Fractional staffing is getting lots of buzz as a tool to combat the current talent shortage, but that’s not its only upside. By bringing precise skill sets to bear exactly when and how they are needed, fractional staffing can be an efficient, affordable way for nonprofits to confront challenges threatening their existence or restricting their growth. In this article, I will share how nonprofits can employ fractional staffing to address obstacles and ignite momentum.

One of the most succinct explanations of fractional staffing I’ve seen comes from JJK Workplace: “Fractional employees are exceptionally qualified professionals who share their time and services among various companies.” When certain expertise is scarce or your budget makes a full- or part-time hire out of reach, engaging fractional staff provides an alternative. Forbes Councils members have written several excellent pieces on the subject, including “Rediscovering Fractional Leadership In Response To Crisis,” and “How To Increase Software Team Productivity With Staff Augmentation.”

The reasons fractional staffing is desirable in other sectors also apply to nonprofits. Most nonprofits are small, meaning full- and part-time hires across multiple areas are beyond their reach, yet they need diverse skill sets to thrive. Moreover, even the most talented, enthusiastic volunteers can lack the precise skill sets and bandwidth their organizations need, and fractional staffing can affordably supplement these gaps. As the CEO of an organization that helps with fractional staffing, I want to share some examples of how nonprofits are employing this model:

An environmental education nonprofit was struggling to expand its fundraising program, especially major individual gifts. A consultant had helped them develop a plan, but their small staff — an executive director and a program associate — was unable to carve out time to implement it.

Data tells a story.

United Way of Central Indiana has long collected and analyzed data to understand the needs of the community and inform its decisions and strategies.

The data paints a picture of who in our community is living in or near poverty, what their greatest barriers are — and how organizations across the region are working to address those challenges.

Now, United Way is making that data available to the public for the first time. Launched this month, the Impact United Dashboard is an interactive data tool that illustrates community need and the response of United Way’s partners in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, and Putnam counties.

“It’s our way of making sure that we are showing how we have been accountable to the community, to donors, to funders – to ensure we are lifting their impact but also (showing) how we’re trying to invest in communities where there are gaps in services,” said Denise Luster, United Way’s vice president of impact research and data analytics.

The dashboard provides snapshots of United Way and its partners’ work in key focus areas, including economic mobility, educational success, food, health, housing, and transportation. Users can explore the data by focus area, dig into the demographics of those served and filter the data by county.

It was 6 p.m. in Kenya when Stellamaris Mulaeh logged on to her computer. Even though her workday was over, she was joining a leadership development series being hosted live thousands of miles away in Indiana by IU Executive Education.

The time difference and distance didn’t matter to Mulaeh. She wanted to learn, to form connections with others around the world, and to become a better leader. 

Mulaeh works in the nonprofit sector in Kenya and admits that after the past two years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, she needed fresh ideas and inspiration.

“I needed to refill my jar as a leader so that I could be much more effective, much more deliberate in influencing change in the institutions and people I work with,” she said.

Susan Sears, who works for IU Health in Indianapolis, also needed a recharge. “I just felt kind of stuck, like I was traveling without a compass,” she said. 

The two were part of a group of global leaders enrolled in the Holistic Leadership Series offered by IU Executive Education and Consulus, a global innovation consultant group. They’re teaming up again to host the 2022 Holistic Leadership Series beginning Nov. 17. 

The program is based on a Consulus’ HERO holistic leadership model: 

Episode 24: Join Bryan Orander as he speaks with Lakshmi Hasanadka of Indiana Afterschool Network about the varied programming that is available outside school hours and the value it creates in learning, connecting families, and connecting communities.  Listen

Episode 25: Join Bryan Orander in this special edition of our podcast. Orander highlights lessons Charitable Advisors has learned from supporting 100 nonprofit CEO/ED transitions and searches. Few nonprofit boards have the capacity to take on a search without support in a tight labor market. Get insights on an affordable alternative to traditional, expensive executive search fees.  Listen

Lilly Endowment, Inc., has awarded ProAct Indy a $260,000 grant to strengthen and expand infrastructure for the Proactive Community Model. As part of the youth mentorship initiative, the organization works alongside business leaders, educators, and community partners. Learn more

The Indianapolis Foundation, in partnership with Cummins, Inc., and The City of Indianapolis, has launched the Neighborhood Empowerment Pathways. The three-year, $3 million partnership will help sustain smaller grassroots nonprofits that work closely with the communities that they serve. Read more

Hamilton County Community Foundation, an affiliate of Central Indiana Community Foundation, has approved more than $180,000 in grants and investments for not-for-profits, projects and initiatives that focus on mental health, family and youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth in Hamilton County. See recipients

Indiana Arts Commission is accepting applications for the 2023 On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program. On-Ramp is a program for artists and creative entrepreneurs seeking training and resources around establishing or supporting an arts-based business in Indiana. Apply by Jan. 6

Marion County Commission on Youth is seeking to elevate the voices of youth, youth service professionals, and Hoosier community members to create change in Indiana. To better meet that goal, it is requesting that Hoosiers fill out a survey about public education in Indiana. Take the survey

Growing the donor pyramid webinar on Nov. 4 at noon. Join this 30-minute presentation that provides tips for growing mid-level donor support. The session also includes a Q&A. Presented by Johnson, Grossnickle & Associates. Cost: Free. Register

Find existing sources webinar on Nov. 4 from 9:30-11 a.m. Learn the strengths, weaknesses, and costs of readily available data sets, including SAVI, so you have the information you need to locate the data that’s right for you. Presented by SAVI Data Literacy. Cost: Free. Register

Virtual onboarding strategies webinar on Nov. 8 from noon-1 p.m. Whether your nonprofit has recently turned remote or has operated remotely for years, learn effective ways to upgrade your virtual onboarding process. Presented by Purple Ink LLC. Cost: Free. Register

Economic forecast for 2023 webinar on Nov. 9 at 10 a.m.-12:20 p.m. Join a discussion about the latest insights about when inflation will level off, projections about interest rates in 2023, and what experts are saying about the the prospects of another Great Depression. Presented by Barnes Dennig. Cost: Free. Register

Activating board committees webinar on Nov. 10 from 10-11:30 a.m. Learn how to maximize the productivity of board committees through leading practices for effective committee functionality and leadership. Presented by Hedges. Cost: $90 for two people from the same nonprofit. Deadline Nov. 8. Register

Disability education series II: Building allyship through action webinar on Nov. 11 from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Learn how to be stronger allies to the disability community by exploring topics such as the power of language, the impact of our actions, and enabling vs. empowering. Presented by McCoy. Cost: $5. Register

NeighborLink is seeking volunteers to help with its 2022 Fall Repair Fest: Leaf Your Home Repairs to Us on Oct. 29 at 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. for multiple outdoor projects in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. Register

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Program Manager - Junior Achievement of Central Indiana

Executive Director - Paws and Think, Inc.

Job Seekers, what do you think of Charitable Advisors’ new job board? We moved our job board to HiringOpps in late April. Now, we are anxious to find out how the new system is working as a job seeker. If you have applied for a job using the new system, could you please take 2-minutes to let us know how it is going?