We help nonprofit leaders raise more money, engage the right audiences, and plan for the future.

The S.C.A.L.E. Framework is a Further Together strategy that involves regular check-ins and coaching, alongside tracking results, making necessary adjustments, and fostering long-term learning and growth. 

We scale your nonprofit’s impact.

  • Strategies Unique to Your Organization

    We get to know your organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to develop a strategy.

  • Grow Skills In Your Team and Board

    We train your staff and board. We use engaging sessions that inspire action, build skills, and foster a deeper understanding of fundraising dynamics.

  • Expert Insight at an Entry Level Price

    Using the budget you would spend on an entry-level position, we work with you year-round to provide Director-level support. We work independently, remotely, and manage the strategy.

  • You choose: Done-with-you or DIY approach

    We work within your capacity and budget. You can choose if you need our support after we develop the strategy. We provide a 12-month done-with-you implementation plan; you don’t have to do it alone!

Learn about us

Our Services

Strategy Development

We help you create a fundraising plan, or a communications plan

Fractional Fundraising

If you need help implementing your new fundraising plan, we can help you!

Interim Leadership

As interim Directors of Fundraising, Communications, or even EDs, we keep things stable during transitions.

Branding and Web Design

We know donors; we know how they think. We help you represent your work in a modern and authentic way.

Speaking and Training

We upskill your team, share best practices and new trends, and run interactive sessions.

About Maria Rio

Maria leads the Further Together team. Maria came to Canada as a refugee at an early age. After being assisted by many charities and going through an arduous 12-year immigration process to become a Canadian citizen, Maria devoted herself to working in non-profit.

Maria has over a decade of fundraising and non-profit experience. Her op-eds have been featured in national publications such as the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and CCF. She is frequently asked to speak at webinars and conferences and was a finalist for the national 2022 Charity Village Best Individual Fundraiser Award. Maria also hosts The Small Nonprofit podcast and sits on the Board of Living Wage Canada.

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.

Trusted by

We make the most of your investment

Further Together

 Other Consultants Hiring In-House
Expertise and Strategy ✅ ✅ ❌
Cost Effective ✅ ✅ ❌
Works Independently ✅ ✅ ❌
Can Train Your Team and Board
 ✅ ✅ ❌
Sector Leadership ✅ ❓ ❌
Easy to Start ✅ ❓ ❓
Community-Centric Values ✅ ❓ ❓

Hear why they love us

  • Twelve months later, I can confidently say her expertise has had a huge impact. We increased our overall funding by 30% just last year, have a much more robust grant-writing program, documentation and systems we can replicate, and so much more confidence.

    Madeline T.

  • Not only have they helped our organization to build a sustainable, community-centered individual giving plan that will help us to grow, they're helping me and my team to grow as fundraisers ourselves.

    Rebecca H.

  • We began working with Esther and Maria about 8 months ago and already the difference in our fund development efforts internally and externally has been immense

    Nina H.

  • Maria is an astoundingly creative and energetic fundraiser who achieves big results!

    Noa M.

  • She leads with wisdom, courage, and action, uplifting organizations through fundraising. Maria's expertise around implementing Community Centric Fundraising is proving that we can raise money in an ethical, mission-aligned way.

    Cindy W.

  • She is super organized and meticulously plans her work. She is the leader that will drive any team to success.

    Prapti V.

  • Working with Maria feels like hanging out with a friend. She’s brilliant, thoughtful and pushes and challenges me at just the times I need.

    Sarah S.

  • With their plan we have hit the ground running and have already achieved some early wins. With their insights and encouragement we now have the confidence we needed to simply be our authentic selves in this work. Maria is so great to work with. she has the wisdom, expertise, and a work ethic that is well matched to her sense of humor and approachability.

    Tom A.

  • Her approach to supporting ACSA has been thoughtful and thorough by taking the time to visit each of our sites, speaking to staff, volunteers and participants. In doing so, Maria has garnered an excellent understanding of the breadth and depth of our work and works hard to find solutions unique to our Agency.

    Lee S.

  • Maria created and led the strategy to successfully replace nearly a quarter of The Stop's annual revenue that had been lost through the cancellation of events. In doing so Maria and her team created a stronger, more sustainable revenue model for the organization.

    Leigh G.

  • Her fundraising strategies are informed by data, results and a consistent dedication to the core values of social and economic justice, community-centric fundraising and equitable philanthropy. She pushed our team to aim high, make decisions independently and engage in the wider sector, beyond the confines of the organization. As a manager, she strikes the balance between being endlessly supportive but empowering you to trust your own judgement.

    Marie-France R.

  • Maria Rio is great to work with! She’s a fundraising and communications expert truly committed to improving the nonprofit sector to make it more equitable and impactful. She has a remarkable talent for encouraging you to think bigger, inspiring creativity and fostering a mindset of continuous improvement.

    Laura V.

How to get started

STEP 1

Book a Complimentary Strategy Call

STEP 2

See if we are a good fit for your organization

STEP 3

Leave the fundraising to us!

We help nonprofit leaders raise more money, engage the right audiences, and plan for the future.

Free Resources