Fractional Fundraising Strategy & Performance Advisor (Nonprofit Development Coach to COO)

Heart for Africa is seeking a highly experienced fundraising strategist to serve as an advisor to the COO. This is not a tactical grant writing or DAF specialist role. This is a strategic oversight and performance advisory role focused on evaluating, strengthening, and benchmarking our Development function.

The advisor will meet weekly with the COO and may, when appropriate, interview members of the Development team to assess systems, strategy, and execution alignment.

The goal is not to replace current leadership but to provide independent strategic perspective, accountability structure, and measurable performance clarity.

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About the Organization

Heart for Africa is a $4.2M and growing nonprofit serving the Kingdom of Eswatini through:

• Residential care for 460+ children

• Full educational programming

• Vocational training

• Community food outreach

• Job creation through internal enterprises

DAF revenue currently approaches $1M annually. Major gifts are a primary growth lever.

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Role Purpose

The advisor will:

1. Evaluate the effectiveness of current fundraising strategy.

2. Assess whether moves management systems are structured, measurable, and scalable.

3. Provide independent benchmarking on timelines, staffing needs, and growth expectations.

4. Help the COO understand what “good” looks like in a $4–10M nonprofit development operation.

5. Provide coaching on how to hold Development leadership accountable in a constructive way.

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Scope of Work

Weekly 60-minute strategic session with COO including:

• Review of revenue performance

• Portfolio management evaluation

• DAF and major gift strategy review

• KPI assessment

• Forecast accuracy review

• Staff capacity evaluation

Quarterly deliverables may include:

• Written assessment of Development performance

• Gap analysis (systems, staffing, process)

• Growth opportunity analysis

• Risk exposure review (donor concentration, renewal risk)

• Recommended 12-month fundraising roadmap

May include:

• Reviewing CRM reports

• Reviewing moves management plans

• Interviewing Development staff (as approved by COO)

• Attending occasional leadership meetings

You’ll likely need to meet with our current Development team to get answers to questions and data.

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Ideal Candidate Background

• 10+ years senior nonprofit fundraising leadership

• Experience scaling organizations from $3M to $10M+

• Deep experience in major gifts and DAF strategy

• Experience managing Development Directors

• Familiarity with CRM systems and moves management frameworks

• Strong analytical orientation

• Comfortable providing candid executive-level feedback

Experience as:

• Former VP of Development

• Former Chief Development Officer

• Fundraising consultant to growth-stage nonprofits

Preferred but not required:

• Faith-based nonprofit experience

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What This Is NOT

• Not a grant writer

• Not a copywriter

• Not a data entry consultant

• Not a short-term campaign contractor

• Not a DAF-only consultant

This is an executive-level performance advisory role.

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Engagement Structure

• 5–10 hours per month

• Remote

• Initial 3-month engagement with option to extend

• Budget: Competitive based on experience

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Key Qualities Required

• Direct but constructive communicator

• Systems thinker

• Able to distinguish between relational fundraising realities and performance avoidance

• Comfortable operating in executive advisory capacity

Apply Now

Apply Now