savings typically allow you the option of training many more users, and foster wider appreciation of the value of The Raiser's Edge to your organization.

Click here to tell us about your organization and how we can make The Raiser’s Edge work for you.