Free Daily Podcast Summary
Fracture: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Cindy Wagman
You've been the person your organization couldn't function without. You've trained the people who got promoted past you. You've watched a consultant walk in and bill $12K for a strategy you could have written in your sleep. Fracture is the podcast for nonprofit professionals who are done building other people's organizations - and ready to build their own Fractional Consulting practice. We're talking 3 anchor clients. 6-figure income. 12-month retainers that give you stability without a boss. A consulting business built around your expertise, your terms, and your life. All the while serving the nonprofit organizations you love and built your career around. Hosted by Cindy Wagman - founder of the Nonprofit Fractionals Network and former in-house fundraiser turned consultant - each episode cuts through the noise on what fractional consulting in the nonprofit sector actually looks like. The model. The money. The clients. The parts nobody wants to say out loud in a LinkedIn post. No hustle-culture nonsense. No bro-marketing. Just real talk from someone who built a six-figure fractional practice and then helped 100+ nonprofit professionals do the same.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 weeks ago27 min
15: He Tried Fractional Fundraising and Hated It - CF Callihan
CF Callihan, founder of Heart Strategy Impact, tried fractional fundraising first. A promising first client went quiet for three weeks before the contract even started, and when the work finally began, CF found himself trying to cram a full-time job into a fractional container. The work paid, but it didn't give him joy - a signal he eventually learned to trust.Instead of ongoing, retainer-style fractional work, CF now coaches nonprofit leaders and boards to build stronger relationships with their own donors. He credits messaging work with turning his business development from chasing leads to fielding inbound calls.Key TakeawaysNot every nonprofit consultant should be a fractional consultant - CF tried it, recognized it wasn't giving him joy, and pivoted to a coaching and strategy model instead.A client relationship can go quiet without being malicious - CF's first big client ghosted him for weeks before ever starting, which nearly derailed his early business development.Clear messaging changes what business development feels like - after working through a StoryBrand-based framework, CF went from chasing clients to getting inbound meetings from people he'd never met.Being able to say "that's not what I do" is a business development asset, not a liability - it builds trust and often earns a referral instead.Guest BioCF Callihan is the founder of Heart Strategy Impact, a fundraising consultancy coaching small to mid-sized nonprofit leaders and boards on individual donor relationships. He is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.Resources + LinksHeart Strategy Impact | Fundraising Superpower QuizConnect with CFWebsite | LinkedInFracture is for nonprofit professionals who refuse to choose between doing good work and having a good life. Hosted by Cindy Wagman, founder of the Nonprofit Fractionals Network, it's real talk on building a fractional consulting business that actually pays - and still matters.Subscribe to Fracture | Join the OS
- 3 weeks ago23 min
14: What an Emergency Fund Actually Buys a Consultant - Tess Conrad
Tess Conrad, CFRE first appeared on this podcast as a fully-booked generalist fractional fundraiser. Since then, she's niched her business into planned giving - a deliberate, gradual shift sped up by an endorsement from a well-known planned giving expert who saw her as a successor.She also lived through the scenario a lot of fractionals fear but rarely plan for: an unplanned two-month medical leave that stretched to four, followed by a long-term client relationship ending unexpectedly right after she returned. Half her income disappeared at once. An emergency fund, a subcontractor network, and a return to basic business development brought her back to fully booked within months.Key TakeawaysNiching into a long-sales-cycle specialty like planned giving takes patience - Tess expects to be fully booked in her niche by mid-2027, years after she started positioning for it.An emergency fund isn't optional once you're running a fractional business - it's what let Tess take medical leave without panicking about income.Line up subcontractors before you need them. Tess's network covered her client relationships during her leave and kept continuity with the organizations she serves.Content built around a specific niche compounds - weekly LinkedIn posts and a weekly newsletter kept Tess visible in planned giving even while she wasn't taking new clients.Time management systems will keep changing as your business does. Tess moved from Asana to Motion to pen and paper, adjusting each time her client mix shifted.Guest BioTess Conrad, CFRE, is the principal consultant at Full Potential Fundraising, specializing in fractional and done-for-you planned giving for nonprofits. She previously built a fully-booked generalist fractional fundraising practice before niching into legacy and planned giving work.Resources + LinksFull Potential FundraisingConnect with TessWebsite | LinkedInFracture is for nonprofit professionals who refuse to choose between doing good work and having a good life. Hosted by Cindy Wagman, founder of the Nonprofit Fractionals Network, it's real talk on building a fractional consulting business that actually pays - and still matters.Subscribe to Fracture | Join the OS
- Oct 8, 202632 min
13: Getting Paid On Time - Grace Tabib
An unpaid invoice hits differently than a late bill. Grace Tabib, founder of DUPAY, knows that firsthand - she left a law firm offer to return to nonprofit work, then went three months unpaid on a role she still loved. That experience became a business built on recovering unpaid invoices for freelancers, fractionals, and founders.In this conversation, Grace and Cindy break down why late nonprofit payments are almost always admin delays rather than malice, what a solid fractional contract needs to spell out from day one, and how to send a payment reminder that stays professional without feeling cold. They also get into the harder cases: when a client goes quiet, when the money genuinely isn't there, and when it's time to stop chasing an invoice yourself.Key TakeawaysMost late nonprofit payments come from admin delays, not bad faith - missing approvals, absent signers, or invoices routed to the wrong inbox.A contract should spell out payment terms, approval steps, and timelines before work starts, even with a client you already know well.Reminders work best sent early and often - the first one the day payment is due, not weeks later.Keep reminders professional, not personal - lead with the invoice number and due date, not the relationship.If a client goes unresponsive after repeated professional outreach, it's reasonable to hand the collection to a third party rather than keep spending your own time and energy on it.Guest BioGrace Tabib is the founder and head of advocacy at DUPAY, a platform that protects income and recovers unpaid invoices for freelancers, fractionals, and small businesses. She is a lawyer with her own history of unpaid nonprofit work, which shaped DUPAY's mission to help people get paid for work they've already done.Resources + LinksDUPAYConnect with GraceWebsite | LinkedInFracture is for nonprofit professionals who refuse to choose between doing good work and having a good life. Hosted by Cindy Wagman, founder of the Nonprofit Fractionals Network, it's real talk on building a fractional consulting business that actually pays - and still matters.Subscribe to Fracture | Join the OS
- Oct 1, 202635 min
12: Fit Check: Having Fun as a Fractional - Jocelyn Helland
Before Jocelyn Helland was a fractional consultant, she was Cindy's client. In 2018, as an executive director in Toronto, she brought Cindy's team in to shore up a fundraising department in crisis - and watched, up close, what "done for you" fundraising could look like.Years later, Jocelyn left the ED chair and built her own fractional practice. She refuses to niche into one function, running fundraising and interim leadership engagements at once, and she's learned to tell the difference between a genuine red flag and a client who simply doesn't understand fractional support yet. She also talks candidly about walking away from a relationship that had good bones but the wrong fit - and why protecting that decision protected her reputation.Key TakeawaysFractional doesn't require a niche - Jocelyn runs fundraising and interim ED engagements side by side because the range keeps her sharp.Fit matters more than budget. Anxiety before every meeting is a clearer red flag than a mismatched invoice.A red flag and an uninformed client aren't the same thing - coachable organizations just need the model explained.Trust is the deliverable. The best fractional clients let go of oversight and let the expertise work.Reputation outlasts any single contract. Ending a mismatched engagement well protects future referrals.Guest BioJocelyn Helland is the founder of Jocelyn Helland Consulting, offering fractional fundraising and interim executive leadership to small and mid-sized nonprofits. She spent over two decades in-house, including as an executive director, before building a fractional practice on her own terms.Resources + LinksJocelyn Helland ConsultingConnect with JocelynWebsite | LinkedInFracture is for nonprofit professionals who refuse to choose between doing good work and having a good life. Hosted by Cindy Wagman, founder of the Nonprofit Fractionals Network, it's real talk on building a fractional consulting business that actually pays - and still matters.Subscribe to Fracture | Join the OS
- Sep 24, 202626 min
11: Selling to Nonprofits When Budgets Are Especially Tight - Holly Rustick
In early 2025, one of Holly Rustick's students lost $100,000 in contracts in a single week. Holly has been writing grants for more than 20 years and has run Grant Writing & Funding through five US administrations, the 2008 recession, COVID, and 2025.In this conversation with Cindy, Holly breaks down what her students' experience shows about how the sector is buying right now, how to reposition your services when the market tightens, and why the consultants who are thriving got serious about the business side.Key TakeawaysGrant funding dropped in Holly's programs in 2025, but her students' business revenue went up. Nonprofits are still buying - the form has changed, not the demand.Repositioning from "grant writer" to "grant strategist" changes what you offer, how you price it, and what results you can promise.The Minimum Valuable Product framework: what is the minimum scope of work that gets the client the result they actually need? Cut the extras.Credit-based retainer systems give clients flexibility without costing you recurring revenue.Before every sales call, write down every objection you think might come up - then write how you'd respond.Guest BioHolly Rustick is a grant writing strategist with more than 20 years of experience and founder of Grant Writing & Funding. Her students have collectively won over $225 million in grants and generated $4+ million in business revenue. She hosts the #1 ranked grant writing podcast in the world.Resources + LinksGrant Writing & FundingGrant Writing & Funding PodcastNFN OS ProgramConnect with HollyWebsite | LinkedIn---Fracture is for nonprofit professionals who refuse to choose between doing good work and having a good life. Hosted by Cindy Wagman, founder of the Nonprofit Fractionals Network, it's real talk on building a fractional consulting business that actually pays - and still matters.Subscribe to Fracture | Join the OS
- Sep 17, 202622 min
E10: Using AI as a Consultant Without Losing Client Trust - Valerie Ehrlich
Episode SummaryYour clients are starting to ask about AI - and some have policies banning contractor use. Valerie Ehrlich, PhD has spent her career at the intersection of learning, evaluation, and organisational strategy, and now focuses on what responsible AI adoption actually looks like in the social sector.In this conversation, she and Cindy get into the questions nonprofit consultants are actually facing: what to say when a client asks whether you use AI, how to think about data privacy, and why the most effective AI users are critical thinkers - not early adopters.Key TakeawaysConsultants need to decide whether they'll be proactive or reactive about AI disclosure. Getting caught off guard when a client asks is not an option.Separate client-facing AI use from backend use. Both are acceptable - but they require different levels of disclosure.Pay for AI tools rather than using free versions. Free tools often monetise your data. Read the terms of service.Never record a client conversation without consent. Even if it's technically legal, it's a trust issue.A consultant's deep sector knowledge produces better AI output than someone without it. That's an argument for your value, not against it.Guest BioValerie Ehrlich, PhD is the founder of Mission Bloom, supporting mission-driven organisations in learning, evaluation, and AI adoption. She also writes The Bloom Shift, a Substack newsletter on responsible AI in the nonprofit sector.Resources + LinksMission BloomThe Bloom Shift on SubstackNFN OS ProgramConnect with ValerieWebsite | LinkedIn---Fracture is for nonprofit professionals who refuse to choose between doing good work and having a good life. Hosted by Cindy Wagman, founder of the Nonprofit Fractionals Network, it's real talk on building a fractional consulting business that actually pays - and still matters.Subscribe to Fracture | Join the OS
- Sep 10, 202628 min
E9: Generalists Are the Glue: Building a Consulting Portfolio - Kelsi Kriitmaa
Kelsi Kriitmaa spent 25 years across the UN, global NGOs, and private sector consulting before building what she calls a portfolio career - multiple revenue streams, multiple professional identities.In this conversation, Kelsi and Cindy map out how the portfolio model actually works: relationship-first business development, why generalists are undervalued, and why seasons of life matter more than long-term plans.Key TakeawaysA portfolio career means multiple revenue streams and professional identities - not just one consulting client.Business development in the social impact sector is relationship-first. Mass marketing tactics won't get you clients here.Generalists are undervalued and essential. Niching too early means missing the market.Build for now, not forever. What you need from your business in year one is different from year three.No in-house role is as safe as it used to be. Portfolio careers give you more options, not fewer.Guest BioKelsi Kriitmaa, PhD is a social impact coach and consultant with 25 years of experience across the UN, global NGOs, and private sector consulting. She founded Kriitmaa Coaching & Consulting, holds an ICF accreditation, and has a PhD in Epidemiology.Resources + LinksKriitmaa Coaching & ConsultingPortfolio Career Playbook on Maven - search "Kriitmaa Portfolio Career Playbook"BridgeSpan Group article on generalists: [URL to confirm with guest]NFN OS ProgramConnect with KelsiWebsite | LinkedIn---Fracture is for nonprofit professionals who refuse to choose between doing good work and having a good life. Hosted by Cindy Wagman, founder of the Nonprofit Fractionals Network, it's real talk on building a fractional consulting business that actually pays - and still matters.Subscribe to Fracture | Join the OS
- Sep 3, 202629 min
E8: What 4,000 Executive Directors Are Actually Telling Us - Greg Harrell-Edge
Greg Harrell-Edge ran CoachArt, a nonprofit matching kids with serious illness to volunteers who teach arts and athletics. When he arrived, every new match took over seven hours of staff time. They built an app. That time dropped to under seven minutes. They quintupled matches made and went national during COVID.But Greg's most useful story isn't the win - it's the mistake. Month two, they hired a full-time CTO. A year in, the development agency said the CTO didn't need to attend meetings anymore. Greg realised in real time: what they'd needed was a fractional.Key TakeawaysThe nonprofit sector is in evolution, not crisis. Organizations doing things differently right now have real advantages - the fractional model is one of them.EDs are drowning in silver bullets. Position yourself as the person who helps them put it all together, not as another fix.The EDs most ready for fractional work think long-term, focus on impact metrics, and show up with cautious optimism.Guest BioGreg Harrell-Edge is the Founder and Executive Director of the Proimpact Project, a free nonprofit community helping EDs lead future-ready organizations. A second-generation nonprofit leader, he previously served as ED of CoachArt and hosts the Proimpact Podcast.Resources + LinksProimpact ProjectProimpact ED HiveProimpact PodcastCoachArtNonprofit Fractionals NetworkNFN OS ProgramConnect with GregWebsite | LinkedIn---Fracture is for nonprofit professionals who refuse to choose between doing good work and having a good life. Hosted by Cindy Wagman, founder of the Nonprofit Fractionals Network, it's real talk on building a fractional consulting business that actually pays - and still matters.Subscribe to Fracture | Join the OS
Get Fracture summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Consulting Success Podcast
Strategies for building a profitable, scalable consulting business, from client acquisition to team management and marketing that works.
Your Brand Amplified
Explores the strategies and mindsets of successful entrepreneurs in business growth, marketing, and personal branding.
Inspired Nonprofit Leadership
Practical advice and inspiration for nonprofit leaders to grow their skills and impact.
The Abundant Accountant Podcast: Sales & Business Growth for Accounting, Tax, and Bookkeeping Firm Owners
Teaches accounting, tax, and bookkeeping firm owners how to raise fees, improve sales, and build profitable firms without burnout.
The Balanced, Beautiful and Abundant Show - Rebecca Whitman
A coach helps high-achieving women overcome burnout using a framework centered on spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial well-being.
Around with Randall
A concise weekly discussion on improving nonprofit effectiveness through practical philanthropy strategies.
The Social Impact Solutions Podcast
Practical strategies for measuring and promoting social impact to attract support and drive change.
The Uncommon Career: Job Search & Career Coaching for Mid-career Women
Helps mid-career women improve their job search by refining personal branding, communication, and negotiation strategies.
The Conscious Edge Podcast: Redefining Wealth as a Whole Human Experience
Alecia St. Germain
Six Figure Designer
A podcast for designers learning to attract high-paying clients and manage profitable creative projects.
Nonprofit Everything
A bi-weekly Q&A podcast covering topics related to nonprofits.
The David Guttman Podcast
Conversations with top leaders on building wealth, integrity, and a meaningful life through real-world lessons and authentic mentorship.
About Fracture
You've been the person your organization couldn't function without. You've trained the people who got promoted past you. You've watched a consultant walk in and bill $12K for a strategy you could have written in your sleep. Fracture is the podcast for nonprofit professionals who are done building other people's organizations - and ready to build their own Fractional Consulting practice. We're talking 3 anchor clients. 6-figure income. 12-month retainers that give you stability without a boss. A consulting business built around your expertise, your terms, and your life. All the while serving the nonprofit organizations you love and built your career around. Hosted by Cindy Wagman - founder of the Nonprofit Fractionals Network and former in-house fundraiser turned consultant - each episode cuts through the noise on what fractional consulting in the nonprofit sector actually looks like. The model. The money. The clients. The parts nobody wants to say out loud in a LinkedIn post. No hustle-culture nonsense. No bro-marketing. Just real talk from someone who built a six-figure fractional practice and then helped 100+ nonprofit professionals do the same.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Fracture in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Fracture daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Fracture as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Fracture podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Fracture product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Cindy Wagman.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Fracture release new episodes?
Fracture publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Fracture cover?
Fracture covers topics including Business, Non-Profit. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Fracture summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.