Consultants

Consultants for IC Initial Development

Consensus facilitation

These professionals specialize in guiding groups in coming to difficult decisions using consensus-based decision-making.

Legal contracts

Even with the best of intentions on both sides, written agreements are crucial. Our listed lawyers can help you with document preparation. By making clear everyone’s commitments, even when you fully trust the other(s), you give yourselves a mandate to discuss potential challenges thoroughly, which can prevent misunderstandings or disputes. For any financial interactions, agreements should be in writing, signed and dated. If all maintain their good will and compliance with the agreement, it is still possible that a members’ death would call into question how much was contributed by each member. You should have signed records to prevent loss of your contributions. Don’t make it something you’ll get around to later. Each state has different laws around housing, so we recommend you check local jurisdictional requirements and limitations. It is important to consult with a lawyer for specifics on your situation. Get legal advice relevant to your state or province. With our listed consultants, you can limit your search by area. Often, a mediator can assist you in writing your agreements at a lower cost, then you should get a final review by a lawyer and officially file the document with the appropriate governing body.

Participatory design & architecture

This category may have individual architects. These consultants may be groups with multiple specialists to help founders to develop new cohousing or other IC housing construction.

Realtor or broker

Our listed realtors specialize in multiple-party purchases or are actively upgrading their understanding of location-specific legal options for joint ownership.

Grant writing

Our listed grant writers may be able to direct you to relevant funding sources even if you are not a certified non-profit organization. Professional grant writers may also be willing to train one of your members to do the bulk of the grant searches and research. Fiscal sponsors may be able to act as an umbrella organization to support your funding of a project that meets their guidelines. See our page Financing Intentional Communities by Grants page, linked from Financing, in the footer.

Mentoring

Our group mentors develop familiarity with your group over time. Some may not have certifications but are experienced and wise elders.

Consultants for IC Interpersonal Interaction

Group facilitation

These professionals have a variety of specialized skills listed in their profile descriptions, such as the consent facilitation process in sociocracy.

Mediation & conflict resolution

Ideally, in an intentional community, there is a hope for an equitable outcome rather than any one party trying to have the greatest gain for themselves. We invite our legal consultants to list based on their experience with intentional communities or their training as mediators, so they can act as intermediaries rather than having double costs of a representative for each side. For relatively minor concerns, you might hire a group facilitator trained in conflict resolution who can do an adequate job at less expense to your group. Be sure to recap and write up the agreement promptly, preferably before the end of the meetings, to ensure that everyone’s understanding and memory of the agreement is the same. Get the agreement signed by all when finalized. Give each member a copy of the agreement, so there is no question later of whether unauthorized changes were made.

Leadership

These professionals have skills in sociocracy, holocracy, or general community or business leadership experience.

Team recreation

You might find these consultants helpful to add in the mix for retreats or visitor sessions for getting to know prospective members.

Membership & diversity

These consultants may have experience helping communities craft statements of membership criteria and agreements. Some of these consultants will note their specialized experience relevant to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Hospitality & security

These consultants can guide you in establishing time-tested procedures related to facilities management, rentals, or group-hosting services.

Consultants for IC Programs & Occupations

Youth education

These professionals have a variety of specialized skills listed in their profile descriptions, including charter school setup and alternative education styles such as Montessori and Waldorf.

Business management

Often remote residential intentional communities are interested in ensuring that their residents have viable livelihoods, which could include a business that several or most members are engaged in, or individual businesses. These consultants may help with general operating procedures or they may note specializations in a type of business.

Finances & taxes

These professionals may have experience with the business and non-profit aspect of ICs. This may include book keeping and tax expertise. Expertise in timebanking is also of interest to residential intentional communities.

Marketing or website

These professionals have in-depth experience with marketing ICs and know how to increase your visibility.

Consultants for Property & Land Management

Zoning & compliance

It’s best to find these professionals local to you, but even when distant, they can guide you in working with local municipalities to change or adapt regulations.

Plant crops

It’s best to find these professionals local to you, familiar with the climate and regional plants.

Animal husbandry

It’s best to find these professionals local to you, familiar with the climate, local resources, and local regulations. This could include bee-keeping and fish ponds.

Natural building

It’s best to find these professionals local to you, familiar with the best green building materials for your climate.

Sanitation & water

It’s best to find these professionals local to you, familiar with specific offices and regulations.

Renewable power & electrical

These professionals may not specialize in intentional community contexts, but they are qualified to help you reach your sustainability or self-sufficiency goals.