Is your nonprofit stuck in an understaffing cycle, in which you need expertise but can't afford senior-level salaries? Are you overwhelmed by wearing multiple hats as an executive director, lacking specialized skills in fundraising, HR, or communications? What if there was a way to access experienced professionals without the full-time commitment?
Through this episode, you’ll learn about working with “fractional executives” – a practice where nonprofits engage a portion of an experienced professional's time to provide both strategic guidance and hands-on implementation of a key organizational function. You’ll get tips for when organizations are ready for fractional executives; how to find them; and how best to work with them. Our guest is Cindy Wagman, a Canadian fundraising consultant who has become a leading voice in the fractional executive practice for nonprofits. Wagman shares her journey from university fundraiser to consultant, how she evolved her own fractional executive model, and the training and matching services she has developed to help more people become fractional executives specifically for nonprofits, and help more nonprofits find them.
Wagman defines fractional executives as a unique blend of strategic thought and implementation, typically requiring 7+ years of direct experience in their function. Unlike traditional consultants who provide advice, fractional executives create plans and then execute them, working on retainer and focusing on deliverables and outcomes. She emphasizes this isn't a cost-saving measure but rather an optimization strategy, allowing small and mid-size nonprofits to access senior-level expertise they couldn't otherwise afford. The typical investment is comparable to hiring a junior-level employee but with significantly more experience and strategic capability.
The conversation covers practical guidance for both sides of the equation. For nonprofits considering fractional executives, and professionals considering becoming fractional consultants. Wagman has built an entire ecosystem around this model, including training programs through her Nonprofit Fractional Academy, a matchmaking service at nonprofitfractionals.com, and multiple podcasts. She advocates for funders to embrace investing in people and trust organizations to choose how to best structure their teams, whether through traditional hiring or fractional arrangements.
About Cindy Wagman:
Cindy Wagman helps seasoned nonprofit pros build six-figure consulting businesses—without the burnout. A former in-house leader turned business coach, she’s the founder of Cindy Wagman Consulting and the Nonprofit Fractional Network, and has guided 100+ consultants to grow profitable, values-driven practices.
She’s the bestselling author of Raise It!, co-host of Confessions with Jess and Cindy, and host of Fracture, a private podcast for nonprofit fractional execs ready to stop fixing broken systems and start building something better.
Nonprofit Executive's Guide to Hiring a Fractional Leader (free)
Matchmaking Service (find a fractional executive for your org)
