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Fractional Management
Look, running small non-profit companies (budgets under $250,000) means you’re probably producing the work, designing the collateral, emailing donors, and still somehow figuring out how to run payroll, send tax receipts, or apply for funding.
That’s not why you got into this.
At $100K, $150K, even $250K you’ve got enough money to start doing things at a new level, but not enough to afford a full-time managing director. And truthfully? That’s not where your first dollars should go anyway.
Your first dollars should:
- Go toward making an impact.
- Then, toward reaching people with it.
- And then toward building a real connection with the folks in the community.
Everything else—the budgets, contracts, receipts, donor tracking, payroll, and policies can be handled by someone else.
Enter Fractional Management
“Fractional management is basically paying a little bit for someone who can do the work of a managing director in a quarter of the time—because they’re an expert.” — Josef Krebs
A fractional managing director works only the hours you actually need, (maybe two, maybe five, maybe ten a week) backed by the full resources of a seasoned consulting firm. You’re buying a piece of a total ace, not the whole (expensive) position.
That means you suddenly have on-call expertise to:
- Build donor tracking and acknowledgment systems
- Implement CRMs that actually work
- Create templates for fundraising, grant reporting, and staff hiring
- Draft internal policies and workflows (like venue rental or board onboarding)
- Set up accounts payable/receivable and run payroll
- Double-check your insurance
- Review your lease
- File state or local tax forms
- Prep clean financials for a funder
- Draft HR policies or handle compliance questions
All done correctly, efficiently, and without panic.
Why it pays for itself
- Donors are thanked, tracked, and retained (because your systems are built for it)
- Grant deadlines aren’t panic-inducing; they’re planned and prepped in advance
- You don’t leave money on the table because receipts or records are missing
- Board, donors, and artists gain confidence that the “messy business” is handled.
“We’ll help you grow, make sure everything is done right, and do it in a way that supports your work.” — Josef Krebs
It’s not just about saving time. Putting solid systems in place gives your organization the foundation it needs to grow. You stop scrambling, start catching opportunities, and eventually build the stability that makes it possible to hire real staff, raise real money, and do the work the way you’ve always wanted to.
We handle the systems so you can focus on what you do best. Because good work needs time, space, and stability to grow.
Let’s Keep Talking
On Friday July 25 @ 12pm PST, Riley Gene and Josef Krebs will be on Zoom talking all things fractional management. Bring your producing challenges and your favorite afternoon beverage and join us for an hour of community conversation and Q&A! This is a free event, but an RSVP is required. Please email riley@scandiuzzikrebs.com to RSVP.
For over a decade, I’ve been deeply embedded in arts leadership, guiding organizations through key periods of growth and transformation. My work has included everything from managing day-to-day operations of non-profit theatres to teaching the next generation of artists and fostering community engagement. I’ve overseen departments ranging from Finance and Development to Marketing and Patron Services, ensuring organizations align with their strategic goals as well as their core values. I love working with arts organizations because of the change they create. Whether it be analyzing old systems, identifying areas of improvement, or writing new procedures, I am passionate about streamlining operations and goals without losing sight of the company’s culture.