Why do we stop the Development Director churn and build something more innovative?
Nonprofits don’t fail at fundraising because they hire the wrong people. They fail because they hire people into a broken system.
At Pacific Northwest Fundraising, we’ve built a better approach — a scaffolding-first model that stabilizes, grows, and transfers ownership over time. Our clients don’t just “get campaigns.” They get a functional development system, even before they hire full-time staff.
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Deliver High-Quality Fractional Development Support
We show up as the team — not a temp fix.
- Campaigns get executed
- Messaging stays sharp
- Donor systems are consistent
- The board sees real traction
- And the founder breathes again
Before a Development Director is even on payroll, the organization is raising more money — with less chaos.
Step 2: Lay the Infrastructure
- A Working CRM (Customer Relationship Manager – database)
- Active Donor Stewardship
- Establish a Matching Gift Strategy
- Tested Peer-to-peer Fundraising Tools
- Messaging that actually lives across different platforms
This isn’t personality-dependent fundraising. This is system-dependent fundraising.
Step 3: Write the Capacity Grant
We help our clients write and secure multi-year capacity grants that fund a Development Director over three years:
- Year 1: 100% funded
- Year 2: 60% funded
- Year 3: 40% funded
That funding also covers our work, which means we become a bridge, not a cost center. The money saved gets reinvested into systems, staff training, or stewardship.
Step 4: Fade Into the Background (But Keep the Backbone)
Once the Development Director is hired, we become the ultimate Development Associate:
- Quietly managing CRM, emails, reporting, and strategy
- Leaving the new hire free to get out from behind their desk
- Helping them focus on relationships, major gifts, and legacy planning
We don’t compete. We clear the runway so they can fly.
It’s Not Just Smarter. It’s Safer.
Foundations love this model:
- De-risks a major hire
- Protects capacity investments
- Demonstrates shared accountability between staff, board, and contractors
Nonprofits love it:
- Raises money while rebuilding trust
- Fills the gaps without creating dependence
- Converts chaos into clarity, and fatigue into forward motion
“It’s a No-Brainer.” (Because It Is.)
We’re helping organizations:
- Grow before they’re “ready”
- Stabilize before they scale
- And break free from the burnout loop that’s defined nonprofit development for too long
This is what modern nonprofit capacity-building looks like.
Want to learn more? 📥 [email protected]
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