Fundraising Shouldn’t Feel Like Drowning

We help nonprofit leaders and fundraisers figure out what’s actually broken - and fix it. Without the burnout.

We started Brazen because we kept watching the same story play out.

A close-up portrait of a woman with blonde, wavy hair and blue eyes, smiling softly, wearing a black top.

Emily Bocking, CFRE

Founder of Brazen Fundraising

A leader holds the mission together with grit and duct tape.

Then someone tells them to work on their confidence. Try a different pitch. Just focus.

Meanwhile, the fundraising plan lives in a spreadsheet called “Fundraising Plan FINAL v8 (use this one)”.

Fundraising happens in the margins between program crises, staff exits, board detours, and community needs that don't wait for Q4.

This isn't a mindset problem. It’s an infrastructure gap.

And it's outrageous how often leaders get blamed for it.

We exist to bring real strategy and steady backup to the people carrying the mission. The backup that should've been there all along.

What sets us apart isn’t just our process—it’s the intention behind it. We take time to understand, explore, and create with purpose at every turn.

And for one second…

Let’s be real.

Because you deserve it.

You’re tired.

Not because you’re weak. Because the work is heavy and the support is light.

Because you’ve been told a whole bunch of if-only-yous instead of getting the support you need to do your job.

Too many good leaders have turned structural failure into self-blame.

That ends here.

A group of six young women lying on their backs, head close together, smiling and holding colorful lollipops, with some wearing glasses or sunglasses, in a festive and playful setting.

2024:

Brazen Fundraising is born

At A Glance

We were done watching brilliant organizations stall out from burnout, bad advice, expensive programs and duct-tape fundraising.

Since then we’ve grown…

A diverse group of seven people standing against a brick wall, smiling, raising their hands and fists in celebration, wearing sunglasses, dressed in casual and business attire.

Fifteen clients all across Canada have trusted us to help them move forward in their fundraising and leadership journey.
With budgets ranging from $25,000 - $5 million+, we’re used to working with all organizations and providing all kinds of solutions.
We have a roster of ten consultants - highly qualified and experienced people who are passionate about creating solutions that work for you.
We also have a network of dozens of professionals - making sure that we fit your needs, not the other way round.
We’ve taught people and boards all kinds of things…
- What really goes into a capital campaign
- What asking for a gift really is - and how boards can help
- How to talk about overhead and not lose a donor
- What you bring to the table - and why the donor needs you as much as you need them
So often fundraising is one person’s job instead of a team’s job.
We’re working on something truly special - something that will be a game changer for you, your team, and your organization. Stay tuned!

Prairie roots run through everything we do. That means we focus on what you have, not what should be. We stay grounded in reality. And we're bold enough to put our backs into it alongside you.

Who We Are

We're a team of ten with a network of dozens of fundraising and non-profit professionals.

We’ve been Executive Directors, Fundraising Executives, and Directors.

And we’ve all been in consulting, on average, for five or more years.

We hold certifications - Certified Fundraising Executives (CFRE)s and Project Management Professionals (PMP)s. We have Masters degrees, and decades of non-profit experience.

Mostly… we’ve been where you are. We've built budgets, run campaigns, survived audits, and led through payroll weeks that came too fast.

We’ve run campaigns ranging from $750K all the way to $150M.

We've secured seven and eight-figure gifts anywhere from $1M to $10M+

We've coached Fundraisers and Executives through collapse, recovery, and steady growth.

We're farm kids who figured out how business and philanthropy actually work.

A dirt road leading towards an old grain elevator in a rural area with fields and trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Hello!

Most importantly:

We’re part of your team, in your corner, and getting you the resources you need so you can focus on impact.

Let's Talk

Who We’re Built For

We work with organizations in the $500K - $10M range.

Big enough for complexity, small enough that leadership still carries too much.

Sometimes you come with a team. Sometimes it’s just you making donor calls between board fired and grant deadlines.

We recognize both. We’ve lived both.

Underfunded Doesn’t Mean Unworthy

Some of the most rooted, powerful organizations we've worked with are running on fumes.

Not because the mission is weak.

Because support is withheld until they've already "proven" themselves.

We reject that logic.

That's why Brazen doesn't stop at consulting.

We build tools, templates, and courses so your only options aren't "hire an agency" or "figure it out alone."

So often, people tell us they’re ashamed of asking for money.

And hey… we get it.

But asking for money? It’s not hard work. It’s brave work. Asking takes nerve.

So does leading through scarcity. So does managing a team. And so does waking up every morning and going to a job where you’re trying to change the world on a shoe-string budget.

So yeah… we figured we might as well call attention to the fact that you’re already brazen. Now we get to add it to fundraising.

Why

“Brazen”?

FAQs

We partner with nonprofits of all sizes— from grassroots groups to multi-million dollar organizations who are ready to deepen their fundraising practice and grow their confidence.
Both! We coach Executive Directors and fundraisers one-on-one, and we also work with full teams— board members, program staff, and leadership to strengthen the collective approach to fundraising.
No problem. Many of our clients are scrappy, all-hands-on-deck organizations without a dedicated fundraising staff. We meet you where you are and help you build the structure, skills, and mindset to move forward.