Build The Fundraising System That Guarantees Financial Sustainability

Welcome!

You now have access to the system that’s helped grassroots leaders and first-time founders raise millions, without burnout, begging, or guesswork.

This is the exact framework I’ve used to help mission-driven organizations go from survival mode to sustainable, six-figure funding without relying on luck or chasing every new trend.

I created this because too many founders are exhausted, carrying the full weight of the mission alone, stuck in cycles of scarcity with no clear path to financial sustainability.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact process I developed after years of testing, failing, and finally figuring out how to build a fundraising system that actually works, even if you’re not a “natural” fundraiser.

But first, let’s talk about why the real problem isn’t money, it’s the lack of a system.

The Real Problem

Most nonprofit founders think their biggest problem is a lack of money.

But that’s just the surface. What most are really facing is a lack of system and no clarity about what to build to attract consistent funding.

In organizations without a fundraising system, you find that the founder or leadership is always chasing donations instead of focusing on the big vision, chasing consultants instead of building internal capacity, hoping for a big break instead of creating the results they desire, and jumping from one fundraising strategy to the next instead of focusing on consistency. They hold beliefs that limit them instead of intentionally doing the work that creates results. They chase trends like virality instead of building structures that deliver more. They don't know what to do to raise money daily and try every new, flashy trend. They do not have a professional fundraiser on their board to advise them.

Alternatively, when you look at organizations with fundraising systems, you find that everything is in its proper structure. Leaders know how they contribute to the mission. They understand their role is that of a builder and not a chaser. They have good organizational structures that deliver the results they seek. They have a fundraising team that executes fundraising daily. They are ready for funding as a result of building their structures. They know exactly what to do to raise money daily, and everyone in the organization knows how they contribute to fundraising. They have a resource development plan that guides their fundraising. They know who their ideal funding audience is and go after them consistently. They have all their fundraising materials and tools available for their fundraising team and everyone in the organization to execute with, and they hold the fundraising team accountable.

What's holding you back

Most founders and leaders know the importance of building an internal fundraising system.

The challenge for most founders is that they think they need to become fundraising experts to build such systems or know everything about fundraising. As you will soon learn, you don't need to know everything—you just need to understand the process. Others think they need some quick wins before they go on to build a system, leading them into a cycle of chasing instead of building the very system that will give them the quick win. Some others feel their organization is too small to build a fundraising system, without knowing that regardless of your organization's size, every organization needs a fundraising system, and there is a system that fits your size.

Lastly, they think they need a flashy consultant to be able to build a system, a way of thinking most consultants don't care about since they are so focused on executing the proven fundraising process they know to get quick wins for the organization instead of building internal capacity, leading them into a cycle of dependency.

One of these thinking patterns may be holding you back, and it's time to break free if you are ever going to build financial sustainability for your mission. No one is coming to save you, and you don't need to know it all or have it all to build a fundraising system. You don't even need to spend so much or even spend at all to build a system at your startup level; you just need to understand the process, have access to the right tools, and begin to execute like the leader you are supposed to be.

How I overcame

When I started my nonprofit over a decade ago, I was self-funding everything. I believed in the mission deeply, but raising money felt like an uphill battle. I tried writing grants, doing events, and asking around but nothing seemed to work. And to make it worse, my board didn’t make things any easier. They believed in the cause but didn’t know how to help… and honestly, I didn’t know how to lead them either.

Eventually, I hit a wall. I was burnt out, broke, and almost gave up.

That’s when I realized I didn’t just need more money, I needed a system.

So I went all in. I learned how to organize my board, build a real fundraising strategy, and create a system that didn’t rely on luck or desperation. And once it started working for me, I couldn’t keep it to myself.

I began helping other nonprofit founders for free, just sharing what I’d learned. In 2019, I stepped fully into consulting, first as a solo advisor helping grassroots and national nonprofits raise money across the country.

Soon after, I joined a full-service nonprofit consulting firm, where I worked alongside seasoned consultants with 30+ years of experience. That’s where I sharpened and refined my process and system, which I now teach.

Early this year, I made a bold decision: to step away from traditional consulting and return to what I believe is my true purpose, equipping founders like you with the confidence, frameworks, tools, and systems to build a fully funded mission.

That’s why I launched Nonprofit Board Builders, LLC, a brand built specifically to serve visionary founders through practical tools, personalized strategies, and proven systems that have helped me raise over $5m since starting. I’ve been where you are, and I’m here to make sure you don’t stay stuck.

This System Changed Everything…

"I highly recommend Nonprofit Board Builder, LLC. I've had the pleasure of working with Rooney twice for consulting and fundraising, and he is top-notch. He is professional, reliable, and truly go above and beyond to meet nonprofits needs. Whether you're looking for nonprofit consulting or nonprofit fundraising, you can't go wrong with Rooney. "
--Martina Jones, Bless it solutions, south carolina

So, what does a real fundraising system actually look like in practice? It comes down to six foundational steps that, when implemented correctly, create consistent, predictable funding, no matter your size.

Well, there are six steps to do so.

1. Organizing your board: A successful fundraising process starts with organizing your board. It is the board's responsibility to ensure your organization is properly funded. Plus, a strong board signals confidence to funders, and their support and access to their network can make the difference between your success and failure. So your board needs to be eager and ready to execute with you. You may also need to recruit a fundraiser to join your board, not because they need to help you with day-to-day fundraising, but because they can lead your fundraising team for free and provide valuable advice and guidance as you execute. Your board will also help you build out other aspects of your organization that help it become funding-ready. You can't and shouldn't do this alone, as it is the recipe for frustration and isolation. If your board is in disarray, I would advise you to step back and build your board. You can learn more about how to do so here:

2. Identify your ideal funding audience: For your fundraising to be successful, it must be donor-centric and not strategy-centric. This is why you must begin by identifying your ideal prospects so you can build your entire strategy around raising money from them, not the other way around, where founders identify a flashy strategy and begin finding prospects they can execute it on. So who is your ideal funding audience? These are the people with the highest motivation or natural inclination to give to your nonprofit. They are the people who need to see your organization succeed. It may sound like these are the people you serve, but that's not always the case. These are usually the people who sleep well or benefit because you serve the people or community you serve. Your goal should be to identify them in their numbers and build a list of these people. There are strategies to do this, and we will be happy to teach you.

3. Building your resource development plan: Your resource development plan is simply the step-by-step process to raise money and resources from your ideal funding audience. It includes your fundraising goal, your plan of care for your audience, a timeline, the people you need to execute, the materials you need to execute, and a budget outlining the cost of your execution. It is that simple. The challenge for many is in creating the plan of care, as it involves listing out a step-by-step process that moves an ideal donor from a prospect into a recurring donor. That, we can teach you how to do or help you with. Having your board members join you in the planning process can help you fund the resource development plan if you are starting from scratch. They can give to initiate the plan and reach out to their network to raise money if you provide them with the scripts to do so. This is one reason you need your board to be in order to launch a successful fundraising system.

4. Building and equipping your fundraising team: Now that you know the people and materials you need to execute from your resource development plan, this is the part where you go recruit them and equip them with the materials and tools they need to execute. Different strategies require a different type of team and materials, so knowing who to bring in and what materials to create is very important for your success. Now, many founders would say, "But I don't have money to recruit anyone." Well, that's why you have volunteers. You can start with volunteers, upgrade to contractors, and then to part-time staff and then to full-time staff as you begin to raise more money. There are loads of platforms to find volunteers if you know the skills you are looking for.

5. Fundraising execution: With your team in place and well-equipped, it's time to launch your plan of care in your resource development plan. Your plan of care and execution must follow the relationship-building framework. This is because people only give to people they know, like, and trust. For this reason, your fundraising execution must start by initiating relationships, then nurturing those relationships before making the ask. This way, you increase your chances of raising money from every donor by as much as 70% and your retention rate to as much as 60%, instead of when you reach out with your hands out, which drastically reduces your chances (usually less than 10%). Also, following up with those who didn't give and stewarding those who give are an important part of your execution.

6. Automating your fundraising and building a culture of philanthropy: Since your fundraising execution is now in process, you must find ways to automate the process so you are spending less effort using technology. This could include automating your email campaigns that nurture your prospects, automating your outreach through ads, etc. You also want to build a culture of philanthropy in your organization by ensuring everyone contributes to the fundraising success of the organization, holding your fundraising team and everyone accountable by putting accountability processes in place, leading from the front to provide exemplary leadership, etc. With step six, you can ensure the sustainability of your fundraising system so you can focus on the big picture of achieving the mission of your organization.

Now you know how to build a fundraising system for your organization. It's not as difficult as you have been thinking, but it's important to get each step of the process right if you want to create success.

This is why we teach founders how to create and execute the system and also work with founders to create and execute the system if we have to.

And yes! It Works for Startups and Grassroots Leaders Too.

"Rooney and The Nonprofit Board Builder Team really knows their stuff. They helped my board rethink how we fundraise and even changed how we value ourselves and our services. They provide quick and well-thought-out fundraising plans that are easy to follow, giving us the tools and confidence to implement. Highly recommend!"
- Laura Anthony, Zero Waste San Diego

If you are ready to take that first step, to move from chasing donors to building a system that attracts them, we will be happy to help you.

Now That You’ve Got the Guide, Here’s What Comes Next If You’re Ready to Execute

Getting clear on the system is only the beginning. Execution is where the real transformation happens.

If you’re ready to put what you’ve learned into action and start building a predictable fundraising system that funds your programs consistently, you need to execute The Full Fundraising Systems Framework. This Includes:

1. Transforming your board from a passive group into an active, fundraising-aligned leadership team that is fully committed to funding your mission.
2. Moving beyond generic prospecting and strategically identifying a targeted list of ideal funders and donors who are naturally aligned with your mission.
3. Building a clear, actionable resource development roadmap for your fundraising, giving your entire team a shared vision and a specific, predictable plan to follow.
4. Assembling a capable and confident fundraising team and equipping them with the right tools, roles, and resources to execute your plan and bring in results.
5. Launching your fundraising efforts with the relationship-building framework that moves you from chasing donations to cultivating genuine connections that lead to long-term financial support.
6. Embedding a culture of giving across your organization and setting up smart systems that automate key processes, ensuring your fundraising engine continues to run and grow sustainably.

If you are worried or skeptical about how to execute the process, here is how we can help you.

Book a Fundraising Execution Training Session – $397

In this training session, I’ll show you exactly how to implement this full fundraising system in your organization. You’ll walk away with:

• A personalized execution roadmap tailored to your org’s unique goals and challenges
• A step-by-step guide you can follow to implement each part of the system with confidence
• All the templates, scripts, and tools you need to start right away
• Follow-up access to ask questions as you execute

This is perfect if you're serious about getting results and want clarity, tools, and expert guidance from someone who’s done it before.

Alternatively, you can get The DIY Fundraising Systems Execution Toolkit for only $99. This is your all-in-one fundraising launch system. You’ll get everything you need to build and execute your own funding engine, including:

• Instructions to guide your execution
• Tools to organize your board and align them for fundraising
• Customizable donor research and ideal funder targeting templates
• Sample resource development plans, team roles, execution maps
• Scripts, pitch templates, stewardship workflows, board giving trackers
• Relationship mapping tools, donor experience plans, and more

This is for the founder who prefers to implement on their own schedule.