Organizational fit

Q: Do you only work with justice-centered organizations?
A: Nope! While most of my experience is with organizations doing criminal legal reform and racial justice work, I take a broad view of "justice" and believe all nonprofits are contributing to a more just and equitable world in their own way. I'm open to working with organizations across sectors committed to impact, integrity, and equity.

Q: How can a part-time person really understand our organization?
A: I’ve been fundraising a long time, and part of that means I’m skilled at quickly understanding new organizations and their needs. Whether a new cause area or a familiar one, I commit to learning what makes your organization unique. I have deep expertise working with justice-centered organizations, especially those focused on criminal legal reform, youth justice, racial equity, and movement-aligned work.

Q: How tailored is this to our needs?
A: 100% tailored. We begin with a comprehensive fundraising plan based on an assessment of your goals, team, current fundraising efforts, and donor data.

Q: What if you’re not familiar with our niche issue area?
A: I work across many cause areas; even within those, no two organizations are alike. I always start by listening and learning. That said, most of my work is with justice-focused nonprofits and movement-aligned organizations.

Q: What if we need expertise in a specific fundraising area?
A: I’m a generalist with a wide skill set — grants, appeals, stewardship, systems, messaging, and strategy. If a request is outside my scope, I’ll say so — and help you find the right support.

Financial considerations

Q: We don’t have the budget.
A: Fundraising is an investment! If you’re considering hiring a junior fundraiser or paying for one-off projects, you might find that fractional fundraising is a better fit because you’re getting the experience of a seasoned fundraising professional along with the implementation.

Q: If full fractional fundraising feels out of reach for our budget, can we do partial?
A: Possibly, but fractional fundraising works best—and offers the strongest return—when it’s a full engagement. If you’re not quite ready for that level of support, that’s okay! A project-based package might be a better starting point. Let’s talk about what makes the most sense for where you are.

Results and expectations

Q: Can you guarantee results?
A: No ethical fundraiser can guarantee results — but I can guarantee that I only take on work where I believe we can be successful.

Q: What if we don’t see results right away?
A: I get it — you need money in the door like, yesterday. But good fundraising takes time and consistency. If your goal is to raise short-term funds immediately, fractional fundraising may not be the right fit. Most organizations see momentum in the first few months and real ROI in months 9–12. I build for sustainable growth, not short-term wins.

Q: How do we measure success?
A: Your fundraising plan will include benchmarks and priorities — from revenue to donor retention to improved systems. We define what success looks like together.

Time & team commitment

Q: How much of your time do we get?
A: I don’t track hours! I follow the scope laid out in your fundraising plan. You get what’s needed to deliver on the work.

Q: How much of our ED’s time is required?
A: At least one hour/week, and leadership is still mostly responsible for donor-facing relationships. I’ll always be clear about when your input is needed.

Q: Will this add to our team’s workload?
A: No — it should reduce it. I’m here to take things off your plate, not add to your to-do list.

Scope, contracts, and workflow

Q: What’s included?
A: Every client gets a fundraising plan and ongoing implementation. That can include campaigns, appeals, grant writing, donor communications, systems, gift management, acknowledgments, and reporting. I handle the full behind-the-scenes operation so your team can focus on what matters most: building authentic relationships and networks.

Q: 12 months is a big commitment — can we start smaller?
A: I offer fundraising plans as a standalone project if you’d like to start there. It’s a good option for organizations with a smaller budget. Full fractional fundraising is a 12-month engagement for meaningful results.

Q: Do we still have control over strategy?
A: Absolutely! But remember, you’re hiring me for strategic leadership. We collaborate, and I’ll flag what’s working and what’s not so you can make informed decisions.

Q: Will you use our current systems?
A: Yes. I adapt to your existing donor database and tools. If you’re switching systems, I’ll advise on strategy, but deep implementation may require additional support.

Donor relationships

Q: Will you manage donor relationships directly?
A: Nope, because donor relationships should belong to and be built by your team! I stay behind the scenes but support all aspects of donor engagement, including strategy, cultivation planning, talking points, gift processing, acknowledgments, and stewardship. Your donors stay your donors — and that’s exactly how it should be.

Q: Will donors connect with someone who’s not full-time staff?
A: In this model, most of the time your team will maintain the donor-facing presence. My goal is to support and strengthen the infrastructure so your relationships are thoughtful, timely, and well-supported.

Q: Do you bring a donor Rolodex?
A: No. I help you find and engage donors within your own network. Donor relationships should always stay with your organization and not with your consultant.