I SEE YOU

If you're here, there's a good chance something feels off in your fundraising.
  • It's falling to one or two people
  • Your board wants to help, but doesn't know how
  • You have goals, but no shared plan to reach them
  • Results feel inconsistent, even with real effort
I've worked inside organizations like this. Good people. Strong mission. A lot of effort. But no clear structure holding it all together.

You're not alone in this. 72% of nonprofits say getting board members to actively participate in fundraising is their biggest board challenge. The problem isn't your board. It's that most organizations were never given a system that makes participation possible.

This isn't a motivation problem. It's a structure problem.

That's where I'm Jessica Cloud, CFRE, and it's exactly what I built Real Deal Fundraising to solve.

HOW I HELP​

​I don’t step in to “do fundraising” for you. I work with leadership and boards to build the systems that make fundraising work across your organization.
That means:
  • Clear roles and expectations across board and staff
  • Strategy grounded in real capacity
  • Shared ownership of fundraising
  • Systems that support consistent action
When those pieces are in place, fundraising becomes more predictable, more manageable, and far less dependent on any one person.​

​Who I Work With

  • Nonprofit organizations that need strategic support, hands-on help, or expert training
  • Higher education & academic leaders navigating advancement, alumni, and donor politics
  • Faith-based organizations and progressive spiritual communities/congregations whose missions center justice, inclusion, and compassion
  • Small shops and solo fundraisers looking to grow without reinventing the wheel

HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER

These examples show how I typically structure my work. Each engagement is designed to create the clarity, alignment, and momentum your organization can sustain. This is a structured, collaborative process designed to create clarity quickly and build momentum that lasts. 

Board Fundraising Effectiveness AudiT

A clear picture of what’s working, what’s not, and what’s getting in the way.

We look at how your board and staff are currently showing up in fundraising and identify the gaps that are limiting progress.
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You walk away with:
  • Clear insights into strengths and challenges
  • Alignment around what needs to change
  • A focused path forward

Fundraising Mobilization PlaN

Alignment around your goals and a practical strategy to reach them.

This is where your board and staff come together to build a shared approach to fundraising that actually works in real life.
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You walk away with:
  • Clear fundraising goals and roles
  • A plan for the next 12–18 months
  • A 90-day action plan to build immediate momentum

Ongoing Implementation SupporT

Support, accountability, and guidance as you put your plan into action.

You don’t have to carry this alone.
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You get:
  • Ongoing strategy support
  • A consistent place to think through decisions
  • Accountability to keep the work moving forward

Not Sure Where to Start?

If your board cares but isn't fully engaged, your development capacity is stretched thin, and you're tired of activity that doesn't add up to results, this work was built for you. Organizations that get the most out of this process are ready for more structure, not just more effort. They want fundraising to be a shared responsibility across leadership, not something that falls to one or two people.
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If that sounds familiar, the Engagement Guide is a good first step. It walks through my approach, what a typical engagement looks like, and what it's like to work together.

Let’s start with a conversation

We’ll talk through where you are, what’s working, and what’s getting in the way. From there, we can decide if this is the right next step for your organization. Use the form below or schedule a phone or Zoom call via my Calendly.

​Prefer email? Reach me directly at [email protected]

Keep Learning While You Decide

 My blog and newsletter are where I share what's actually working in nonprofit fundraising. No recycled tips. Just honest, practical insights from years of working inside organizations like yours. It's free. It's useful. And it'll be here when you're ready for more.