Monthly Retainer Services
Consistent support creates powerful progress.
A dedicated fundraising and communications team to accelerate impact.
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.
Each retainer is designed to meet you where you are and grow with you.
Compare
Retainer Plans
Volunteer-Run Foundations
Staff-Run Foundations
Large Foundations and Research Institutes
Focused, dependable support to keep critical fundraising and communications moving forward.
This task-focused retainer is ideal for volunteer-run organizations without staff who need trusted experts to step in, execute consistently, and reduce overwhelm. Let us handle your monthly blogs, emails, and social media while creating long-term strategies that help your springboard into the next bracket of growth.
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.
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.
Monthly Strategic Counsel Zoom Meetings
with advising on donor strategy, training on development best practices, and coaching on organizational growth strategies
2 meetings
4 meetings
8 meetings
# of High-Level Strategy Projects
like donor strategy, corporate sponsorships, event planning, major donor programs, large-scale campaigns, etc.
1 project
2 projects
4 projects
# of Operational Projects
like the creation of donor materials, feedback on existing materials/strategies, donor communications, large brochures/booklets/reports, database optimization, etc.
2 projects
4 projects
6 projects
# of Monthly Tasks
like sets of one blog, donor email, and social posts for each platform (average)
1 set
2 sets
4 sets
Perfect for foundations ready to build momentum with steady, professional support.
Ideal for organizations balancing day-to-day operations with ambitious fundraising goals.
Best for organizations ready to scale revenue, elevate communications, and build a sophisticated fundraising program.
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.
A True Extension of Your Team
No matter the level, every retainer includes thoughtful strategy, clear communication, and a team that deeply understands rare disease communities. We bring strategy, creativity, and structure to your fundraising, so donors feel connected and inspired to give.
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.
FAQs
A retainer gives you ongoing access to our fundraising and communications experts each month. Think of us as an extension of your team, providing strategy, execution, and steady momentum toward your goals.
Retainers are ideal for foundations that want consistent support rather than one-off projects. We work with volunteer-run organizations, staff-run foundations, and large institutes that need reliable, expert partnership to grow their fundraising and communications.
Retainers can include fundraising strategy, donor communications, appeals, social media content, design, stewardship, corporate sponsorship, blogs, grant writing, data management, board of director training and support, special projects, and more. Each month is guided by your priorities.
Every retainer includes direct time with CEO Shannon Bowen. Higher-level retainers include more hands-on strategic counsel to guide high-impact fundraising decisions, complex projects, and long-term growth.
Both. Some foundations want us to fully execute, others want collaboration and coaching. We adapt to what will best support your team and move your mission forward.
Yes, retainers are a minimum commitment of six months so we can build momentum, learn your community, and deliver meaningful results.
Ready to Create Momentum?
Let’s unlock steady progress and long-term growth. Schedule a free discovery call and we’ll build a retainer that supports your mission today and fuels your future.
