Authentic Fundraising Accelerator

September–December 2026 • Four-Month Cohort • Limited to 3–5 Organizations

Join us this fall to build a fundraising roadmap that's as strategic as it is values-aligned.

This cohort experience for small and emerging nonprofits combines consulting, coaching, templates, accountability, and peer learning so your organization can raise more money with greater confidence — now and for years to come.

Why An Accelerator?

After two decades working in fundraising, one truth has become impossible to ignore:

The organizations that stand to benefit most from experienced fundraising consulting are often the ones least able to access it.

Yet I've seen firsthand how investing in fundraising at the right time can change the trajectory of an organization for years – even decades – to come. 

My hope is simple…

To make high-quality, strategic fundraising support accessible to small nonprofits – and to help leaders discover an approach to fundraising that feels deeply authentic: grounded in their mission, aligned with their values, and true to who they are.

Because when fundraising feels authentic, it becomes more sustainable – for the people doing it, the donors supporting it, and the mission it's meant to advance.

Over the span of four months, I’ll guide you through a structured experience that combines practical training, individualized consulting, and the wisdom of a small peer cohort. On a weekly basis, we'll build – and begin implementing – a fundraising roadmap designed specifically for your organization, and we’ll set up your 2026 year-end campaign for success. 

I hope you’ll consider joining us because you shouldn't have to figure it out alone. And because every donor relationship you nurture and every gift you inspire creates new possibilities for the communities you serve.

As a member of the accelerator, you’ll create – and begin to implement – a detailed, bespoke fundraising plan that is relational, actionable, and grounded in your values. One that:

  • Builds stronger, warmer relationships with board members, donors, and funders.

  • Gives you a concrete roadmap for fundraising decisions and priorities.

  • Establishes a clear cadence of activities and expected gifts across the year.

  • Offers planning, budgeting, and calendar templates you can update year after year.

  • Covers all key areas of fundraising, ranging from individual donors to institutional funders and from events and appeals to tools and systems.   

  • Allows you to sleep at night, knowing that you’ve thought through all the pieces with care, intentionality, and expert advice.

What We’ll Build Together

Practical Tools and a Roadmap

Rather than creating a plan that sits on a shelf, we'll build a practical roadmap for your organization while also identifying and – where it makes sense – creating the highest-leverage tools needed to bring that plan to life. Depending on your organization's needs and priorities, these may include:

A year-end campaign sequence

A major donor funding menu

A list of corporate sponsorship benefits

Institutional and individual donor prospect lists

A board menu for engagement in fundraising

Stewardship protocols

Some participants may be creating a tool for the first time, while others may be refining an existing strategy or putting it into practice.

How We’ll Work Together

  • We'll begin our four-month cohort in September as it offers perfect timing to prepare thoughtfully for year-end fundraising. Together, we'll develop your campaign strategy, timeline, theme, and messaging before peak fundraising season hits. Rather than scrambling through the fall, you'll enter year-end with a clear roadmap, practical tools, and the confidence that comes from having co-created your plan with an experienced fundraising consultant.

  • Before our first session, you'll complete a fundraising assessment and share a curated set of discovery documents. I'll review these materials in advance so that I understand your organization's mission, programs, and trajectory, as well as its current fundraising situation. Then in a 1:1 kick off meeting, we'll use that assessment to identify your highest priorities and co-create a SWOT analysis to ensure that the strategies we build are grounded in your organization's reality. 

  • Peer support has been game-changing for me throughout my own career. Having a front-row seat to others’ successes, struggles, and breakthroughs – and seeing how they applied concepts within organizations very different from my own – has expanded my thinking in ways that no textbook ever could. To support both meaningful peer connection and individualized attention, I’ll bring together a minimum of three and a maximum of five nonprofits with each nonprofit bringing 1-2 participants each.

  • I’ll host biweekly live training sessions which include practical instruction, examples from the field, templates, tools, and discussion. Each training directly corresponds to one section of your customized development plan, allowing you to steadily build a complete fundraising roadmap over the course of the program. Topics include board engagement, major donors, appeals and communications, stewardship, events and sponsorships, tools and systems, and grant seeking. Whether you're building your fundraising program from the ground up or refining a more established one, you'll leave each session with a clear next step tailored to your organization's current stage of development.

  • This is where your fundraising plan comes to life! In the weeks between training sessions, we'll come together to celebrate progress, work through challenges, and help one another keep moving forward. Each organization will have dedicated time to share what they've accomplished, receive thoughtful feedback, ask questions, and think strategically about their next steps. Whether you're wrestling with a board conversation, refining a major donor strategy, or deciding which opportunity deserves your attention first, you'll benefit from both expert guidance and the collective wisdom of your peers.

  • Fundraising is full of moments that don’t fit neatly into a plan. A major donor calls unexpectedly. A foundation releases an RFP with a tight deadline. A board member asks a difficult question. Or an appeal draft just doesn't feel quite right. Rather than guessing or having to wait for your next meeting with me, you'll have timely access to support when it matters most. 

    In addition to our 1:1 kick off meeting, each organization will have access to 60 minutes of 1:1 coaching and consulting support during the program. This time may be used in one 60-minute session or in two 30-minute sessions. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to ask questions, share challenges, and celebrate victories via a Slack or WhatsApp Group. This way, you can move forward with clarity and confidence when the unexpected crops up.

  • We’ll be off in the final two weeks of December. Then in January, we'll come back together to celebrate everything we've built together since our launch. We'll reflect on your year-end fundraising, share victories both large and small, and take stock of how far you've come – not only in dollars raised, but in confidence, clarity, and capacity.

    My hope is that you'll leave this final gathering with something much deeper than a completed fund development plan. You'll have stronger systems supporting your work, new relationships you can continue to lean on, and a renewed sense of possibility about what's achievable for your organization.

➡ Click here for a week-by-week overview of topics.

What You'll Carry Forward

Rather than wondering where your next gift will come from – or second-guessing your priorities – you'll come away from the Accelerator with a clear roadmap for the year ahead. One that is grounded in your organization's values, capacity, and goals.

You'll know where to focus your limited time and energy. You'll have stronger systems in place, greater ease in reaching out to donors and funders, and practical tools that save you dozens of hours of time.

Most importantly, you’ll have a way of approaching fundraising that feels sustainable.

Instead of carrying the weight of fundraising alone or constantly wondering if you’re focusing on the right things, you’ll be supported by a thoughtful plan, trusted peers, and the confidence that comes from knowing you've built a strong foundation for your organization's future.

The Accelerator May Be Ideal For You If…

  • You’re leading fundraising at a small or emerging nonprofit that has at least a few years of programming and fundraising under its belt.

  • Perhaps you’re an Executive Director or a Development Director or Manager. You may even be a Board Member or a staff member with program responsibilities.

  • Your organization is ready to become more intentional about fundraising rather than simply reacting to immediate needs.

  • You've outgrown "figuring it out as you go" and are looking for a clear, strategic roadmap.

  • You want to strengthen your fundraising systems while staying true to your mission and values.

  • You appreciate learning alongside thoughtful peers navigating similar challenges.

  • You're willing to set aside dedicated time (3-4 hours a week) to build something that will benefit your organization for years to come.

  • You believe that fundraising could be relational, joyful, and deeply aligned with your mission – even if it doesn't feel that way today.

The Value of Your Investment

This is much more than a course or a collection of templates. It's an opportunity to partner closely with an experienced consultant and a small community of peers as you build something your organization can rely on for years to come. 

Over the course of the Accelerator, you'll be supported through a carefully designed blend of strategy, coaching, accountability and practical tools, including: 

  • A comprehensive fundraising assessment and discovery document review

  • A customized SWOT analysis and strategic recommendations, delivered 1:1

  • Seven live training sessions (75 minutes each)

  • Seven Momentum and Strategy Sessions (60 minutes each) 

  • Up to one hour of live 1:1 consulting and coaching support with Vanessa 

  • A library of practical templates, examples, and planning tools developed over two decades of fundraising consulting

  • Personalized feedback on your fundraising plan and implementation

  • Access to a private Slack or WhatsApp community between sessions

  • A customized fund development plan designed specifically for your organization

  • A January capstone session to reflect and celebrate. 

Why I Created This Model

As you likely know, engaging a fundraising consultant to assess your organization, develop a customized fund development plan, and provide implementation support often represents an investment of tens of thousands of dollars. 

For a point of reference, two grassroots organizations I partnered with in 2025 invested approximately $25,000 each over the course of 6-12 months to do this work with me 1:1. Each had an annual operating budget of roughly $250,000 and now has a clear fundraising roadmap and the systems to support sustainable growth for years to come.

The irony, of course, is that the organizations who stand to benefit most from this kind of strategic support are often the very ones least able to afford it. Yet those early investments in fundraising can change the trajectory of an organization for decades.

Creating the Accelerator is my attempt to bridge that gap. By combining the best parts of one-on-one consulting with the wisdom, accountability, and encouragement of a small cohort, I'm able to offer a level of individualized support that would otherwise be out of reach for many organizations.

Because this is the inaugural Founding Cohort, I'm also intentionally offering it at a reduced investment. It's an opportunity to receive this deep level of support while helping shape what will become a flagship offering for small and emerging nonprofits. 

Founding Cohort Investment:    

  • $5,500 when paid in full

  • Or four monthly payments of $1,450 ($5,800 total)

Let's Explore Your Goals!

Book An Exploratory Conversation

If this offering resonates, I'd love to explore whether the Accelerator could be a good fit. You may book 45 minutes here on my Calendly. 

This will be a chance to discuss your fundraising goals, the challenges you're navigating, and whether this program is the right next step for your organization. 

If you’d like to ask any questions before booking, you’re welcome to email me at vanessa@bravelyaligned.com. I look forward to learning more about your organization and exploring what's possible together!

Vanessa Baker Rodriguez is a fund development consultant, leadership coach, and founder of Bravely Aligned, a practice that helps nonprofit leaders fundraise and lead with courageous authenticity. She brings two decades of experience in fundraising and leadership, combined with an approach that centers humanity alongside the practical outcomes that matter.

Vanessa began her fundraising career at youth development and outdoor education nonprofits like the YMCA of San Francisco and Outward Bound California, where she grew a one-woman development shop into a four-person team, raising $1.4M annually and launching a $15M capital campaign. She also served as Fundraising Chair then Board Chair of a grassroots nonprofit teaching empowerment-based self-defense.

Vanessa loves facilitating workshops, group programs, and 1:1 engagements that help leaders grow their impact and align their fundraising with values like belonging, joy, and trust. Her work is grounded in the belief that fundraising can be an act of love – and that when leaders ground themselves in their purpose and their values, they create the kind of connections that inspire and sustain generosity. 

In terms of credentials, Vanessa holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from University of San Francisco. She is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and is certified as a coach by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Vanessa is committed to her ongoing learning and professional development and to following the codes of ethics established by both AFP and ICF. 

Vanessa lives in San Francisco’s East Bay with her husband and two plucky daughters, who are currently 3 and 5. When she’s not working, you can find her writing poems, making chocolate chip pancakes, or camping on Mount Diablo.

About Vanessa & Bravely Aligned

Praise from Fellow Fundraisers

  • “Vanessa’s programs are unique spaces. They’re great opportunities to be in a room with other fundraisers where you can show up as you are, reflect on your successes and challenges, and get thoughtful feedback on the nuts and bolts of your work. 

    The structure is grounding, the community is warm, and Vanessa's feedback is incredibly helpful – both when it’s for your own project and when you're listening to the feedback for others. What a gift to have these supportive groups.” 

    - Calliope Desenberg, Development Director, Urban Adamah

  • “Vanessa gave me the frameworks, tools, and encouragement I needed to not only figure out fundraising, but actually grow to love it. Through our sessions, I found the courage to reach out to major donors and I discovered how joyful and validating these conversations could be.

    I’m glad to say that fundraising no longer feels like a monumental, solitary effort or a code that I have to break. In fact, I’ve discovered a virtuous cycle where my connection with donors fuels me.”

    - George Marschall, Development Officer, Golden Gate Bird Alliance

  • "I needed support in a very practical, strategic development sense – for example, creating our development plan – but I also needed the coaching support. The marriage of those two that Vanessa offered was really critical for me. 

    The biggest thing I learned in working with her was that fundraising isn't what I thought it was. I came away with a completely new vision of what fundraising is and that has been transformative for me."

    - Malcolm Dydo, Executive Director, Freedom Within Project