Introducing our Trends & Insights series! 🤩
Welcome to our first ever Trends & Insights post!
At SOMOS, we're not just building software for social impact professionals, we want to build a knowledge base for people tackling the world's biggest social justice challenges.
That means surfacing ideas, stories and strategies that support your growth at every stage of the journey.
Whether you're brand new to fractional work or already juggling multiple roles, this new series is here to help you reflect, learn and lead with purpose.
And where better to start than Fractional Work 101? A quick, no-jargon guide to flexible, mission-led careers — what it is, why it’s growing, and who it’s for.
Fast Facts (in case you don't have time to read the whole thing!) 🤯
→ Fractional work = working part-time with multiple clients (not just freelancing & not a side hustle).
→ It's growing fast across industries and we think it'll have a huge role in social impact moving forward - from fractional COOs to sustainability leads 💼.
→ It lets you align your work with your values — and diversify income 🤝.
→ Nonprofits, social enterprises & startups love it too: leaner budgets, top-tier talent, fresh ideas 🔄.
→ Starting out? You don’t need to quit your job — you can build your portfolio bit by bit 🧱.
What is Fractional Work? 💼
Fractional work means sharing your expertise across multiple organizations without being tied to one full-time role..
You might work a few days a week with one organization, advise another on a strategic project, or provide ongoing support across several clients.
Fractional professionals are often paid on monthly retainers, though terms can vary from client to client.
Top tip: use our free Rate Calculator to figure out your hourly and monthly rates for different types of engagment!
Key Features of Fractional Work 🔑
At its core, it’s about:
- Flexibility in how, where & when you work.
- Purpose-led engagement with organizations you believe in.
- Project-based or part-time scope, not permanent roles.
- High trust and autonomy.
- Leveraging your expertise in a way that works for you.
It’s an increasingly popular choice for mid-level and senior professionals seeking meaningful, varied and self-directed careers.
What Fractional Work Isn’t 🚫
Fractional work isn’t the same as full-time, freelancing, or temp work. It’s also not about spreading yourself thin.
It’s not:
- “side hustling” without a plan.
- gig work with low pay and little strategy.
- just consulting under another name.
The best fractional professionals not only bring leadership, strategic thinking and partnership to every engagement but more often than not, are hands-on and operational.
Full-time vs Fractional vs Freelance vs Consulting ⚖️
If you’re wondering how this all compares:
[table graphic coming soon]
Common Fractional Roles in Social Impact 💪
Typical profiles include mid-career professionals leaving senior nonprofit roles, consultants wanting deeper mission alignment or creatives bringing storytelling skills to multiple campaigns.
From fractional CFOs to purpose-led strategists, social impact organizations are using fractional expertise for leadership, strategy and delivery:
- Leadership: fractional CEO, COO, CFO.
- Strategy: DEI, climate strategy, legal, fundraising, impact measurement.
- Operations & Delivery: program design, grants management, digital infrastructure.
Many are also stepping into cross-functional roles that blend strategy, delivery, and systems thinking.
Why Fractional Work Is on the Rise 📈
The Future of Work in Social Justice 🌍
We’re living through a profound shift in how we work and who we choose to work with.
From grassroots campaigns to global NGOs, social impact organizations are rethinking how they access expertise and build teams.
Here’s what we’re seeing:
- Budgets are tightening, but the need for strategic, senior-level talent is growin.
- Many professionals are stepping away from traditional structures in search of flexibility and values alignment.
- Communities and movements are calling for leaders with lived experience, deep sector knowledg, and cross-functional skill sets.
Fractional work sits at the intersection of these trends: offering a practical, mission-aligned way to collaborate more intentionally.
For impact-led organizations, it’s a way to:
- Access senior-level talent (think strategy, operations, comms, or fundraising) at a fraction of the full-time cos.
- Bring in people with cross-sector experience and specialised knowledge—without the long-term hiring commitmen.
- Stay agile by matching talent to need, especially in fast-moving or resource-constrained environments
The result? More flexibility, less burnout, and greater impact.
What This Means for Social Impact Professionals 🧑🏽💻
If you’ve ever felt boxed in by rigid job descriptions (or found yourself biting your tongue in spaces that don’t reflect your values!), you’re not alone.
More and more mission-driven professionals are choosing fractional careers as a way to work with integrity, autonomy and impact.
Here’s what it unlocks:
- The freedom to work on your own terms, across multiple clients or causes.
- The ability to speak freely and show up fully, without compromising your values for job security.
- A chance to diversify your income and stretch your skills across sectors.
- Opportunities to build long-term, purpose-aligned relationships that fit your vision of change.
This isn’t just about a career pivot, it’s a mindset shift. One that says: your values, your voice & and your wellbeing matter.
Is Fractional Work Right for You? 🤔
Signs you might be ready to go fractional.
Fractional work can suit you if:
- You’re looking for autonomy and purpose.
- You thrive on variety and learning across contexts.
- You want to design a sustainable, values-led career.
- You have deep expertise that’s valuable to multiple causes.
- You are excited about the prospect of being a solopreneur.
Aligning With Work That Feels Right 💚
Match your mission to the work you do.
Choosing fractional work isn’t just about flexibility, it’s about fit.
Ask:
- What issue do I most want to influence?
- Who do I want to serve?
- What kind of pace and setup supports my best work?
By clarifying values and ideal collaborators, you can build a portfolio that energizes you and deepens your impact.
Challenges & Trade-Offs to Consider ⚠️
Let’s be honest: fractional work isn’t a shortcut to easy freedom.
It offers flexibility but it also asks more of you.
When you go solo, you’re no longer “just” doing the work.
You’re also your own project manager, brand strategist, business developer and finance department.
Here are some of the most common trade-offs to prepare for:
- Income variability: You might have feast-and-famine cycles between projects.
- Admin overload: From contracts to invoicing to tax returns, there’s no HR department backing you.
- Loss of identity or structure: After leaving a full-time role, some professionals feel unmoored without the status or rhythm of traditional employment.
- Isolation: Without team chats, co-working, or watercooler talk, solo work can feel... solo(!)
- Platform pressure: Many freelancers end up on job boards or marketplaces that take hefty commissions and pit them against a race-to-the-bottom.
The good news?
There are emerging ecosystems like peer communities, specialist platforms, and value-aligned clients that can support you to thrive.
Clear financial planning, a strong personal brand, and tools that reduce admin make a huge difference.
So does choosing collaborators who respect your time, values, and boundaries.
Remember: autonomy comes with new responsibilities but also with more control.
And with the right support, you can design a work life that feels sustainable, impactful, and yours.
Let’s Connect 👋🏽
Fractional work isn’t just a career move. It’s a mindset shift.
If you’re curious, hopeful, or even a little unsure, that’s a great place to start.
This guide is hopefully just the beginning. In upcoming posts, we’ll share more practical advice, from pricing strategies to personal brand building to managing multiple projects.
For now, you can:
→ Subscribe to my newsletter, Build With... 🌱 to keep an eye on what we’re building.
→ Reach out on LinkedIn! I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope the guide is helpful :)
Khawar | Founder & CEO @ SOMOS
