What Happens When You Choose an Agency Fractional Fundraiser vs an Independent Consultant

When small nonprofits consider fractional fundraising support, they often face a critical decision: work with an agency team or hire an independent consultant. This choice significantly impacts continuity, expertise access, and overall fundraising success for your organization.

What Happens to Communication?

A common concern we hear: "Won't working with an agency be more complicated than one person?"

At Sound Fundraising Strategies, we've intentionally designed our communication approach to be streamlined. Here’s what our clients experience:

• Your organization has a single, dedicated point of contact (your Account Manager)

• You have regular status meetings with your Account Manager to maintain alignment and accountability

Here’s what you don’t see:

• Clear internal processes to ensure your Account Manager has the support they need to support you

• Idea sharing and collaboration amongst a ‘brain trust’ of 50+ years of fundraising experience

• Shared documentation systems to preserve institutional knowledge for each of our client organizations

Your day-to-day experience working with an agency is no different from working with an independent fractional fundraising consultant. But there are several key differences to consider…

The Continuity Question: What Happens When Your Fundraiser Leaves?

One of the most compelling advantages of an agency model is built-in redundancy. Consider what happened with our client PearlSpace:

"Whenever my development coordinator leaves, my 40-hour work week becomes an 80-hour work week because I don't have anyone else internally who can take it on," - Ashley, PearlSpace Executive Director

We began working with PearlSpace in May 2025, matching them with Account Manager Amanda. After developing a custom strategic fundraising plan, Amanda unfortunately needed to take an extended bereavement leave.

"When I had to step away unexpectedly, I worried PearlSpace might be left in a tough spot. We had three grant applications coming due, and I didn’t want anything to slip through the cracks. Thankfully, another teammate stepped right in, and every deadline was met without a hitch. That experience reminded me why having a full team behind you matters — even when life happens, we are able to keep moving forward." - Amanda, Sound Fundraising Strategies Account Manager

Instead of PearlSpace being left high and dry (yet again), we worked closely with Ashley to transition to a new Account Manager. This meant:

• No fundraising projects fell through the cracks (like three grant applications and two report deadlines)

• Ashley maintained work-life balance without absorbing fundraising activities herself

• The organization maintained momentum despite the staffing change

With an independent consultant, this transition would have meant starting over or experiencing a complete service gap for two months.

What Happens to Your Expertise Access?

The Agency Advantage: Depth of Knowledge

Clients are matched with a dedicated Account Manager, who serves as your primary point of contact with the agency. You have one point of contact for all your fundraising needs.

What you don’t see is the behind-the-scenes of an agency. At SFS, we work collaboratively to serve our clients. You're not just getting one person's perspective and skill set - you're gaining access to:

• Multiple specialists with complementary skills

• Team members who continuously share best practices and innovations

• Broader collective experience across various nonprofit sectors

• Regular professional development that keeps the entire team current

The Independent Consultant Reality

Independent consultants certainly bring valuable experience, but they're limited by:

• Their individual knowledge areas

• Personal capacity to stay current across all fundraising disciplines

• Lack of colleagues to bounce ideas off or problem-solve with

What Happens During Implementation?

Perhaps the most significant difference becomes apparent during implementation. With an independent consultant, you might receive excellent strategy but face challenges in execution due to:

• Limited capacity (they're only one person)

• Potential gaps in technical implementation skills

• Inability to be flexible during busy periods

• No backup when they're unavailable or experience unexpected work interruptions

Our agency model provides:

• Consistent execution across various fundraising activities

• Specialized expertise deployed when needed (grant writing, digital fundraising, donor communications)

• Seamless coverage without losing momentum

• Eliminate the costs of turnover and retraining

Real-World Impact: The PearlSpace Example

Let's revisit PearlSpace's experience to illustrate the tangible difference. When their account manager needed to step away:

1. Leadership was immediately notified

2. A transition plan was implemented within days

3. Another team member with similar expertise stepped in

4. All fundraising activities continued without interruption

5. Institutional knowledge was preserved

6. A new account manager was onboarded with minimal disruption

Ashley didn't need to:

• Cancel fundraising initiatives

• Learn new systems herself

• Scramble to find a replacement

• Rebuild relationships with donors

• Explain organizational history to a completely new person

Making Your Decision: Questions to Consider

When evaluating which model is right for your organization, ask yourself:

• How critical is continuity to your fundraising success?

• What specialized expertise does your fundraising program need?

• How would personnel turnover impact your fundraising momentum?

• What happens to your fundraising program during vacations or illnesses?

• How important is scalability during peak fundraising periods?

The Sound Fundraising Strategies Approach

At Sound Fundraising Strategies, we've designed our fractional fundraising service to provide small nonprofits with:

• Strategic planning tailored to your unique mission and goals

• Consistent implementation that ensures critical activities don't fall through the cracks

• Built-in redundancy that protects against disruption

• Diverse expertise that adapts to your evolving needs

• Scalable support that grows with your organization

Our clients consistently tell us that the peace of mind from knowing their fundraising is in reliable hands—regardless of individual staffing changes—is invaluable.

Is an Agency Model Right for You?

The agency approach is particularly beneficial for organizations that:

• Have experienced disruption from staff turnover

• Need diverse fundraising expertise

• Value implementation support, not just strategy

• Want to maintain momentum despite life's unpredictability

• Are focused on long-term, sustainable fundraising growth

Next Steps

If you're wondering whether an agency fractional fundraising model might be right for your organization, we invite you to schedule a no-obligation discovery call. We'll discuss your specific needs and help you determine the best approach for your nonprofit's unique situation.