For animal welfare organizations ready to launch a focused fundraising campaign but without the in-house capacity to write, build, and execute it. A campaign is more than a donation button and a few emails. We handle the full picture: the story, the strategy, the donor-facing copy, and the donation page setup so your team can focus on relationships while we build the infrastructure behind them.
Includes: Campaign strategy and goal-setting, a case for support tailored to the campaign, optimized FundraiseUp donation page setup, full email solicitation sequence (acquisition, cultivation, and conversion), Giving Tuesday or year-end cluster if applicable, and a post-campaign debrief with recommendations.
Timeline: 6 to 8 weeks
Investment: $5,500 CAD (or 2 payments of $2,800)
From Working Board to Strategic Governance
For growing animal welfare organizations ready to shift from a hands-on volunteer board to a strategic governance model. As organizations grow, boards that continue to handle day-to-day operations risk burnout, unclear roles, and difficulty supporting the Executive Director. We work alongside your board to build a practical roadmap that transitions you from a working board to a governance-focused one, without disrupting operations along the way.
Includes: Governance assessment, board skills & capacity review, a customized transition roadmap, and six months of implementation coaching.
Timeline: 9 months
Investment: $9,500 CAD (or 3 payments of $3,200)
Transitioning from a Volunteer-Run Organization to a Sustainable Professional Team
For volunteer-led organizations ready to grow by bringing on paid staff. Hiring is about more than adding people, it takes the right funding, governance, and culture to support a professional team sustainably. We guide your organization through readiness assessment, staffing strategy, fund development (including a compelling Case for Support), and the cultural shift that comes with professionalizing, all while protecting the passion and community that got you here.
Includes: Capacity assessment, staffing roadmap, three-year fund development strategy, culture & change management plan, and six months of implementation coaching.
Timeline: 10 months
Investment: $14,500 CAD (or 5 monthly payments of $2,950)
A Roadmap for Raising Money Year-Round, Not Just When It’s Urgent
With so many competing suggestions and approaches to fundraising, it can be overwhelming to determine the right focus. That’s why we provide customized fundraising plans with clear monthly tasks, tools, and templates based on both research and real-world practice.
Includes:
Fundraising audit and revenue assessment, donor base analysis, identification of top revenue opportunities, a 12-month fundraising calendar with campaign priorities, step-by-step guides to ensure your efforts lead to desired results and a written plan your team can actually execute without a full-time fundraiser.
Plus, you’ll receive 3 months of follow-up coaching to review progress, adjust to changes, and optimize your plan’s implementation.
Timeline: 10 weeks + 3 months of follow up coaching
Investment: Starting at $14,500 CAD
Stay Connected to Your Donors Every Month of the Year, Without Starting From Scratch Each Time
For organizations who want to steward their monthly and annual donors consistently but don’t have time to write emails on deadline every month. Your donors are your most loyal supporters and they deserve to hear from you regularly, not just at year-end. This package gives you a full year of donor emails, written in your voice, ready to send with minimal internal effort.
Includes: 12 donor stewardship emails written to your organization’s voice and impact areas, a suggested send schedule, and light customization guidance so your team can personalize each email before it goes out.
Timeline: Delivered in two batches (6 emails per batch) within 6 weeks of kickoff
Investment: $3,800 CAD (or 3 payments of $1,300)
Building Strong Volunteer Boards for Sustainable Animal Welfare Organizations
For volunteer-run organizations that want to stay volunteer-run , and do it well. Remaining volunteer-powered is a valid, intentional choice, but it demands strong governance and clear leadership to avoid burnout and instability. This package strengthens your board’s effectiveness through assessment, skills review, a tailored governance framework, a hands-on board development workshop, and ongoing coaching , all designed to build confidence and resilience without adding paid staff.
Includes: Governance assessment, board skills matrix, governance framework & policies, a board development workshop, and four months of implementation coaching.
Timeline: 8 months
Investment: $9,500 CAD (or 4 monthly payments of $2,450)
Expert Fundraising Advice, On Demand, Without a Full-Time Hire
For Executive Directors and small fundraising teams who want a knowledgeable partner in their corner without committing to a full consulting engagement. Sometimes you just need two hours a month with someone who knows animal welfare fundraising and can help you think through what’s in front of you: a grant, a campaign, a donor conversation, a board ask, or a tricky situation you’ve never dealt with before.
Includes: Two consulting hours per month, email support between sessions, guides and templates as needed and a running notes document so nothing gets lost between calls.
Sessions can be used however is most useful, strategy, writing review, donor advice, or just thinking out loud with someone who gets it.
Timeline: Month-to-month, minimum 3-month commitment
Investment: $550 CAD/month
Sustainability is not about becoming larger, more corporate, or disconnected from community values. Many organizations intentionally choose to remain grassroots, volunteer-led, or community-centered. Groundwork’s approach focuses on building enough structure to protect people, strengthen programs, and support sustainable growth.
No. Groundwork Labs works with registered charities, nonprofits in formation, and unincorporated animal welfare groups. If you’re doing the work, we can help you build the structure around it.
It depends on the scope. A single project like a fundraising campaign or board job descriptions might take two to four weeks. A longer engagement around governance or strategic planning typically runs three to six months. We’ll always be clear about timelines upfront.
Absolutely. Many clients start with a single project to see if the fit is right, then continue into a broader engagement. There’s no pressure to commit to more than you need.
Pricing depends on the scope and type of engagement. We offer both project-based and retainer pricing. Reach out and we’ll give you a clear picture of what’s involved before you commit to anything.
What does the process actually look like? We start with a conversation to understand where you are and what’s getting in the way. From there we’ll recommend either a standalone project or a longer engagement, depending on what makes sense. Nothing gets started until you’re clear on what’s included and what it costs.
Yes! In fact, this is exactly who we built Groundwork Labs for. You don’t need paid staff or a big budget to benefit from better systems, clearer roles, or a stronger fundraising approach
Yes. Over-reliance on grants is a real vulnerability for small organizations. We help you build individual donor programs, monthly giving, and donor-advised fund strategies that create more stable, recurring revenue alongside grant funding.
That’s can be a the perfect place to get started! We work with organizations at the very beginning of their fundraising journey, as well as those looking to grow their existing programs.
