Have Your Cake and Eat It Too: How Brooke Nearly Doubled Her Income as a Fractional Fundraiser
Ever been told that making good money and doing meaningful work don't go together in the nonprofit sector? That you have to choose between financial stability and mission impact?
Brooke Erickson's story proves that narrative dead wrong.
After building a fundraising program from scratch and hitting that all-too-familiar nonprofit salary ceiling of $75K, Brooke made a decision that transformed her financial reality while deepening her impact in the sector.
She became a Fractional Fundraiser.
The Nonprofit Career Ceiling: All Too Familiar
"I really needed to start making more money," Brooke shared candidly in our recent Fracture podcast conversation. "I've got kids who are going to be going into university within the next 10 years."
Like countless experienced fundraisers, Brooke found herself trapped in a frustrating cycle:
Too valuable to leave her organization
Too underpaid to meet her financial goals
Too talented to keep hitting walls in her career growth
She did what we're all told to do: applied to bigger organizations with "better" titles. But the national-level development director positions she sought led nowhere, and the offers that did come were lateral moves with minimal pay increases.
Sound familiar? This is the reality for thousands of talented fundraisers across North America.
The Lightbulb Moment: There Has to Be Another Way
Rather than accepting this reality, Brooke discovered the fractional fundraising model – and had the audacity to pitch it directly to her employer.
"I was able to pitch a further expansion of their program by pitching myself as someone they could bring on to just handle major gifts and grants," Brooke explained. "They were really eager to keep me on in any capacity."
This bold move became the cornerstone of her new business. Rather than an awkward departure, she created a win-win that allowed her organization to continue benefiting from her expertise while she began building something of her own.
The Financial Transformation: From $75K to $144K+
Let's talk real numbers.
Within months of launching her fractional business, Brooke was working with three clients at $4,000 each monthly – putting her annual income at $144,000. At one point, she was juggling four clients plus additional project work, though she cautions (with the wisdom of someone who's been there) that wasn't sustainable long-term.
The impact on her family has been profound:
"We were always kind of living above our means... but we were really going into debt," Brooke revealed. "Now what we're bringing in is about what we're spending, and it's such a relief. For the first time ever, we're thinking about paying off that debt and starting savings and contributing to our kids' education savings plans."
This isn't just about making more money. It's about creating financial security and building generational wealth – options that seemed impossible in her in-house role.
Beyond Money: The Freedom Factor
While the financial transformation is impressive, Brooke emphasized that the lifestyle benefits have been equally valuable:
"I love working from home and deciding exactly what I'm going to do," she shared. "Today before this call, my partner and I took a break and we watched White Lotus together. It was really nourishing."
Her typical approach is focusing on one client per day, giving her the mental space to do deep work while maintaining clear boundaries. This flexibility proved particularly valuable during a recent three-day power outage – she could simply relocate and continue working without major disruption.
The First-Year Reality Check: Not All Sunshine and Roses
Brooke is refreshingly honest about the challenges of the transition. In her first few months, she experienced significant burnout while juggling multiple clients and trying to prove her value.
"I took on way more work than I could do, and I really burnt myself out," she admits. "I'm just recovering now and really learning how to establish those boundary pieces."
Her advice to others considering this path? "Have patience with yourself when you're developing your systems. The first year won't be easy, but it will get easier after a year or two of doing it."
The Community Factor: You're Not Alone
Perhaps the most surprising element of Brooke's success has been the power of the fractional fundraising community.
"The network piece is extremely important to me," she emphasized. "I struggled with one of my first clients where it became a heavy emotional load on me. Bringing that to the network and being able to be honest about that with folks was so useful because I really felt like everyone had my back."
This built-in community of peers facing similar challenges provides both practical support and emotional reassurance – something many solo consultants desperately miss.
Why Fractional Fundraising Works
Brooke brilliantly explained why this model succeeds where others fail:
"Typically you've had two options," she explains. "The first option where you get a consultant to create a plan for you that your staff implements doesn't tend to work because it requires skill and time. The other way, where you're hiring somebody junior to learn how to fundraise and be successful on the spot, is also typically not successful."
Fractional fundraising bridges this implementation gap, providing organizations with both strategic expertise AND hands-on implementation at a price point they can afford.
For the fundraisers? They get to do meaningful work with mission-aligned organizations while earning what they're truly worth.
Is This Your Next Move?
Brooke's story isn't unique in our network – we've seen this transformation happen repeatedly with experienced fundraisers who were tired of the traditional nonprofit career path.
If you're an experienced fundraiser feeling stuck, undervalued, or just ready for something different, the fractional model offers a third path:
Work with multiple missions you're passionate about
Set your own schedule and boundaries
Build financial security while continuing to make an impact
Join a community that has your back
The nonprofit sector desperately needs talented fundraisers. But talented fundraisers deserve to be paid what they're worth and have control over their careers.
Fractional fundraising lets you have your cake and eat it too.
Ready to explore whether fractional fundraising could be your next career move? Visit nonprofitfractionals.com