Thriving as a One-Person Fundraising Team with Caitlin McBride
Small Nonprofit: Fundraising Tips, Leadership Strategies, and Community-Centric Solutions
In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria sits down with Caitlin McBride, an experienced fundraiser and consultant, to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of being a one-person fundraising department. Caitlin shares her journey from working in large fundraising teams to becoming the sole fundraiser at small nonprofits. She provides actionable insights on setting up systems, avoiding burnout, and leveraging technology to maximize efficiency. If you’re a nonprofit professional juggling multiple roles, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you thrive.
Key Topics Covered:
- Embrace systems and technology
- Get comfortable with decision-making
- Set boundaries and manage expectations
- Prioritize self-care without guilt
- Know when to ask for help
Actionable Tips:
➜ Build a strong support network: Connect with other fundraisers, listen to industry podcasts, and seek mentorship.
➜ Leverage free and low-cost tech: Use tools like TechSoup for nonprofit discounts on software and services.
➜ Create a case for support: Having a well-written document makes grant writing and donor outreach much more efficient.
➜ Audit and organize your CRM: Clean data and standardized tracking can save hours of work.
➜ Educate your board & ED: Set clear expectations about what’s realistic for a one-person fundraising team.
Resources:
Connect with Us:
- Connect with Maria Rio
- Connect with Caitlin McBride
- Further Together Website
Subscribe and Review:
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Small Nonprofit Podcast on your favorite platform! Leave a review to help us reach more listeners and continue providing valuable insights. Watch this episode on YouTube.
Support the Podcast:
Support these conversations by donating here.
Coming Next Week:
Join us next week as Maria shares her insights on measuring success and making data-driven decisions! 🚀
If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.
Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values.
Available Results
Generated results are saved to the knowledge database for reuse and search.
Extract Knowledge
Pick what you want extracted first. Model, scope, and chapter options appear after a template is selected.