How is this different from hiring a full-time Chief of Staff or COO?
I serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Director while complementing your existing team, I don’t replace them. Your functional leaders (program director, development director, etc.) continue to own their areas. I coordinate across them, drive strategic initiatives, manage your executive’s priorities and key projects, and handle the operational work that doesn’t fit neatly into anyone’s job.
Think of me as both the strategic thought partner to leadership and the organizational glue that makes execution happen.
How do you work with the Executives and existing leadership?
To hire a full-time Chief of Staff or COO with my experience would require $200K-$250K+ in salary alone, plus benefits, equity, and the commitment of a permanent hire. A fractional engagement gives you senior strategic coordination and operational leadership at a fraction of the cost, with the flexibility to scale up or down as needs change.
You also get someone who’s seen dozens of organizations and can bring best practices from across sectors, rather than learning on your dime. Plus, you get both strategic partnership with leadership and operational infrastructure, two roles that often require separate hires.
What if we’re not sure we need this level of support?
Let’s start with an Organizational Architecture Sprint (6-8 week intensive engagement) to diagnose what’s needed and build some initial systems. If it becomes clear you need ongoing strategic and operational leadership, we can transition to a fractional model. If not, you’ve got a solid operational foundation, clearer priorities, and a path forward.
Do you work remotely or on-site?
Both. Most engagements are remote these days, with some days on-site for strategic meetings, leadership sessions, and face-time with the team. But there are still clients that prefer on-site presence for focused execution work like system design, project management, and operational troubleshooting. We’ll figure out the right mix based on your location, budget, and needs.
How long do engagements typically last?
Most fractional engagements run 6-12 months at higher intensity (2-3 days/week), then often continue at lower intensity (1 day/week) as your team builds capacity. Some become multi-year partnerships that flex with organizational needs, sometimes you need more strategic support during a major initiative, sometimes more operational focus during growth phases.
The goal is always to build your team’s capability so you eventually don’t need me, or you need me differently.
What is the investment?
Pricing depends on:
- Time commitment: 1 vs 3 days/week (8-24 hours)
- Organizational complexity and size
- Scope of responsibilities
- On-site vs remote mix
The typical monthly retainer is between $6000 – $15,000 a month
Why a retainer model? Because real operational leadership can’t be done project-by-project. I need to be embedded enough to understand your organization deeply, build relationships with your team, and make decisions in real-time. The retainer model allows for flexibility while ensuring I’m actually part of your leadership team.
What happens if it’s not working?
We include a 30-day mutual opt-out clause after the first 90 days. If the fit isn’t right, either of us can end the engagement with 30 days notice. That said, I do deep discovery before we start to make sure the fit is right, so this rarely happens.