Fractional Fundraising

Ready for Consistent Fundraising Growth Without the Full-Time Commitment?

Get dedicated fundraising expertise on a flexible, part-time basis and build a sustainable future for your mission.

You're passionate about your cause, but inconsistent fundraising can hold you back. Hiring a full-time development team can be a huge financial leap, often leading to junior staff, high turnover, and missed opportunities. What if you could access experienced fundraising professionals precisely when you need them?

Tired of the Fundraising Rollercoaster?

Hiring full-time can feel like a necessity, but the reality often falls short. Limited budgets can mean settling for less experienced staff, leading to a cycle of turnover and lost revenue. You might have even experienced the frustration of a bad hire.

Traditional consultants can provide valuable strategies, but what happens when the plan is delivered? You're often left to implement it yourself, adding another task to your already full plate.

You don't just need advice; you need action. You need a partner who understands your mission and can roll up their sleeves alongside you. And someone who is a cheerleader, coach, and cracker-jack fundraiser who has your back, day in and day out. 

At Giant Squid Group, we offer a different approach. Think of us as your dedicated, part-time fundraising experts, committed to keeping your momentum going and building sustainable funding strategies that align with your values.

We're more than just advisors; we're your thought partners and implementers. Rooted in an intersectional feminist and antiracist lens, we work alongside you to build your organizational capacity, streamline your operations, and amplify your impact.

We believe the nonprofit sector can change the world, and we're here to provide the practical, hands-on support you need to make that happen

Say Goodbye to Scattered Efforts

We provide structured, strategic support that builds long-term donor relationships and ensures financial stability, creating a clear path forward for your fundraising efforts. Reach out today and let’s find the right level of support for you.

Our Collaborative Approach

When you work with Giant Squid Group, you get more than just occasional help. We embed a dedicated team of experienced consultants into your organization: a senior strategist and a grant writer/generalist. Together, we:

  • Understand your current situation and your vision for the future.

  • Assess your existing fundraising plan, strategy, and activities to create a tailored, actionable work plan.

  • Organize your systems for greater efficiency and clarity.

  • Collaboratively develop and implement everything from individual giving campaigns and event strategies to grant applications (we've even helped with unique projects like graphic novels and PSAs!).

Real Fundraising Support, Not Just Advice

Forget generic recommendations. We dive in and help you implement proven strategies, from crafting compelling appeals to managing grant applications.

Flexible Support for Nonprofits of All Sizes

You Don't Need Someone to Tell You What to Do. You Need Someone to Do It With You.

Stop feeling alone in your fundraising efforts. We're more than just consultants; we're your partners in growing your fundraising program. Imagine if you could outsource the day-to-day tasks and focus on what matters most: increasing your impact.

$4,200+ per month

If you are are quickly growing, and need the fundraising strategy and capacity to support you, we’ll work alongside you to activate your fundraising planning. You can expect:

  • Ongoing strategic development and implementation of fundraising plans

  • Individual and institutional donor cultivation and stewardship

  • Project management of fundraising initiatives

  • Values-based language framework and copywriting

  • Ongoing grant management, prospect research,and internal reporting.

  • 1-2 grant applications written and submitted monthly

  • 1-2 grant reports written and submitted monthly

  • Frequent working sessions

$6,600+ per month

If you have a robust budget but aren’t ready to fully staff your development department, or have a small department that needs more capacity, we’ll provide the support you need to build and maintain a robust and sustainable development department.

  • Ongoing strategic development and implementation of fundraising plans

  • Individual and institutional donor cultivation and stewardship

  • Project management of fundraising initiatives

  • Values-based language framework and copywriting

  • Ongoing grant management, prospect research,and internal reporting.

  • 2-4 grant applications written and submitted monthly

  • 2-4 grant reports written and submitted monthly

  • Frequent working sessions 

2,000+ per month

If you have a strong team and a good handle on what needs to be done, but need a strategic thought partner and collaborative ally, we’ll work with you to refine your strategy and achieve even greater success.

  • Ongoing support around fundraising planning, board development, budgeting, and other key leadership areas - it’s fundraising support when and how you need it!

  • Craft values-based language that resonates with individual and institutional donors to strengthen your appeals and proposals.

  • Plan impactful fundraising campaigns and events

  • Optimize your donor engagement and stewardship practices

  • As-needed working sessions to co-create fundraising plans or tackle big questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Expect
Fractional Fundraising offers senior-level expertise at a junior-level cost. Unlike an in-house hire, you're not paying for downtime, training, or non-fundraising tasks. Your Fractional Fundraiser focuses solely on driving your fundraising efforts forward, maximizing every dollar you invest. 

Because a Fractional Fundraiser is experienced and efficient, you don’t have to worry about supervising their work and they do better quality work faster.As the expert, they’re also going to make sure things stay focused. If there are fundraising ideas that come up that aren’t strategic and more of a “make work” project, they’ll let you know and ensure their time is focused on meaningful work.

How do you work with the ED? 
Your Fractional Fundraiser takes the lead on fundraising, significantly reducing your ED's day-to-day involvement. However, some ED participation is crucial for success, particularly in donor relationships and strategic decisions. We'll guide you on where your ED's time is best spent for maximum impact. Be prepared to spend at least an hour a week in a meeting with your Fractional Fundraiser.

Are Fractional Fundraisers on-site or remote?
Most Fractional Fundraisers work remotely, allowing for flexibility and cost-effectiveness. However, they can be on-site for important meetings, events, or as needed. The specific arrangement is tailored to your organization's needs and preferences. If your Fractional Fundraiser is required to travel to be on-site, the extra cost of travel will be included in your contract.

How do you manage donor relationships?
Fractional Fundraisers don’t directly build and nurture donor relationships on behalf of your organization. Instead, we act “behind the scenes” to make sure that you are able to build strong and sustainable relationships that outlast our work together. We’ll help you create compelling pitches and even write emails for you so that you are building your own capacity as a fundraiser, too!

How long does it take to see results?
Typically, organizations start seeing tangible improvements within 3-6 months. However, significant fundraising growth often becomes evident around the 9-12-month mark. Fundraising is about building relationships and systems, which takes time, but the long-term payoff is substantial

What specific fundraising activities can a Fractional Fundraiser help with?
Think of us as your dedicated, part-time fundraising team ready to tackle a wide range of activities. This includes everything from grant funding, where we can research opportunities, write compelling proposals, manage the application process, and ensure reporting compliance. For individual giving, we develop annual appeals, monthly giving programs, major gift strategies, and engaging online campaigns. We also provide support for your events, from planning and sponsorship to logistics and follow-up. Furthermore, we can help develop your board's fundraising capacity through training and goal setting. Essentially, if it involves raising money to fuel your mission, we're equipped to provide strategic guidance and hands-on implementation.

How do you ensure alignment with our organization's mission and values? 
Deep alignment is fundamental to how we work. We intentionally partner with organizations that share our commitment to creating a more just and equitable world. From our initial conversations, we take the time to thoroughly understand your mission, the communities you serve, and the core values that drive your work. We are particularly passionate about collaborating with organizations that actively embrace principles of intersectional feminism, anti-racism, and the Community-Centric Fundraising Movement.

This means we don't just focus on the dollars raised, but how they are raised. We believe in ethical and values-driven fundraising practices that center the needs and perspectives of the community. We will work collaboratively with you to ensure that your fundraising strategies and communications authentically reflect your values and contribute to a more inclusive and impactful sector. Our commitment to these principles is not just a statement; it's woven into the fabric of our approach and guides every aspect of our partnership. We want to work with organizations that are not only doing good work but are also committed to doing it in a way that aligns with a shared vision of a more equitable future.

What happens if our needs change over time? Can we adjust the scope of work?
Absolutely. We understand that the needs of growing nonprofits can evolve, and flexibility is a core tenet of our fractional support model. You can rescope our engagement at any time to ensure we're consistently meeting your most pressing needs. Whether that means pivoting our focus to a new fundraising priority, increasing our level of support to tackle a significant project, dedicating more time to identify emerging revenue streams, or simply adjusting our activities to better align with your current stage of growth, we're here to adapt alongside you. Our goal is to be a responsive and agile partner, providing the right level of support precisely when and where you need it most. Open communication is key, and we regularly check in to ensure our services continue to be the best fit for your evolving organizational landscape.

“We engaged with Giant Squid Group to update our boilerplate grant language to reflect Longy’s goals of being a student agency-focused, antiracist institution. Working with Giant Squid Group was a pleasure, as they incorporated our own voice while also focusing and refining language in a way that could be utilized for multiple purposes and freed up staff time on our end. With the help of the updated boilerplate, so far we’ve secured renewals on every grant renewal this year, an increase on one, and re-engaged a lapsed grantor. I look forward to working with them in the future as we continue on this pathway.”

- Courtney Keller, Associate Director of Major and Planned Giving at Longy School of Music of Bard College