Why Nonprofits Should Consider Going Fractional: Affordability + Excellence
Running a nonprofit in today’s environment means doing more with less. Governmental funding streams are drying up, existing funders are receiving more solicitations than ever before, and many nonprofits are struggling to survive. Meanwhile, communications staff, if they exist at all, are often junior hires—generalists with enthusiasm, but without deep knowledge and tested experience. The result? You could be missing opportunities to tell your story, build relationships, and raise the funds you need to grow.
That’s where fractional communications services come in. Instead of hiring a full-time junior staffer who may have lots of potential, but limited experience, nonprofits can access seasoned professionals—strategists, writers, designers, and campaign planners—for an equivalent investment. Not only can fractional professionals help you build out a solid communications program that is based on strategic thinking, they can also save you time by nurturing existing junior staff.
With decades of experience across donor engagement, nonprofit marketing, and brand strategy, Lizanne Hart Communications offers fractional communications services that:
Build strategy, not just tactics. A junior hire may be able to post on social media or draft a newsletter, but do they know how to align those activities with your long-term goals? We bring the big-picture perspective.
Deliver polished execution. Whether it’s a grant report, donor appeal, or event campaign, you’ll have communications that reflect the professionalism and impact of your organization.
Scale up or down as needed. You can increase hours during a big campaign or scale back in quieter months—something a salaried employee can’t do.
Expand your in-house capacity. Instead of asking your program team to “just handle” communications on top of their full workload, you free them to focus on what they do best.
For many nonprofits, the math is simple: the annual cost of a full-time junior communications employee—including salary, benefits, and overhead—can easily exceed $90,000. Staff costs must also include freelancers, such as graphic designers or publicists, who offer specialized skills for a particular project, but are not positioned to steward your brand.
Typically, non-profits spend upward of $150,000 cobbling together a communications “team” that operates in a disjointed fashion. In a fractional model, you can have a team with decades of experience and all the needed skills, for less money.
Above all, fractional support is about peace of mind. You gain a thought partner who understands your mission, helps you stay ahead of trends, and ensures that every donor touchpoint builds trust and inspires giving. In lean times, that kind of strategic partnership is essential.
We believe nonprofits shouldn’t have to choose between affordability and excellence. With fractional communications services, you can finally have both.