Full-Service Fundraising Consulting Retainer
The Consulting Retainer That Gives You an Expert Development Team for a Fraction of the Cost
Senior fundraising strategy, done-for-you project execution, and beautiful donor communications—without the cost of hiring staff.
Hiring a senior fundraising leader is expensive, time-consuming, and often out of reach for growing rare disease organizations. The Rare Impact Full-Service Retainer gives you exactly that—without the overhead. You get a dedicated team of strategists, writers, designers, and project managers functioning as an integrated extension of your staff, actively collaborating with you to build systems, expand donor programs, and create campaigns from concept to solicitation.
Why it works
Experienced, Strategic, and Built to Function as Your Development Team
Your research is moving fast and the treatments you want to fund cannot wait. Building a full in-house development team takes time and budget that is out of reach for most rare disease foundations.
The Rare Impact Full-Service Retainer gives you a dedicated team of strategists, writers, designers, and project managers—functioning as an integrated extension of your staff, actively building systems, expanding donor programs, and creating campaigns from concept to solicitation. In just six months, we formalize your development program, produce high-quality content and campaigns, and establish the infrastructure your organization needs to grow funding at the same thrilling pace as your science.
What You Get Every Month
The full expert team and support your development program needs to grow.
Meet each week with Founder & CEO Shannon Bowen to strategize, train, co-create, and problem-solve. For teams of one, these sessions provide the support and guidance to lead with confidence.
From month one, our team works on your most urgent projects while building long-term strategy alongside you. Every deliverable is planned, designed, written, and delivered on time and at the highest level of quality.
Shannon creates high-impact messages in your leader's voice. You also receive a custom Ghostwriting Guide with ChatGPT prompts so your CEO can write quickly and consistently long after the retainer ends.
Burning question between sessions? We are there. Collaborate through Google Docs, Canva, and shared folders so nothing slows you down.
Every deliverable reflects the credibility and heart of your organization. From impact reports and corporate sponsorship brochures to donor campaign templates, your collateral will look as compelling as the mission it represents.
We work to build your systems, operations, leadership, technology, and core messaging so that your organization emerges even stronger and more effective after 6 months.
Proposal Components
What We Work On Together
Strategic Counsel & Leadership Support
- Strategic counsel from Shannon Bowen, with 20+ years of experience
- Guidance on fundraising priorities, strategies, and timelines
- Real-time support during urgent decision-making windows
- Thought partnership around organizational growth and strategy
- Clear recommendations rooted in what works for peer rare disease organizations
Fundraising Strategy Aligned to Your Science
- Translating complex research into compelling donor language
- Aligning fundraising messaging with your science and research program
- Creating consistency across donor, community, and corporate communications
- Positioning your organization as a credible research funder fueling discoveries
Individual Donor Program Development
- Creation of a formal donor program with levels and benefits
- Pipeline of engagement from general email list to donor conversion
- Print and digital appeals throughout the year
- Targeted messaging and campaign design to build a culture of philanthropy
- Guidance on donor data management and analytics
Corporate Sponsorship & Foundation Strategy
- Corporate sponsorship strategy and recommended giving levels
- Materials creation and solicitation emails drafted
- Foundation grant funding landscape analysis and prospect research
- Guidance on growing institutional funding for the organization
Major Donor Messaging & Materials
- Strategic guidance on major donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
- Development of a major donor deck or case for support
- Clear, hopeful storytelling grounded in scientific progress
- Menu of gift opportunities aligned with donor interests
Ongoing Donor Communications & Messaging
- Donor emails, blogs, and social media posts
- Messaging guidance across all initiatives
- Consistent tone that balances science and humanity
- CEO thought leadership ghostwriting
- Inspiring language that builds trust and long-term loyalty
Our Six Months Together
Discovery & Intake
We dive into your donors, data, history, brand, and most urgent need — and begin executing priority projects immediately. You do not wait for intake to finish before real work begins.
Annual Planning & Strategy
Shannon and the team build your 12-Month Development Plan and Timeline, map your full project calendar, and align on the priorities that will create the most momentum for your fundraising program. Project execution and fundraising training continues in parallel.
Foundation & Execution
With strategy in place, we move into active project delivery. Your Ghostwriting Guide, Fundraising Playbook, and campaign deliverables take shape. Weekly sessions keep strategy and execution in lockstep.
Momentum
Campaigns launch and donor communications go out. Your development program starts gaining real traction as strategy moves into full execution. We continue producing high-quality deliverables while coaching your team on sophisticated fundraising practices.
PRODUCtioN &
growth
With momentum established, we shift into high-output production. Major deliverables are in market, donor relationships are deepening, and your team is operating with a new level of fundraising confidence. This is where the work compounds.
Strengthen & Transition
Your development program is formalized, your communications are compelling, and your team has the systems, tools, and confidence to sustain growth well beyond the retainer period. After this month, clients either transition to an Advising Retainer for ongoing support, continue with a new six-month engagement, or hire full-time development staff. We can help with that too.
Month 1
Discovery & Intake
We begin with an in-depth intake process to learn your organization inside and out: your donors, data, history, brand, goals, and your most urgent needs. At the same time, we begin executing on your priority projects. We do not wait for the intake to finish before real work begins. Deliverables start in Month 1.
Month 2
Annual Planning & Strategy
Shannon and the team build your 12-Month Development Plan and Timeline, map your full project calendar, and align on the priorities that will create the most momentum for your fundraising program. Project execution continues in parallel.
Month 3
Foundation & Execution
With strategy firmly in place, we move deeper into active project delivery. Your Ghostwriting Guide, Fundraising Playbook, and campaign deliverables take shape. Weekly sessions keep strategy and execution moving in lockstep.
Months 4-5
Momentum & Production
This is where the impact compounds. Campaigns launch, donor communications go out, and your development program gains real traction. We continue producing high-quality deliverables while coaching your team on sophisticated fundraising practices.
Month 6
Strengthen & Transition
Your development program is formalized, your communications are compelling, and your team has the systems, tools, and confidence to sustain growth. After this month, clients either transition to an Advising Retainer* for ongoing support, continue with a Full-Service Retainer for another 6-months and then transition**, or go on to hire full-time development staff. We can help with that too!
Our goal is to provide the support, resources, and tools to help you transition to running ahigh-performing independent development program.
* The Advising Retainer is available exclusively to former 6-Month Fundraising Accelerator clients.
** If you want to sign up for one-year of a Full-Service Retainer (and extension of this 6-Month Accelerator), we offer a discounted rate.
Our Six Months Together
Discovery & Intake
We begin with an in-depth intake process to learn your organization inside and out: your donors, data, history, brand, goals, and your most urgent needs. At the same time, we begin executing on your priority projects. We do not wait for the intake to finish before real work begins.
Deliverables start in Month 1.
Annual Planning & Strategy
Shannon and the team build your 12-Month Development Plan and Timeline, map your full project calendar, and align on the priorities that will create the most momentum for your fundraising program. Project execution continues in parallel.
Foundation & Execution
With strategy firmly in place, we move deeper into active project delivery. Your Ghostwriting Guide, Fundraising Playbook, and campaign deliverables take shape. Weekly sessions keep strategy and execution moving in lockstep.
Momentum & Production
This is where the impact compounds. Campaigns launch, donor communications go out, and your development program gains real traction. We continue producing high-quality deliverables while coaching your team on sophisticated fundraising practices.
Strengthen & Transition
Your development program is formalized, your communications are compelling, and your team has the systems, tools, and confidence to sustain growth. After this month, clients either transition to an Advising Retainer* for ongoing support, continue with a Full-Service Retainer for another 6-months and then transition**, or go on to hire full-time development staff. We can help with that too!
Our goal is to provide the support, resources, and tools to help you transition to running a
high-performing independent development program.
* The Advising Retainer is available exclusively to former 6-Month Fundraising Accelerator clients.
** If you want to sign up for one-year of a Full-Service Retainer (and extension of this 6-Month Accelerator), we offer a discounted rate.
The Math Is Simple
An Expert Team for a Fraction of the Cost.
Eliminates the risk and expense of a full-time hire.
The retainer includes a strategist, writers, designers, and project managers — no overhead, no benefits, no onboarding lag. Just senior-level results from day one. Less than $5,000 a month for an entire expert development team. We’re here to provide expert fundraising and communications support without the burden of hiring a full internal team. Our monthly retainers give you experienced professionals who understand your community, your science, and your urgency, so you can focus on accelerating cures while we handle the strategy and execution.
Compare
Costs
Full-Service Retainer
Director of Development
$27,000
$75,000
None
$18,750
None
$10,000
$27,000
$103,750
Best for Volunteer-Run Foundations
Project-based partnership to strengthen fundraising strategy, messaging, and donor engagement.
This retainer supports active teams who need help managing multiple projects while sharpening strategy and execution. Let us guide your strategy, lead your projects, answer burning questions, and bring gold-standard writing and design to elevate your fundraising program.
What’s included each month:
- 2 Monthly Strategic Counsel Zoom Meetings with advising on donor strategy, training on development best practices, and coaching on organizational growth strategies
- 1 High-Level Strategy Projects like donor strategy, corporate sponsorships, event planning, major donor programs, large-scale campaigns, etc.
- 2 Operational Projects like creation of donor materials, feedback on existing materials/strategies, donor communications, large brochures/booklets/reports, database optimization, etc.
- 1 set of Monthly Tasks like sets of one blogs, donor email, and social posts for each platform (average)
Ideal for organizations balancing day-to-day operations with ambitious fundraising goals.
$4,500/mo
Best for Staff-Run Foundations
Project-based partnership to strengthen fundraising strategy, messaging, and donor engagement.
This retainer supports active teams who need help managing multiple projects while sharpening strategy and execution. Let us guide your strategy, lead your projects, answer burning questions, and bring gold-standard writing and design to elevate your fundraising program.
What’s included each month:
- 4 Monthly Strategic Counsel Zoom Meetings with advising on donor strategy, training on development best practices, and coaching on organizational growth strategies
- 2 High-Level Strategy Projects like donor strategy, corporate sponsorships, event planning, major donor programs, large-scale campaigns, etc.
- 4 Operational Projects like creation of donor materials, feedback on existing materials/strategies, donor communications, large brochures/booklets/reports, database optimization, etc.
- 2 sets of Monthly Tasks like sets of one blogs, donor email, and social posts for each platform (average)
Ideal for organizations balancing day-to-day operations with ambitious fundraising goals.
Best for Large Foundations and Research Institutes
High-level strategic leadership paired with sophisticated hands-on execution.
This strategy-focused retainer gives you deep access to Shannon and the Rare Impact team to guide complex fundraising programs, intricate messaging, major initiatives, and long-term growth. This package gives you the most hands-on counsel and support. Let us bring our 40+ years of combined experience to advise you on how best to grow your fundraising and strategize your growth.
What’s included each month:
- 8 Monthly Strategic Counsel Zoom Meetings with advising on donor strategy, training on development best practices, and coaching on organizational growth strategies
- 4 High-Level Strategy Projects like donor strategy, corporate sponsorships, event planning, major donor programs, large-scale campaigns, etc.
- 6 Operational Projects like creation of donor materials, feedback on existing materials/strategies, donor communications, large brochures/booklets/reports, database optimization, etc.
- 4 sets of Monthly Tasks like sets of one blogs, donor email, and social posts for each platform (average)
Best for organizations ready to scale revenue, elevate communications, and build a sophisticated fundraising program.
74% savings compared to hiring a Director of Development
That is $76,750 back in your organization — money that can go directly toward funding the research that matters.
Retainer clients receive first-round availability of our End-of-Year and Giving Tuesday packages before they open to the public.
Full Service Retainer FAQs
No. Starting Month 1, we begin executing on your most urgent projects at the same time as our intake process. You’ll receive real deliverables right away.
Meaningful momentum takes time. Six months allows us to learn your community, formalize your program, execute multiple high-impact projects, and set you up for long-term growth.
A fundraising consulting retainer is a monthly engagement in which a nonprofit hires an external fundraising expert or agency to provide ongoing strategy, execution, and donor communications support—without the cost and overhead of hiring full-time development staff. The Rare Impact consulting retainer includes weekly strategic counsel, done-for-you project execution, donor communications, major donor programs, and corporate sponsorship strategy.
Both. We adapt to what your team needs. Some organizations want full execution; others prefer collaborative coaching. Either way, the work gets done beautifully and on time.
This retainer is a great fit. The weekly sessions provide the strategic support and guidance that help you lead with confidence, and our team handles execution so you always have a partner in the work. You will feel like you have an entire development team and executive coach by your side.
Most clients transition to an ongoing advising retainer for continued strategic support. Others hire full-time development staff, which we can assist with as well. We offer discounted rates for organizations that sign up for a full year of support.
Yes, and that is by design. The overall retainer structure stays consistent, but the specific deliverables flex based on what your organization needs that month — whether that is a campaign, a board report, a major donor deck, or something else entirely.
Rare Impact Agency's full-service fundraising consulting retainer is $4,500 per month for a six-month commitment, totaling $27,000. This is significantly less than hiring a Director of Development, which costs an estimated $103,750 over six months when salary, benefits, and recruiting are factored in — a savings of approximately 74%.
Client Testimonials
Shannon is incredibly knowledgeable, organized, and professional. Her team makes fundraising feel easy! She gives me complete confidence that we have a professional plan in place, so I can focus on the critical work of developing treatments for FRND. She truly understands the heart of our mission and is a joy to work with.
Our longstanding collaboration with Shannon on Urea Cycle Disorders projects has built a strong foundation for partnership. When she founded Rare Impact Agency, we immediately recognized its value for our foundation. Her rare disease expertise and trusted relationships enabled us to launch initiatives without delay. Shannon’s strategic insight and compassion were pivotal to our campaigns.
Ready to Kickstart a New Era of Donor Engagement?
Let's talk about your goals and build a plan that gets you there. Schedule a free Discovery Call with Shannon and the Rare Impact team today.
