About MJB Strategy
I am Michael J. Barton, a fundraising and nonprofit leader who has spent more than twenty years helping organizations bring in the money they need to do real work in the world.
MJB Strategy exists for a simple reason. Many of the organizations doing the most important work are small, lean, and stretched. They do not have a full development office. They have an executive director, a small staff, a few volunteers, and a long list of needs.
Where I come from
Over the years I have led and supported fundraising and operations for a range of organizations, including international humanitarian work, health and disability organizations, and local human services.
- Raised funds for global work with children and families through large international agencies.
- Built and managed regional and national major gifts programs in health-related nonprofits.
- Served in executive leadership roles at a recovery-focused organization, overseeing programs and development during a period of change.
- Coordinated walks, awareness events, and donor engagement activities that brought in new supporters and increased revenue.
I have managed multi-million dollar budgets, helped raise more than $100,000,000 for nonprofits and NGOs, worked directly with high-net-worth donors and family foundations, and led teams of staff and volunteers. The through-line has always been the same: building simple, workable systems that help people raise more money without losing sight of the mission.
What I bring to your organization
When you work with me, you are not getting a generic consultant who only knows big shops in big cities. You are getting someone who has lived the realities of smaller programs, regional offices, and organizations that need to make every dollar and every hour count.
- Deep experience with individual giving and major donors.
- Hands-on work with donor databases, reports, and messy spreadsheets.
- Practice designing fundraising plans that real teams can actually follow.
- Comfort working directly with executive directors, boards, and volunteers.
- A calm, practical approach to using AI to save time, not complicate your life.
I know how to talk to boards about money, how to partner with program staff, and how to work alongside whoever you have, whether it is a part-time development assistant, a committed volunteer, or a very tired executive director.
How we will work together
My work is built around a simple framework that I adapt to each organization:
Assess · Organize · Plan · Focus · Ask · Steward · Grow Giving
We look honestly at where your fundraising stands, bring your donor information into a form your team can use, and then build a clear plan that focuses on the donors and actions that matter most. Along the way, I help you set up simple habits and a few AI-supported shortcuts so you are not rebuilding from scratch every year.
The goal is not a glossy report. The goal is to make it easier for your organization to welcome new donors, deepen relationships with current donors, and grow the funding you need to keep doing your work.
If this sounds like the kind of support you need
We can start with a short, no-pressure conversation. I will listen carefully to where you are now, ask a few direct questions, and share what I see. If there is a good fit, we can talk about a Fundraising Growth Sprint or a donor data cleanup. If not, I will be honest about that too.