Everyday Superheros: or Why I am Grateful for the Fundraisers
Nonprofit fundraisers are the unsung heroes of the nonprofit world. Whether full-time development directors or founders who’ve had to don the cape, those of us working to develop resources for our mission-driven work are the foundation of our sector–a sector that literally saves lives every single day.
Yet, beneath the polished events, heartfelt thank-you letters, and impressive campaign results lies a growing crisis: burnout. Fundraising leaders face relentless pressure to meet rising demands with shrinking resources, all while carrying the emotional weight of the causes they champion. It’s no wonder that despite their natural talents and resilience, these same leaders are facing burnout at an alarming rate–so many are struggling.
In fact, when I talk to countless nonprofit founders and executive directors of small organizations that are constantly on the verge of closing up shop. The number one reason they say is frustration with fundraising. Whether the nonprofit leaders are the main fundraiser, have a fundraiser on staff, or have cycled through multiple fundraisers in the past few years.
It’s not surprising. Nonprofit fundraisers face absolutely unrealistic expectations: fundraise with no professional development budget, keep costs near zero, and balance donor stewardship with organizational demands and limitations. Bring in new donors, but don’t lose old donors. We need to triple the revenue in a year, and yes we know we brought you on with only three months till a budget crisis. Fundraising is a team sport, and major donors in particular want face time with leadership staff and board…but once they hire a fundraiser leadership staff and board want nothing to do with fundraising. It’s no wonder fundraisers feel stretched thin.
All of this is indicative of a bigger problem: sometimes those at the “top” misunderstand the fundraising process, leading to unrealistic expectations and a hands-off approach. (This is true for full-time fundraisers whose CEOs want nothing to do with fundraising as much as it’s true for founders and solo executive directors whose boards want them to raise all the funds with zero support.)
And of course, my biggest pet peeve is that the entire nonprofit industry tends to be deeply uncomfortable with money. Fundraisers are vilified when they’re good at fundraising (I was called a “pickpocket” by a board member after smashing my nonprofit’s annual fundraising target) and fired when they fall short. We’re told we’re not doing “the work” and sidelined as the people “doing the work” make decisions that impact our targets, goals, and deadlines…while we aren’t consulted. Yet we keep going, because we believe in the mission so deeply in our bones. I’ve watched many a fundraising leader go it alone–consistently stressed, tired, and feeling of failure.
And while the sector laments donor fatigue, my hot take is different: it’s fundraiser fatigue. We’re tired. We’re dropping out of this industry in droves…and when we leave, so do the donors. Fundraising depends on skilled fundraisers, and without them, the mission suffers. We build the relationships that sustain the mission. When we aren’t there, everyone else forgets the donors and the donors leave.
But of course, I’m preaching to the choir here! You know why this job is hard. You know why it is demanding. You know the contradictions you face in doing your job. And you also know why you stay.
So I’m just here to tell you why I am deeply grateful for fundraisers.
Your empathy is a superpower. Nonprofit fundraisers are empaths extraordinaire in my experience. We listen to clients, find community members to tell those stories to, and make those people care–enough to part with their hard-earned cash and become donors! We make donors feel appreciated, while providing better services to our clients with the funds we raised. That’s incredible. If you are a talented fundraiser, you have a gift and you are a gift.
You are creative visionaries. Faced with a shoestring budget and thousands of dollars to raise, you see past the barriers and find ways to persevere. We find ways to make extraordinary things happen on the cheap and on the fly, rallying supporters, dragging our friends into things, and getting the job done–no matter what it takes.
You are relentlessly optimistic. We wouldn’t be in this tough job if we didn’t believe in a better future. And while fundraising for that better future may make us want to tear out our hair at times, we work hard each day to bring our nonprofit’s vision to life. Because we believe a better world is possible.
You are a bridge builder. Fundraisers do a lot of the heavy lifting bringing community together. We’re leading tough conversations about poverty, power dynamics, and all the touchy subjects most people don’t want to discuss over a coffee…but we fundraisers do! We do it every single day. We don’t flinch from harsh reality. We cultivate relationships across diverse communities and sectors.
You are a storyteller. Fundraisers do a lot of storytelling, and that is a sacred art as old as humankind. We are entrusted with stories that we have to carry with care. And we have to tell those stories with care. Knowing how to tell those stories is a finely crafted skill…and I bet you haven’t even thought about how talented you are at that. (And if you need some help carrying the burden of these stories, let me point you to my dear friend, Maria Bryan and her amazing “When Bearing Witness” podcast.)
I love fundraisers so much. We work so hard, but if we do our job well, we fade into the tapestry of our organization, going unseen when the mission is accomplished. It’s a privilege… and it’s also maddening.
Here’s a little story. I once worked ridiculously hard on a capital campaign that met its goal in half the time the organization had planned. Instead of celebrating, my ego-driven boss criticized me,saying that I hadn’t done enough. (I found out later, she was worried the board would fire her and put me in her position because of how much the board loved the work I was doing.) Very shortly after, I left that job to start From Scratch Fundraising.
But I stayed in touch with my colleagues as the space was built out. Last summer, my daughter’s summer camp took a field trip there, and she came home beaming. “Mommy, it’s so cool what they have in there! I love it!” When I told her I raised the money to build it, her eyes shone bright as she hugged me tight and said, “Thanks, Mom.” Fast forward to yesterday: we drove by the space with her camp friend, and my daughter proudly announced, “My mom raised the money to build that!” Her friend looked at me and said “That’s so cool! Thanks, Miss Kelly!” While I wish my boss had been able to see it, seeing the love in two seven-year-olds’ eyes was somehow enough.
And that’s why fundraisers are such superheroes. Seeing the joy in other people’s eyes is the thing we live for. Seeing the work done makes us happy–whether we are thanked or not. Knowing that our work made someone else’s life better–quite possibly someone we’ll never meet–is what drives us.
So this Thanksgiving, I’m raising a glass to you, the fundraisers! Whether you’ve been in the game for decades, started yesterday, or wear “fundraiser” as one of your many hats: thank you. To new founders who are figuring it out as they go, and to the seasoned professional who could do it blindfolded. I’m so grateful to be your colleague.
If you’re still in the “figuring it out” camp, take a look at Sustain & Thrive. I’d love to be your cheerleader and mentor in 2025.
