Our Services
Our #1 goal at Lotus Consulting is to ensure that when our engagement is complete, you feel confident, supported and clear on how to move forward.
Whether it is a multi-million-dollar Capital Campaign, creating a winning Development Strategy for the coming year, or training your Board to “make the ask,” we are here for you. Our team will take the time to get to know what you need, hone in on where you feel stuck and reveal where you are strong. Working together we will create an exciting, aspirational path forward. The results? You hit - and exceed - your fundraising goals.
Strategy, Evaluation and Planning
Feasibility Studies - This is the first stage of any major fundraising campaign and will provide essential answers about the strength of your Case, the depth of your donor pool, organizational readiness and how much money is feasible for your organization to raise. It is a critical first step in any successful campaign.
Development Assessments and Plans - Are you looking to raise more money over the next few years? Our team can perform an in-depth assessment to uncover opportunities and gaps and create a winning plan for the future.
Comprehensive Campaign Planning - Any great campaign includes a thoughtful, focused plan. Drawing from your feasibility study and market analysis, we can create a winning plan to guide your volunteers and staff to success.
Individual and Institutional Prospect Research - Our research team can surface new donor prospects and help you develop a deeper understanding of what can motivate your current supporters. This is valuable at every stage of your campaign.
Case for Support Development - A well-crafted Case for Support enables an organization and its leaders to communicate effectively with donors and prospects and inspire giving. Our skilled team of writers can uncover the messages that matter and that can guide your fundraising communications.
Strategic Planning and Vision Alignment - Often prior to launching a major fundraising initiative, it is critical to ensure your current strategic plan is a resource that clearly expresses your leadership’s vision, and the steps and resources necessary to get there. This essential information will answer WHY additional capital from fundraising - a question any donor will ask. Lotus can bring a process to your staff and board to help clarify these goals and create strategies to accelerate raising increased revenue.
Interim and Fractional Staff Services
Sometimes what your organization needs isn't a campaign or a training — it's someone to step in and lead. Whether you're navigating a leadership transition or need senior-level fundraising expertise without a full-time hire, Lotus is here to fill that gap with the same strategic heart and hands-on commitment we bring to everything we do.
Interim Development Director
When your Development Director departs, momentum doesn't have to. Lotus can step in as your Interim Development Director — stewarding donors, managing staff, maintaining grant timelines, and keeping your fundraising program strong while you conduct your permanent search. We've walked in those shoes. We know what needs to happen on day one.
Fractional Development Staff
Not every organization is ready to hire a full-time senior fundraiser — but every organization deserves that level of expertise. Lotus's fractional model gives you access to a seasoned team member on a part-time, retainer basis. We become an embedded partner, building the systems, relationships, and capacity that will serve your mission long after our engagement ends.
We are grateful for the wisdom
that Melissa and Marcella brought during our work through a feasibility study and launch of our capital campaign. Their expertise, thoughtfulness, and deep understanding of our mission helped us gain clarity, confidence, and momentum. They are trusted partners who have helped guide us with both strategy and heart. We are deeply grateful for their leadership and support at this pivotal moment for our organization 
Working with Marcella has been one of the best investments Canal Alliance has made in our development program. Since 2023, she has helped us meaningfully grow our major gift fundraising capacity—bringing both the strategic vision to see what's possible and the hands-on expertise to build the systems and processes that make it sustainable. She's reliable, creative, and somehow makes the hard work of fundraising feel energizing.
I had the privilege to work closely with Melissa over the last 7 years and can attest to her excellent skills as a consultant and business leader. She played a critical role as our Senior Managing Associate at PRG and led fundraising projects large and small with grace and efficiency. I would highly recommend her for your next fundraising adventure whether it be preparing for a large capital initiative or training your board and team for effective solicitations, or anything in between. She will be a key to your success.
We had the opportunity to work with Melissa during a campaign feasibility study for our organization. Our team greatly valued her leadership, professionalism, and ability to keep everyone on task. We left every meeting with a sense of direction and clarity on the next steps. In addition, we received very positive feedback from our stakeholders who participated in the study. We hope to continue working with her in the future!
Melissa did am amazing job conducting a feasibility study for my organization (Community Land Trust of West Marin). I was impressed with her extensive knowledge, experience, and skill in not only conducting the study, but in helping us clarify our goals and vision, and listening to all of the different perspectives that members of our team brought to the project. Melissa was a pleasure to work with, and was always responsive to our questions, concerns and shifts in our project timeline.
_ BY THE NUMBERS
It has been our great honor to serve hundreds of nonprofits nation-wide develop the capacity and resources needed to serve their mission and make a difference.