Where did the data come from that is now in the database? I assume the client (the nonprofit org) initially had the data in some form, and then they turned it over to the consultant. Didn't they keep a backup copy? Of course if their only copy is in the form of 2000 hand-written index cards, you still have a problem, but it is not insoluble. If you have the data in the form of ANY kind of computer file, that's much better, even if it's in a format that the client has no idea how to work with, such as computer-printed paper. It will be a piece of cake to anyone who is an expert at handling mailing lists. I used to do that kind of work myself.

2000 is small potatoes. I used to work with lists of up to 200,000.

Look in the yellow pages under "Mailing Services." If you don't want to select a company at random, call up another nonprofit org. and get a recommendation. Call one of these services, tell them what you've got and what you need. Get a price quote, and an estimate of how much time it will take. It might be a lot less than you expect.

On the other hand, if this org is used to using unpaid volunteers to stick mailing labels onto newsletters, they might balk at the cost. But it still might be better than continuing to pour money down a rathole.