Let me do the heavy lifting in your fundraising program

Outsource your fundraising

Increase your impact

Sleep better at night

Have you reached your fundraising capacity?

Is your current team maxed out in their capacity to raise money? If you want to increase your fundraising revenue, you need to hire help. But the traditional hiring options aren’t that easy. That’s where Candle & Mirror Strategies comes in.

Traditional support options just aren’t cutting it:

Hiring In-House

Small budget means inexperienced staff who require more effort and time to manage.

vs.

Consultant

Strategic direction without implementation means a “plan” sits on a computer for 3 years and your big investment goes down the drain.

Let me take the weight of fundraising off your shoulders

It's simple - let me run your fundraising program. That's right - eliminate the stress and overwhelm of trying to "do it all" and let me, Fractional Fundraiser, manage the day-to-day of your fundraising needs.

You need a Certified Fractional Fundraiser

Strategic Oversight

A Certified Fractional Fundraiser has over 10 years of fundraising experience—I have over 15 years, and a track record of proven success. For example, in my first 12 months developing and implementing strategic fundraising plans at three previous organizations, I increased lines of contributed revenue for those nonprofits between 20% - 220%.

A Fractional Fundraiser always starts our work with you by creating a custom fundraising plan that outlines strategic objectives, as well as a work plan to achieve those goals.

Hands-on Implementation

We then implement that plan! From strategy to stuffing envelopes, if it’s in the plan, we’ll make sure it gets done.

I have been where you are.

As a front-line fundraiser, I have created and executed fundraising plans for three different theatre companies, a dance company, and a library foundation for a 23-branch system.

As a consultant, I’ve provided complex fundraising strategy for dozens of nonprofits, from local start-ups to regional institutions. In my volunteer time, I am the development chair of a hands-on board.

I’ll manage your fundraising. You focus on changing the world.

  1. Book a Discovery Call.

    Let’s hop on a call so I can learn more about your organization and goals.

  2. I’ll develop a fundraising plan and then implement it.

    I’ll start with building you a comprehensive strategic fundraising plan and then I’ll implement it. I work on 12 month contracts, so you have stability and security in your fundraising program for it to grow.

  3. Stress-free fundraising growth.

    You focus on the work you love to do and watch your fundraising program grow.

About Abbie Fine

Hi, I’m Abbie Fine, a passionate leader, artist, and fundraiser with 15 years of experience with nonprofit organizations. I served as leader and frontline fundraiser at arts and education nonprofits in the DC region for ten years, in roles such as Managing Director of NextStop Theatre Company and Director of Development for Fairfax Library Foundation.

For the past five years I’ve worked at two different consulting firms, executing grants programs, feasibility studies, prospect research, development assessments, and strategic plans for a wide-range of nonprofits. I enjoy partnering with clients to bring significant and breakthrough successes in fundraising.

I earned my MBA from George Mason, where I was named “Outstanding MBA Student of the Year” by faculty and “Most Contributed to Learning” by my global residency classmates. I received a BA from the University of South Carolina on a full academic scholarship, earning a double major in Theater and Economics. 

Besides fundraising, I am an accomplished theater director, with over 20 professional credits, and a published author of fiction. I serve on the board of The Keegan Theatre. Outside of nonprofit management and creative pursuits, I enjoy spending time with my two kiddos, going flying with my husband in the single-engine plane he pilots, reading novels, and running or hiking.

Why Candle & Mirror? Because this quote captures how I feel about collaboration in the nonprofit sector:

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”
— Edith Wharton

What to expect.

Risk Free, Results Oriented

Hiring in-house comes with a lot of risk and not much reward. Just imagine getting better fundraising results without hiring staff, proving space for them, and managing their day-to-day activities. Forget staff turnover or only hiring someone “your budget can afford”. We provide the best in small-shop fundraising at a budget you can afford, taking away your risk.

Your Relationships

We respect the work you’ve already put into building your relationships and they will always stay with your organization. When we act on your behalf, we’re representing your organization. We do not bring donors to your organization, nor do we take them with us when we leave.

Consistency for your ROI

Fundraising success takes time and consistency. Your results depend on where you are starting and what your fundraising priorities are. When is the right time to make this investment? That depends on your ambitions for your organization. A Fractional Fundraiser exists to make the most of your investment.

FAQs

  • Usually small organizations have limited budgets for staffing, which means they end up hiring someone junior without much fundraising strategy or expeirence. That person usually ends up spending a lot of time and energy on things that are not moving things forward. Instead, with that budget you can hire a Fractional Fundraiser who brings over 15 years of fundraising experience to the table with a passion for implementation and getting it done. Our clients love this solution to help them grow strategically.

    An added benefit is that a Fractional Fundraiser require less supervision meaning less stress for the ED! Bonus!

  • A Fractional Fundraiser costs between $4,500 and $5,000 per month. Contracts start at 12 months.

  • Each organization is unique and your fundraising strategy should be unique to you. Fractional Fundraisers are fundraising generalists and can do it all - from individual giving and major gifts, to grant writing or sponsorships. The only thing we don't do are large events.

    We start each engagement with a Strategic Planning process to develop a clear fundraising plan with goals and activities to move your fundraising forward. Then, we do the work!

    Implementation means writing appeals, managing your data, working with your program team to write and submit grants, building relationships, managing sponsorships, doing social media, etc. We help you figure out which activities are a priority and then we do them. We even stuff envelopes when needed!

  • If a fundraiser or fundraising consultant offers guaranteed results, RUN. That is probably a sign they are doing something unethical.

    Fundraising success takes time and consistency. Your results depend on where you are starting and what your fundraising priorities are.

  • Here's a novel approach - we don't track hours! That's right - we focus on deliverables and outcomes. Fractional Fundraisers are experienced and efficient and take on only the amount of clients they can handle as well as how much they want to work (shocker - not everyone wants to work 60 hours/week - LOL). Our clients are delighted at the level of support they receive.

  • Yes! I also offer custom fundraising plans, Fractional Institutional Director of Development services (to strategically plan and run your grants program!), grant writing, and fundraising counsel. I’m happy to plan services with you to best meet your fundraising needs.