Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa is a mission-driven nonprofit focused on creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that help young people reach their full potential.
When Stephanie Hartson became President & CEO, she faced a challenge common among nonprofit leaders: leading an organization she deeply believed in while stepping into a fundraising role she had never been formally trained to perform. Through Plus Delta's Discipline of Frontline Fundraising, she gained the confidence, structure, and tools needed to become a more effective fundraiser while building long-term fundraising capacity for the organization.
Helping a New CEO Build Fundraising Confidence and Capacity at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa
Accelerated CEO Fundraising
An experienced leader takes on fundraising with confidence and clarity
Strategy and Focus for Lean Resources
Elevated fundraising with limited staff capacity
Transformed Instincts into Skills
Existing strengths became a measurable fundraising approach
Strengthened Long-Term Capacity
Impact and momentum led to expanded partnership
The Challenge
When Stephanie Hartson became President & CEO, she brought more than a decade of organizational experience and a deep commitment to the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters. What she did not bring was a fundraising background.
At the same time, the organization was navigating a leadership transition following the retirement of a longtime CEO whose fundraising success had been built through years of community relationships. Hartson knew the organization needed to continue growing philanthropic support, but she also knew she needed a fundraising approach that fit her own leadership style and could be sustained over time.
The challenge was compounded by limited staff resources. The organization's development leadership position was vacant, leaving Hartson as the primary fundraiser while also managing the many responsibilities of leading a nonprofit organization. With only a portion of her time available for fundraising, she needed a process that would help her work more effectively and efficiently.
A board member who had previously experienced Plus Delta's work believed strongly enough in the potential return on investment to personally fund the organization's participation in the program.
The Work
Hartson participated in a virtual multi-client cohort through Plus Delta's Discipline of Frontline Fundraising program, an approach that made high-quality fundraising training accessible for a smaller nonprofit with limited resources.
Through coaching, peer learning, and practical fundraising tools, Hartson developed a disciplined framework for donor engagement that she could immediately apply to her work. Rather than relying on instinct or trial and error, she gained a clear process for identifying prospects, preparing for donor conversations, communicating impact, and moving relationships forward.
One of the most valuable aspects of the experience was learning how to tell the organization's story in a way that resonated with donors. While Hartson understood the life-changing impact of the organization's mentoring programs, Discipline of Frontline Fundraising helped her translate that knowledge into donor-centered language and compelling fundraising conversations.
The virtual cohort model also connected her with professionals from other nonprofits, healthcare organizations, and higher education institutions, providing valuable perspective and peer support throughout the experience.
Impact
The engagement helped transform fundraising from an intimidating responsibility into a manageable and repeatable leadership function.
Armed with a clear process and greater confidence, Hartson was able to secure meetings with key board members and top donor prospects she had previously struggled to engage. Rather than wondering what to do next, she had a framework that guided donor relationships and helped her maximize the limited time she could devote to fundraising. The process created greater efficiency within a small fundraising operation and provided a structure for donor engagement that could grow alongside the organization.
The organization also found significant value in the multi-client cohort model. In addition to gaining practical fundraising skills, Hartson benefited from learning alongside professionals from higher education, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations, gaining new perspectives and expanding her professional network.
Perhaps the strongest indicator of the program's impact came when the organization hired a new Development Officer. Recognizing the value of the shared language, process, and discipline she had gained through the program, Hartson immediately enrolled the new fundraiser in Discipline of Frontline Fundraising. What began as an investment in one leader evolved into a foundation for building long-term fundraising capacity across the organization.