Why Small to Mid-size Nonprofits Are Turning to Fractional Fundraising
You started this work because you care deeply about the people you serve.
But now you're putting out fires — every single day. You know consistent funding is essential for growing impact. But finding the time and the strategy to raise money feels overwhelming. And let’s be honest, it’s not where you want to spend your energy.
Hiring a full-time fundraiser seems like a good idea. But it also feels risky. What if you hire someone, and they don’t work out?
A True Story: The Fundraiser Who Was Set Up to Fail
My Executive Director friend was excited to hire Sarah as the organization’s first Development Officer. Sarah was excited too! She had worked at a similar nonprofit, not in fundraising but program services. She believed deeply in the mission, because it was personal to her. In fact, it was her story. And, she loved talking to people.
“She loves the mission,” the Executive Director said. “She’ll be great!”
Except…
Sarah had never fundraised before. And neither she nor the Executive Director really understood what fundraising required. They thought it was about planning events and writing grants.
How hard could it be?
The Reality Hit Fast
Within weeks, Sarah was drowning. Grant deadlines slipped through the cracks, because she had no system to track them. Worse yet, she had no experience writing proposals.
As much as she understood the cause, she struggled to tell the nonprofit’s story, because crafting a fundable appeal that moves donors to give is different than understanding the cause.
Managing Sarah turned into damage control. The daily crises of running a nonprofit never stopped, and now fundraising was another fire to put out.
With no experience in donor relations, Sarah began pushing the organization towards events, which just created more busyness with very little return on investment.
After a difficult year, Sarah left, and the organization was right back where it started. Only now they had lost both fundraising momentum — and time.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Fundraiser?
Sarah’s story isn’t unique. Many nonprofits believe if they hire someone passionate about the mission, they’ll “figure out” the fundraising. But fundraising isn’t just about enthusiasm. It requires strategy, systems and processes, and, maybe most of all, consistency.
Hiring a fundraiser is a big investment, and getting it wrong is costly.
Here’s what different options look like:
A full-time junior fundraiser earns between $50,000–$85,000 per year, plus benefits, training, and management time.
A fundraising consultant charges between $10,000–$40,000 per project but doesn’t stick around for implementation.
A fractional fundraiser costs $50,000–$75,000 per year, providing fundraising leadership, strategy, and experienced, ongoing support — without the overhead of a full-time hire.
Can You Hire Someone to Fundraise for You?
Yes! But hiring the right kind of fundraising help matters.
Sarah’s nonprofit made a common mistake. They thought fundraising was about tasks, like grant writing, event planning, and asks. But effective fundraising is about building a fundable narrative, as well as the relational capital to generate sustainable revenue.
This is why hiring an inexperienced fundraisers can lead an organization to being worse off. Inexperienced fundraisers need supervision, training, and time the organization doesn’t have. They lack the strategic insight to drive real growth. And worst of all, most leave within 18 months, forcing nonprofits to start all over again.
If you want experienced fundraising help without hiring full-time, fractional fundraising is an excellent, strategic alternative.
What Is Fractional Fundraising?
Fractional fundraising gives small to mid-size nonprofits an experienced fundraiser for a fraction of the time, but more importantly, for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
Unlike consultants who give advice and walk away, a fractional fundraiser works as part of your team, creating and implementing strategy, building systems, writing grants, and planning campaigns.
In the business world, fractional executives are common. Business startups commonly hire fractional CFOs or CMOs to give them access to executive-level leadership without the full-time, executive salary.
Now, nonprofits can take advantage of this flexible, high-impact approach.
Fractional Fundraising Services for Small to Mid-size Nonprofits in Georgia
If you’re in Georgia and you’re struggling with fundraising, I can help. Reach out for a free consultation on how you can build a fundraising plan that drives revenue.
With the right support, your nonprofit can raise more, stress less, and focus on what truly matters—the mission.