Why our sector needs to stop hiring unicorns — and start building real infrastructure
By Eddie Allen, Founder & Lead Guide, PNWF
Too Many Hats, Not Enough Bandwidth
Let’s tell the truth: the Development Director role is broken as it’s typically designed.
We regularly see job descriptions asking one person to:
- Write compelling grants
- Cultivate major donors
- Manage a CRM
- Design social media posts
- Run a gala
- Lead a campaign
- Write newsletters
- Report on KPIs
- And sometimes supervise communications staff, too
That’s not a job. That’s five jobs. Maybe six.
Would you hire one person as your plumber, architect, and electrician?
Didn’t think so.
The Fallout Is Real
Here’s what this unrealistic model creates:
- Unrealistic KPIs
- Confused accountability lines
- High burnout = high turnover
- Lost institutional knowledge
- Dependency on unicorn hires
And eventually, leadership starts wondering:
“Why aren’t our development efforts gaining traction?”
It’s not your staff’s fault. It’s the structure.
The PNWF Model: Capacity, Not Chaos
At PNWF, we’ve re-engineered nonprofit development with a model supporting real teams, tools, and timelines.
Here’s how we do it:
- Team-based approach — grant writers, campaign strategists, CRM experts, content creators, and donor engagement specialists all rowing in sync
- 90-day campaigns — building momentum, not fatigue
- CRM first, always — because you can’t build donor development on messy data
- Peer-to-Peer fundraising done right — team pages, coaching, and shareable content that triples campaign ROI
- Matching gifts with meaning — this year, we’re contributing $500 of our own to every Give More 24! campaign we support
Because we believe in this work. And we believe in you.
What’s at Stake
Your mission deserves more than burnout and bandaids.
Your staff deserves structure.
And your community deserves consistency.
Let’s build fundraising programs that are sustainable, equitable, and funded, not dependent on one exhausted unicorn hire.
Want to Break the Cycle?
📅 Or book a time with Eddie to explore if our model fits your team
“Would you hire one person to be your plumber, architect, and electrician? That’s how nonprofits hire for development.”
💬 Ready to break the cycle of burnout and turnover?
📖 Read the full article above or share with a colleague who needs to hear it.