Fractional fundraising support for Canadian nonprofits
Fundraising is too important to be nobody's job. If grants carry most of your budget, your donor information is scattered, or your ED is squeezing fundraising in around everything else, a fractional fundraiser can help.
I'm Kim Peterson, CFRE. I work part-time with a small number of Canadian nonprofits at a time, doing the strategy and the hands-on work side by side with your team, so you end up with a plan, working systems, and people who feel confident asking for support. Based in Vancouver, I work with small and mid-sized Canadian nonprofits that value community and equality.
When fractional support makes sense
Fundraising is off the side of your desk. It currently sits with your ED or programs staff, and you need someone to formally step into the role.
Grants carry most of your revenue. You want to build donor giving and flexible funding alongside them.
Your systems have outgrown spreadsheets. Donor information is scattered across files and inboxes, and you want to build a repeatable system for fundraising that your team can build on year over year.
Senior fundraising expertise, without the full-time salary
For many small Canadian nonprofits, a full-time development director isn't in the budget. And a junior hire can leave you doing the training and supervising yourself.
Fractional support gives you senior experience for the part of the week you need it. I don't just hand you a plan and leave. I do the work alongside your team: the donor follow-up, the systems set-up, the campaign. Along the way I build skills across your team so the program keeps running after I step back.
Need someone to cover a specific gap, like a parental leave or a vacancy? Have a look at my Interim Fundraising service.
How it works
Intro call. We talk about where fundraising is now, what's working, and what you'd like to be true a year from now.
Short proposal. You get a clear scope and cost within a few days.
Assessment. I review your past fundraising, grants, donor data, and systems, and talk with staff and board members to understand what you have and what's possible.
Plan. Together we build a practical fundraising plan for the next 12-24 months, with goals, priorities, revenue targets, and a calendar.
Build & Implement. I set up the donor systems, run campaigns and communications with your team, and train people as we go (yes, I can run a board training session, too!)
Wrap it up or keep going?! After 12 months we can assess what is best for the organization. Perhaps the time has come to bring on a full-time fundraiser, or we can continue working together.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A fractional fundraiser is an experienced fundraising professional who works with your organization part-time, on contract, doing the work of a senior fundraiser for a fraction of the cost. You get strategy, systems, and hands-on support without a full-time salary.
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A junior hire is a fine choice for some organizations, but if your fundraising systems are still early-stage, a newer fundraiser may not have the breadth of experience to build them, and putting that much on someone new can lead to burnout and turnover. A larger firm often brings a bigger team and a bigger price tag than a small nonprofit needs. With me, you get a senior fundraiser who does both the strategy and the hands-on work, priced for small and mid-sized organizations.
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Interim support fills a specific gap for a set period, like a parental leave or a vacancy, by keeping existing work moving. Fractional support is ongoing and builds something new: a plan, working systems, and a team that's confident about fundraising.
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I know there are many options on the market these days, so here are a few things that set me apart:
I am a generalist that loves to wear all the hats. While I have a ton of experience in writing grants, I’ve also run annual giving campaigns, built up monthly donor programs, set up major gifts systems, worked on corporate giving etc. etc. etc. I like to take my breadth of experience and apply the parts that fit the best for each of my clients, so no two engagements are ever the same.
I’m a systems-first fundraiser. I think systems are especially important for smaller teams that need them to carry some of the weight. If you’re operating off of spreadsheets, the first thing I’m going to do is set up a better system for you, document the workflows and train your team. The goal is to build a full fundraising system that you can run and grow year over year.
Community & purpose is my “why”. My fundraising approach is community- and purpose-centric, as I firmly believe that nonprofits should exist to “serve and solve”. They serve the community in a way that is relevant, respectful and available to everyone called to contribute. They also exist to solve a problem/address a gap/face a challenge. Brene Brown tells us “clear is kind”, and a nonprofit that is clear about their purpose: what they do and why, is being kind to their community.
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Senior Fundraiser* (5+ years experience): $85,000 - $100,000
Junior Fundraiser* (0-3 years experience): $50,000 - $60,000
Fractional Fundraiser (5+ years experience): $55,000 - $72,000
*For staff positions include costs for recruitment, equipment and ongoing benefits.
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A typical fractional engagement works out to around 6-10 hours a week, though it shifts with the season: busier around campaigns, lighter in quieter months. We agree on the scope, outcomes and a regular check-in schedule up front.
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Yes. While I work primarily with a point contact, I take a whole-team approach, because no one can fundraise alone. Leaders, staff, and board members each have a role, and the plan is built around the strengths of the people you have.
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Generally I work remotely. Ongoing on-site support (within Vancouver) or travel for special projects can be built into an agreement.
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I’m a solo consultant, and I only work with 1-2 fractional and interim clients at a time, so it’s best to reach out and check my next availability.