Scaling Nonprofit Fundraising in Michigan: Bandwidth, ROI, and Hiring a New Development LeadChaz talks with Jansen Lemley, Director of Development for Scouting America (Boy Scouts of America) in Michigan, about expanding donor and corporate fundraising efforts in the under-served Ann Arbor and Jackson markets. Jansen explains his role managing corporate sponsorships and 13 fundraising events plus individual donor cultivation, noting he raises about $1.2M annually with two events generating $800K and the remaining 11 generating $400K, alongside managing about 150 volunteers. The discussion centers on his limited bandwidth, whether to delegate lower-ROI “pet project” events or hire a new regional team member, and how to justify hiring through data, portfolio readiness, and ROI. They outline a near-term fact-finding plan, calendar deadlines (June 30 prep; July 13 retreat), stakeholder alignment, and accountability follow-ups.00:00 Meet Jansen Lemley01:41 Inside Development Role03:01 Expansion Challenge04:36 Defining Success07:22 Bandwidth Breakdown08:38 Delegation Fears11:18 Hire Versus Offload13:01 Build The Business Case18:51 Summer Timeline Plan22:54 Data Checklist And Stakeholders33:43 Key Takeaways And Accountability
