{"id":120695,"date":"2026-05-20T01:43:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T08:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog?p=120695"},"modified":"2026-05-20T01:43:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T08:43:13","slug":"tackling-the-nonprofit-development-staffing-dilemma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/donorbox.org\/nonprofit-blog\/tackling-the-nonprofit-development-staffing-dilemma","title":{"rendered":"Tackling the Nonprofit Development Staffing Dilemma"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nonprofits and the professionals who lead and raise funds on their behalf are under constant pressure to hit ever-higher goals.<\/p>\n

Conventional wisdom leads most organizations to address the gap by launching yet another new campaign or donor acquisition strategy, squeezing just a little more effort out of an already overburdened staff. It\u2019s no wonder that burnout is so prevalent in the industry.<\/p>\n

In this blog, I\u2019ll explore why \u201cmore effort\u201d or \u201cmore staff\u201d alone won\u2019t solve the development staffing dilemma, and how the right mix of people, skills, and systems creates a more sustainable path forward.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>The Pressure Behind the Staffing Dilemma<\/h2>\n

In the State of Nonprofits 2025<\/a> report, the Center for Effective Philanthropy reports that nearly 90% of more than 200 nonprofit leaders surveyed expressed concern about their own burnout, with a similar number worried about the impact of burnout on their staff.<\/p>\n

Some will consider \u201cstaffing up\u201d to take on some of the workload, yet according to the same survey, nearly two-thirds were \u201creporting difficulty filling vacancies and more than half noting insufficient funding to recruit, retain, and support their staff.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bottom line? Neither approach is a home run to sustainability.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Vicki<\/p>\n

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<\/a>Build the Right Team to Grow Your Fundraising<\/h2>\n

What a conundrum. You can\u2019t grow your development staff without growing your funding base, but you absolutely cannot cultivate long-term donor relationships without the right people and systems in place.<\/p>\n

You need the right fundraising software, a compelling case, and a promising field of prospective donors, and skilled team members who can segment your audience, cultivate major gifts, and manage stewardship.<\/p>\n

Staffing + technology = a successful, resilient fundraising program.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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<\/a>Start with the Three C\u2019s Framework<\/h2>\n

We are all too familiar with the nonprofit starvation cycle and its connection to the unicorn approach to hiring.<\/p>\n

\"Vicki<\/p>\n

Retain one director-level person to do all of this, and you will end up overpaying for administrative work or under-resourcing the work that needs to be done by a seasoned development professional with the expertise to close major gifts.<\/p>\n

Before placing that \u201cUnicorn Wanted\u201d job ad, take a step back and consider the Three C\u2019s: culture, capabilities, and capacity.<\/p>\n