International and global
Work tied to the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration across multiple countries, including crisis and post-conflict environments.
About Michael J. Barton
I didn’t set out to become a fundraising consultant.
I started in international work connected to the United Nations, where the focus was on building programs that worked in real-world conditions. Over time, that led into fundraising, because even the strongest programs need the right support to grow.
What I’ve seen over and over is this: good organizations struggle to fund their work, not because the mission is weak, but because the path to funding is unclear. The message is off. The data is scattered. Or the same small group of supporters is being asked again and again.
Experience that translates
The through line is the same: turn strong ideas into work that can be consistently funded.
National organizations
Fundraising and advancement roles with UNICEF USA, the Epilepsy Foundation, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and Pine Crest School.
Founder-led and emerging teams
Hands-on work with organizations such as the Susan B. Anthony Center, Daniel Suter Foundation, and other smaller mission-driven teams building their next stage of growth.
How I approach the work
No template. No shelf-ready binder. No empty theory.
The focus is on understanding where things stand, what is realistic, and what can move forward now. That usually means clarifying what funding will support, making sense of donor and prospect information, and identifying missed opportunities, especially in existing relationships.
Then the work moves quickly into execution.
What clients get
- A clearer funding story
- Better donor and prospect visibility
- A tighter view of where money may actually come from
- A practical plan that starts getting used right away
What others say
Trusted in very different settings.
“Michael’s innovative ideas were always on point and solution oriented.”
“He quickly assesses complicated situations and strategically plans ways to work through them to achieve desired goals.”
Why this work
I kept stepping into organizations with good people, meaningful work, and no clear path to grow their funding.
That pattern is what led me to focus fully on this work through MJB Strategy.