Capacity Building​

Discover your full fundraising potential. 

Build a development program that scales with your mission. 

Get a clear, prioritized plan to raise more money. 

"A key recommendation was the need to expand the team, and after investing in individual giving staff, our individual giving grew over 24% this past year, which is far more than we had anticipated."
Feeding San Diego
Ali ColbranSenior Director of Development, Feeding San Diego
"It's just nice to know that there's other people that have their hands on the steering wheel. That, for me, has been the biggest gift, that I can go do the other thing that I need to do and know that this work is still moving forward."
The Epilepsy Foundation
Bernice Martin LeeCEO, Epilepsy Foundation of America
"You didn’t say you all need to build the Empire State Building by tomorrow afternoon. You said, try these things. That is what I think out of all the things that Benefactor Group does that I appreciate the most. You started where we are, and you’re helping us go forward, and I’m grateful.”
National Museum of Wildlife Art
Lindy SayersBoard Member, National Museum of Wildlife Art
"We've never strongly been able to make the shift from how can we communicate with individuals across the community who are contributing their clothing items to shifting them to being financial contributors to the organization. That has been a huge piece of the work that Benefactor and Summers Hammel has been helping us with."
Dress for Success Columbus
Habiba BankstonExecutive Director, Dress for Success Columbus

Nonprofit Capacity Building Solutions​

Development Assessment

Get an honest, comprehensive look at your program's current state—revenue, staffing, systems, and culture—to see where you stand.

Philanthropic Growth Plan

Walk away with a clear, prioritized roadmap for what to do next, backed by data on your organization's full fundraising potential.

Internal Readiness Assessment

Understand how prepared your people, processes, and technology are to support ambitious fundraising, with a clear path to close any gaps.

Interim Development Support

Keep your development program moving forward with experienced interim leadership while you search for your next permanent hire.

Revenue Analysis

See exactly where your fundraising revenue comes from today, so you can identify what's working and where the real opportunity lies.

Annual Giving Plan

Build a stronger annual giving program with a clear strategy for growing consistent, sustainable, year-over-year donor support.

Our Process for Bolstering Fundraising Programs​

PHASE I:
Discovery and Alignment
  • Materials Review
  • Internal Assessment and Staff Interviews
  • Philanthropic Case Statement
  • Board Focus Group(s) and Survey
  • External Interviews and Survey
  • Revenue Analysis
  • Findings Presentation
PHASE II:
Philanthropic Potential
  • Donor Screening and Capacity Assessment
  • Prospect Identification
  • Peer Case Studies
  • Institutional Giving Analysis
  • Benefactor Group Team Analysis
  • Strategy Development Workshop
PHASE III:
Philanthropic Growth Plan
  • Philanthropic Growth Plan and Infrastructure Recommendations
  • Revenue and Staffing Model
  • Three-Year Revenue Model
  • Timeline
  • Presentation(s)
  • Plan Transition Meetings and Implementation Support
ONGOING:
Project Management, Coaching, and Support
capacity building icon

Successful fundraising isn’t guesswork. You deserve a clear, prioritized, right-sized development plan built on real data about your organization’s true fundraising potential, one that shows exactly where you stand and where you’re capable of going. 

But capacity building doesn’t stop at a plan. You’ll build the right team, with clear roles, training, and structure designed to support ambitious fundraising. If you need extra support along the way, you’ll have experienced interim leadership to keep your program moving without missing a beat. And as your team grows into the plan, you’ll have ongoing coaching and training to help your program perform at its full potential, not just on paper, but in practice. 

The result is a development program and culture built to raise more money, sustainably, for years to come, with the team, systems, and support to get you there. 

Let's Connect

At Benefactor Group, our team of experts is ready to help you build the fundraising program your mission deserves. Contact us below to learn how you can strengthen your capacity to raise more. 

GET STARTED

Our Nonprofit Capacity Building Experts​

Summers Hammel

Summers Hammel, CFRE

Senior Consultant

Summers is a trusted advisor to nonprofit leaders and governing boards, guiding organizations through complex fundraising initiatives, organizational development, and strategic growth. She leads the firm’s capacity-building practice, helping clients strengthen internal systems, leadership structures, and philanthropic strategies to support long-term sustainability and impact.  

Her work includes organization-wide fundraising assessments, campaign planning and execution for projects with seven- to ten-figure fundraising goals, and high-impact development strategies. 

Read more →

Susan Breckelmans

Susan Brekelmans, CFRE

Senior Consultant

A senior consultant, Susan works in partnership with clients to elevate their fundraising efforts and advance their missions. She leads development assessments for clients across the nonprofit sector: identifying organizations’ strengths, pinpointing opportunities for improvement, and mapping strategies to build relationships with donors and inspire philanthropic investment. Susan also contributes to campaign feasibility studies and provides campaign counsel and fundraising counsel. From small shops to big institutions, Susan seeks the best path forward for her clients.  

Read more →

Paul Yeghiayan, CFRE

Paul Yeghiayan, CFRE

Senior Consultant

Paul supports nonprofit clients in preparing for and running successful fundraising initiatives, and he leads the firm’s Endowment Product Line. His work includes planned giving and endowment building, campaign readiness, donor engagement, and strong execution. 

With more than 25 years of nonprofit management, fundraising, and consulting experience, Paul brings both consultant expertise and front-line leadership perspective. 

Read more →

Abby Shue

Abby Shue

Executive Vice President & Partner

Abby is an accomplished nonprofit executive and trusted advisor with nearly two decades of leadership in philanthropy, fundraising, and strategy. She brings a distinctive blend of first-hand executive experience and consulting expertise—having both led complex organizations and guided clients nationwide through transformational growth. Throughout her career, Abby has advanced mission-driven organizations across the arts and culture, health, human services, and education sectors—helping leaders navigate complexity, unlock philanthropic potential, and achieve lasting impact. 

Read more →

Key Insights on Capacity Building​

View all Insights →