Why We’re All-In on Meaningful Part-Time Fundraising Work

The short answer: We've built our entire business model around part-time roles because meaningful, focused work attracts exceptional talent and delivers better results than grinding talented people toward burnout with rigid 40-hour weeks.

Let me be real with you.

I've watched incredibly talented fundraisers leave the nonprofit sector entirely. Not because they stopped caring. Not because they weren't good at their jobs. But because rigid 40-hour weeks made it impossible to sustain their careers alongside caregiving, health needs, or simply living a balanced life.

The nonprofit sector can't afford to keep losing this talent.

That’s why we’re all-in on this model—not as a nice perk, but as a strategic choice that makes us better at serving small nonprofits.

We Hire Humans, Not Just Resumes

Traditional hiring looks for the "perfect" candidate with an uninterrupted career trajectory.

But some of the best nonprofit professionals have "non-traditional" paths that reflect exactly the skills fundraising requires:

• Emotional intelligence from managing complex caregiving situations

• Project management expertise learned through parenthood or portfolio careers

• Resilience and adaptability from navigating real-life challenges

• Deep empathy that comes from living multifaceted lives

A fundraiser who's successfully balanced aging parent care with professional excellence? That person understands stakeholder management and emotional complexity at a level no training program can teach.

Flexibility = Better Results, Not Less Commitment

Here's the assumption I hear constantly: "Part-time means less committed."

That's simply not true.

When you offer 10-30 hour roles to experienced professionals, you get:

✨ Focused, intentional work from people operating at their best
👉 Reduced turnover, so institutional knowledge stays with your organization
💡 Higher quality output because sustainable hours preserve creativity and strategic thinking

That's not magic. That's what happens when talented people work sustainable hours.

Mid-Career Professionals Are Undervalued Gold

The traditional job market overlooks professionals seeking alternatives to conventional paths. But these are exactly who small nonprofits need:

The fundraising veteran preparing for semi-retirement who still has a decade of wisdom to share but wants 15 hours weekly instead of 40.

The expert managing family responsibilities who needs flexibility but absolutely hasn't lost their strategic edge.

The seasoned professional pursuing passion projects who brings renewed energy and outside perspectives to client work.

These professionals have 10-20+ years of expertise. They've built programs from scratch, navigated economic downturns, and mentored teams. They work independently without adding supervision burden to your plate.

And the traditional job market ignores them because they won't accept full-time roles.

That's not just unfortunate—it's wasteful.

Remote-First = Opportunity-First

Geography shouldn't limit access to fundraising careers or expertise.

Our digital-first approach means:

• Small organizations access senior-level talent regardless of location

• Talented professionals in rural communities stay connected to meaningful work

• Caregivers who can't commute can build sustainable careers

• Everyone focuses on outcomes, not office presence

When we prioritize results over face time, your organization gets better fundraising and professionals get fulfilling careers that actually fit their lives.

Our Standard is Excellence, Not Exhaustion

Here's what we measure at SFS:

✅ Client outcomes (are fundraising goals being met?)
✅ Team fulfillment (are consultants energized by their work?)
✅ Donor experience (are relationships deepening?)
✅ Strategic impact (are we creating sustainable systems?)

Here's what we don't measure:

❌ Hours logged
❌ Emails sent at 11 PM
❌ Performative busyness

Our consultants deliver exceptional results because they work sustainable hours that preserve their creativity and professional longevity.

This is a Movement, Not Just a Business Model

Every flexible arrangement that produces outstanding results proves the nonprofit sector can evolve.

Every talented mid-career professional who thought they'd have to leave the sector—but didn't—demonstrates what's possible.

We're not just running a business. We're proving that:

• Supporting whole humans creates better organizations

• Diversity of experience produces stronger strategies

• Sustainable careers don't require personal sacrifice

• Your community needs you present, not just productive

What This Means for You

You don't have to choose between:

• Senior expertise (too expensive)

• Junior hires who need supervision (too time-consuming)

• Doing it all yourself (not sustainable)

The fractional model gives you experienced fundraising support at a price point that works for small nonprofits, without benefits overhead, office space, or recruitment costs.

You get professionals who work independently, bring strategic thinking from years of experience, and stay committed long-term because the arrangement actually works for their lives.

Curious whether this model could work for your organization?? Let's have a conversation about your specific situation—not a pushy sales call, just a genuine discussion about what you're experiencing and whether this approach might help.

Because I believe the future of nonprofit work is flexible, human-centered, and deeply fulfilling.

And we hire accordingly.