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What is the difference between ESCLV and SCORE?
ESCLV and SCORE, Service Corps of Retired Executives, have similar sounding names and both groups are based
on the principle that volunteer business people have a wealth of experience and expertise that should not be
wasted. ESCLV serves only non-profits, while SCORE helps for-profit businesses. SCORE receives funding from
the United States Small Business Administration. ESCLV is supported by foundation and corporate grants,
individuals' contributions, and revenue generated by client fees. A major difference between ESCLV and SCORE
is the manner in which each provides their services. SCORE primarily counsels' their clients and spends, on
average, 5-6 hours in providing that counseling. ESCLV, on the other hand provides consultation' services
whereby, the ESCLV consulting team spends, on average, 50 or more hours with the client in performing an in
depth analysis of the client's needs. Both organizations seek to provide solutions to the client's needs.
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Do I need to designate a contact person from my agency to the ESCLV consulting team?
It is helpful for the agency to identify a key contact for the ESCLV consulting team. This contributes to good
communication and a smooth running project. Generally that person is the Executive Director, but it can be a
member of the Board or a key staff person. This person needs to have authority to make things happen. The
agency should make certain that the contact person can be accessible and available to the consultants so that
the project can be completed within the time limits agreed upon in the consulting plan.
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Can I count on confidentiality with this consultancy?
In the interviewing process, information will not be attributed to an individual interviewee only the content
of the interview integrated with others. Executive Service Corps of the Lehigh Valley will not share private
discussions with you. A copy of the ESCLV confidentiality statement is provided to the client at the beginning of
the project. The final report is given to you and we can send a copy directly to your Board of Directors if you
wish.
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Does ESCLV do fundraising?
ESCLV does not raise funds on behalf of a nonprofit agency. ESCLV consultants can, however, review fundraising
plans and programs. ESCLV works in management areas that contribute directly to a successful fundraising program,
such as: Board development, strategic planning, marketing, and public relations.
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Do ESCLV consultants do implementation?
ESCLV does not implement recommendations. ESCLV's role is advisor, and the client's role is implementation.
The ESCLV final project report will be written, however, to be outcome-oriented. "Hands-on" activity (e.g.,
development of job descriptions) is only used at times in order to accelerate the learning process of the
client.
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Who meets with me to determine what how my organization's needs can be addressed?
The Executive Director of ESCLV meets with you to assess your management needs, introduce you to the consultant
team, and help ensure that the project is on track and running smoothly. He acts as Project Administrator on all
ESCLV client projects and will be in touch with you periodically to check on the progress of the project. You
should feel free to call the Executive Director at any point during the consultancy to discuss any concerns or
additional needs you might have.
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Who should be interviewed for the consulting project?
Most successful consulting projects involve a series of interviews with key Board and staff members. In order
to elicit valuable input, it is recommended that consultants also be given the opportunity to interview selected
clients and other appropriate community contacts.
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What contact am I going to have with the ESCLV Executive Director?
The ESCLV Executive Director will contact you to discuss the appropriate consultants to work the project,
fee for the project, and the submission of the project contract document. During the course of the project
your immediate contact is with the consulting team. ESCLV's Executive Director is available to you by phone at
any time during the project.
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How often should I expect to meet with my consultants?
There is no set schedule for meeting with consultants. That is entirely up to you and the consulting team.
Scheduling regular meetings (i.e. weekly, bi-weekly) with the consultants does help in building momentum on the
consulting project. They can also serve as important progress checkpoints. Ongoing communication between client
and consultant is important. During the course of the project, consultants will communicate on a regular basis
with you to keep you up to date on their progress.
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Do the consultants ever attend Board or staff meetings?
Attending Board and staff meetings is not a requirement. It can be helpful, however, to provide the consultants
with the opportunity to observe a staff or Board meeting in order to gain a perspective on your agency's
operations. You and the consultants together determine the appropriateness of attending these meetings. You may
also wish to share your Board meeting minutes with the consultants.
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What do I do if the project is not going as I had hoped?
We hope and expect that the consulting project will run smoothly. There may be times, however, when you feel
that the project is dragging, or you have a concern about a particular consultant, or just would like to offer
your thoughts to ESCLV. Direct communication with the consultants is helpful, but we hope you will also call
the Executive Director if you feel concerned about the project for any reason. We can then do a mid-course
correction if it is needed in order to ensure a successful project.
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What can I expect from ESCLV in writing?
At the conclusion of the consulting project, ESCLV consultants will prepare a written report summarizing their
findings, recommendations and suggested implementation steps. In addition, you and the consultants may feel
that interim reports are needed.
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Will I have an opportunity to see the consultants' report before it is finalized?
Yes. Before the consultants' report is finalized you will be given a draft to review. The consultants will be
happy to meet with you to discuss the report, or if you prefer, the report can be mailed to you. After you have
reviewed the report and offered any suggestions for change, the report will be finalized.
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Will you present the report to my Board of Directors?
This decision is up to you, but it can be very helpful for you and ESCLV consultants to share the report with
the Board in order to maximize their involvement in helping to implement recommendations. It is often most
effective when you make the presentation to the Board with the consultants present to help in fielding
questions and participate in discussion.
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What follow up is there after the project is over?
Six months following project completion, an independent ESCLV volunteer evaluator will telephone you to discuss
your overall satisfaction with ESCLV and the impact that the project has had on your organization.
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At what point can my agency come back for additional services?
ESCLV welcomes "repeat business." We encourage you to come back to ESCLV with a request for assistance in any
managerial areas of need. Just give us a call or fill in our
online application and we'll get a new project started: 610-504-6199.
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