How We Work Together
Boutique advisory
for philanthropists and the nonprofits they fund.
We offer two clear paths. The first is for funders and philanthropists building a thoughtful giving framework. The second is for nonprofits seeking senior development capacity without making a full-time hire. We keep our engagements limited, so each client receives the focus and care they deserve.
For Philanthropists
You have built wealth. Now build the framework that makes giving strategic.
A focused starting point for philanthropists who want clarity before committing to a longer program.
Clarity Session
A focused half-day session that produces a written giving framework document. The right starting point for philanthropists who want to think out loud, hear honest reflection from someone who has worked inside the sector, and leave with a clear sense of where to go next.
What is included
- ✦A focused half-day session with a senior advisor
- ✦A written giving framework summary
- ✦Honest reflection on where to focus next
- ✦A clear recommendation for whether the Founder Funder Program fits
Deliverable
A written giving framework summary capturing what we explored together: values, cause area direction, vehicle considerations, and a recommended next step. Delivered within a week of the session.
Engagement
By inquiry
Inquire for availability and scheduling.
Glaisman sends a custom proposal after a brief strategy call scoped to your goals and situation.
Build the giving framework that makes your philanthropy intentional.
Founder Funder Program
A six-session engagement over six weeks that walks philanthropists through the complete architecture of strategic giving. Values clarification, vehicle selection, grant strategy, vetting methodology, portfolio construction, and governance setup, delivered as a structured program, not as ad hoc advice.
What is included
- ✦Values clarification and cause area definition
- ✦Giving vehicle selection: DAF, foundation, LLC, fiscal sponsorship
- ✦Grant strategy and portfolio construction
- ✦Nonprofit vetting methodology and due diligence framework
- ✦Governance setup and decision-making structure
- ✦Session-by-session delivery with written follow-through
Deliverable
Full philanthropic framework: documented values and cause area strategy, giving vehicle recommendation and implementation roadmap, grant selection and vetting criteria, portfolio structure, and governance setup. Delivered across six sessions with written summaries at each stage.
Engagement
By inquiry
Six sessions over six weeks. Includes all written deliverables. Inquire to begin.
Glaisman sends a custom proposal after a brief strategy call scoped to your goals and situation.
Ongoing guidance for philanthropists with an established framework.
Annual Stewardship Retainer
Monthly retained advisory for philanthropists who have completed the Founder Funder Program or who have an existing giving program and want senior-level support to stay proactive, informed, and strategic. Glaisman monitors your portfolio, surfaces relevant sector intelligence, and is available for direct questions as they arise.
What is included
- ✦Proactive portfolio monitoring and check-ins
- ✦Sector intelligence relevant to your giving areas
- ✦Ongoing grant evaluation and vetting support
- ✦Quarterly review and forward planning sessions
- ✦Direct access for questions and emerging decisions
Deliverable
Monthly engagement with defined touchpoints, proactive portfolio monitoring, sector intelligence relevant to your cause areas, direct access between sessions for emerging questions, and quarterly reviews of portfolio performance and forward priorities.
Engagement
By inquiry
Minimum six month engagement. Inquire for a custom proposal.
Glaisman sends a custom proposal after a brief strategy call scoped to your goals and situation.
For Mission-Driven Nonprofits
Senior-level development support during growth, transition, or hiring gaps. Without the cost and timeline of a full-time hire.
What is actually getting in the way of your fundraising?
Nonprofit Readiness Review
A focused diagnostic engagement that gets at the real bottlenecks inside your development operation. We look at systems, processes, staffing, donor stewardship, and reporting. The right starting point for any organization considering a longer engagement with us.
What is included
- ✦Development systems and process review
- ✦Donor stewardship and pipeline health check
- ✦Reporting and grant compliance audit
- ✦Staffing and capacity gap analysis
Deliverable
Written assessment covering identified gaps, prioritized recommendations, and a practical action plan scoped to what your team can realistically carry. Designed as a shorter, focused engagement.
Engagement
By inquiry
A shorter, fixed-scope engagement. Inquire for scope and timing.
Glaisman sends a custom proposal after a brief strategy call scoped to your portfolio and goals.
Senior development experience, delivered through implementation.
Development Operations Build
A six-week, hands-on partnership for mid-sized nonprofits in growth, transition, or facing a hiring gap. We work alongside your team on fundraising systems, donor stewardship workflows, reporting and grant compliance, and CRM and donor database support. Senior development experience, delivered through implementation, and a partner who stays in it with you, every step of the way.
What is included
- ✦Fundraising systems and donor stewardship workflow
- ✦Reporting, grant compliance, and follow-through support
- ✦Development process design and documentation
- ✦CRM and donor database support
Deliverable
Structured engagement covering the specific priorities your team needs addressed: fundraising systems cleanup, donor stewardship workflow, reporting and compliance support, grant writing or proposal support, or development process design. Scope defined at project start.
Engagement
By inquiry
Six-week engagement, scope defined at project start. Inquire for a scoping conversation.
Glaisman sends a custom proposal after a brief strategy call scoped to your portfolio and goals.
Ongoing senior support during the season that needs it.
Senior Development Retainer
Monthly retained advisory for mission-driven organizations that need consistent senior-level development guidance without a full-time commitment. Glaisman provides ongoing strategic input, execution support, and direct access for questions across the full development function.
What is included
- ✦Ongoing development strategy and prioritization
- ✦Execution support for active fundraising work
- ✦Donor pipeline and portfolio guidance
- ✦Periodic performance review and forward planning
Deliverable
Monthly engagement with defined touchpoints, ongoing strategic guidance, execution support for active priorities, and direct access between sessions for emerging questions. Includes periodic review of fundraising performance and forward planning.
Engagement
By inquiry
Minimum three month engagement. Inquire for a custom proposal.
Glaisman sends a custom proposal after a brief strategy call scoped to your portfolio and goals.
Common questions
Who does Glaisman work with?
Two audiences. Philanthropists who have built wealth and want a real giving framework with values, vehicle, strategy, and vetting before the money moves. And mission-driven nonprofits that need stronger development operations, donor stewardship, reporting, or senior-level capacity during growth, transition, or hiring gaps.
What is the Founder Funder Program?
A six-session engagement for philanthropists who want to build their complete giving architecture. Values clarification, vehicle selection, grant strategy, vetting methodology, portfolio construction, and governance setup, delivered over six weeks with written deliverables at every stage.
I already have a DAF or foundation. Do I still need the Program?
Possibly not the full Program, but many philanthropists with existing vehicles still lack a coherent strategy, vetting approach, or portfolio structure. The Annual Stewardship Retainer may be the right fit, or a Clarity Session will help you decide.
What is the Nonprofit Readiness Review?
A focused diagnostic for nonprofits that gives you a clear picture of what is getting in the way of your development operation and what to fix first. Designed as a shorter engagement and typically the right first step before a longer one.
How is this different from hiring a development consultant?
Most consultants deliver strategy documents. Glaisman works at the intersection of strategy and execution, helping you diagnose what is actually not working, prioritize the right fixes, and support the work through implementation.
Can Glaisman help with Salesforce or CRM systems?
Yes. Donor database management, CRM setup and cleanup, and data workflow support are core parts of how Glaisman has operated inside organizations. This is one of the most commonly requested components of development operations engagements.
How many engagements does Glaisman take on at once?
We keep our engagements limited so each client receives the focus and care they deserve. This is intentional. Every client gets real attention, not a templated deliverable.
What if we only need help with one specific thing?
That is fine. Many engagements start narrow, a Program for a single philanthropist, a reporting cleanup for a nonprofit, a stewardship system build, and expand from there once the team sees what is possible. We scope to what you actually need.
Not sure where to start?
A free 30-minute strategy call is the fastest way to figure out what you actually need and whether Glaisman is the right fit.
Book a Free Strategy Call