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Fractional Fundraising and Development Consultant Focus: Donor Relationships, Philanthropic Networks and Near-Term Funding
Location: Hybrid / Remote; NYC availability preferred Engagement: Independent Consultant Time Commitment: Approximately 5–10 hours per week
About Little Oaks
Little Oaks Center for Neurodevelopment is building a welcoming, community-centered organization where neurodivergent individuals, families, caregivers, and professionals can find trusted resources, meaningful connection, and practical support. Through our Resource Hub, community programming, partnerships, advocacy, and growing network of supporters, we are working to ensure that no one has to navigate the neurodevelopmental journey alone. As an early-stage nonprofit, we are at an important stage of growth. We are working to strengthen our funding base and build the relationships needed to sustain and expand our work.
About the Engagement
Little Oaks is seeking a relationship-driven fundraising consultant with an established network of prospective donors and philanthropic connections they can activate in the near term. This is a focused consulting engagement for someone who can bring more than fundraising expertise: we are looking for someone who already knows people who may be interested in supporting Little Oaks and can help open those doors. The immediate priority is to expand our access to prospective individual donors, major-gift prospects, philanthropists, family foundations, corporate decision-makers, and other well-connected supporters who may be positioned to provide meaningful financial support. We are particularly interested in consultants who can leverage existing personal and professional relationships to facilitate warm introductions, initiate donor conversations, identify aligned funding opportunities, and help advance credible prospects toward a financial commitment. This is not primarily a prospect-research, grant-writing, or fundraising-infrastructure role. While those activities may support the engagement, our near-term need is for someone who can help translate existing relationships and networks into actionable fundraising opportunities. We recognize that different consultants bring different strengths and connections. We are open to engaging multiple consultants with complementary networks, donor access, and areas of expertise.
Immediate Priorities
The consultant’s initial focus will be to:
- Activate an existing network.
- Identify prospective supporters within the consultant’s personal, professional, philanthropic, and community networks who may have a genuine interest in Little Oaks’ mission.
- Open doors through warm introductions.
- Connect Little Oaks leadership with qualified prospective donors, philanthropic connectors, corporate leaders, and other individuals who can help advance near-term funding opportunities.
- Prioritize near-term funding potential.
- Identify relationships and opportunities that could realistically progress toward a donation, sponsorship, philanthropic commitment, or other financial support in the coming weeks and months.
- Advance donor conversations.
- Help initiate and facilitate conversations, develop appropriate follow-up strategies, and coordinate next steps with Little Oaks leadership.
- Identify high-value opportunities.
- Assess prospects based on mission alignment, relationship strength, potential level of support, accessibility, and realistic timing.
- Support cultivation and solicitation.
- Help prepare for donor meetings, shape tailored talking points and materials, and support appropriate fundraising asks in coordination with authorized Little Oaks leadership.
- Maintain momentum.
- Track introductions, conversations, follow-ups, and next steps so promising opportunities continue to progress.
Key Responsibilities
- Donor Network Activation & Relationship Development
- Near-Term Fundraising & Opportunity Advancement
- Pipeline Management & Strategic Recommendations
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for someone who can bring both fundraising judgment and meaningful access to potential supporters.
Essential Qualifications
- An established, relevant network of prospective donors or philanthropic contacts.
- Demonstrated relationship-building experience.
- Ability to act quickly.
- Comfort with fundraising conversations and asks.
- Strong judgment and relationship management.
- A results-oriented, independent working style.
- Professionalism and discretion.
Networks and experience of particular interest
We welcome consultants whose relationships and experience include: Individual philanthropists and major-gift prospects, Family foundations and philanthropic families, Entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and high-net-worth networks, Corporate philanthropy, corporate giving, and sponsorship decision-makers, Philanthropic advisors, wealth managers, donor-advised fund networks, and other trusted connectors, Community leaders and professional networks with a demonstrated interest in neurodiversity, disability inclusion, family support, education, health, or community-based initiatives.
Experience in nonprofit development
experience with early-stage organizations, neurodevelopmental services, family support, accessibility, education, health, or community-based programs is welcome but not required.
How You’ll Work
This is a focused, autonomous consulting engagement. Little Oaks will provide information about our mission, current funding priorities, approved messaging, existing relationships where relevant, and the materials needed to support fundraising conversations. The consultant will manage their own work methods and schedule while meeting agreed-upon deadlines and deliverables.
What Success Looks Like
Success will be assessed through meaningful relationship development, progress toward near-term funding, and the quality of the opportunities advanced.
Compensation
Compensation will be structured as a project fee or a fixed fee for agreed-upon services and deliverables.
Engagement Expectations
The consultant will be expected to protect confidential donor, prospect, family, partner, and organizational information.
Why Little Oaks
Little Oaks is an early-stage organization, which means this is an opportunity to help shape how our development work grows—not simply step into an established fundraising operation.
