3 Things to Consider When Fundraising Is No Longer ‘Fun’

Have you had a day when you just felt like there had to be a better career to pursue than fundraising? I know I have. Fortunately, those days have been far outnumbered by those days when I feel honored to do the work I do. But sometimes, they pile up and lead to starting the process of finding a new fundraising position, leaving the field all together or something in between. And this results in a big loss to the nonprofit community because when a fundraiser leaves, he or she takes away passion and experience. Sure, you can always replace Person A with Person B, but unless Person A was a bad hire to begin with, it’s going to take time for the replacement to learn the organizational nuances, personalities and programs well enough to think on the spot and become a passionate advocate for your fundraising program.

The statistics are well-known about longevity in fundraising, and they aren’t encouraging. The study titled “UnderDeveloped: A National Study of Challenges Facing Nonprofit Fundraising” provided insight into challenges with filling key development roles and a lack of stability among fundraisers. The prior year, Penelope Burke found that average tenure of a fundraiser at a job was 16 months, and direct and indirect costs of finding a replacement were greater than $127,000. The “2016 Compensation and Benefits Report” from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) was a bit more optimistic, finding that their respondents reported that the average number of years the stayed at an employer was 3.9.

OK, that’s the somewhat sorry state of the industry in terms of job longevity, but what about you? What if you are finding that being a fundraiser is no longer the exciting experience that it used to be, but instead is a daily slog to meet goals and keep your head above water? What can you do to regain the joy of the job?

First, ignore the statistics. (Yeah, I just gave you some, but do as I say, not as I do!) Thomas Campbell, ACFRE, has worked at DeSales University since 1988—29 years! I never met Campbell, but he’s inspiring to me. In a 2012 article on the AFP website, Campbell said, “I’ve gotten to see this university grow and expand before my very eyes… Knowing that I’ve been a part of that—that our fundraising efforts have helped to build something real and compelling—it’s an amazing feeling.” Who do you know who has stayed in a position, growing into more and more responsibility? Maybe he or she hasn’t come close to Campbell’s nearly 30 years, but what makes them stay? Is there anything you can take away from a conversation with that person that could help you carve out a better role for yourself—without leaving?

Next, be honest with your manager. Too often, annual reviews are rote or even nonexistent. Instead of waiting for your next formal review and hoping it gets beyond generalities, set up a meeting to discuss your future at that organization. Be honest about what you enjoy and where you feel you have made the greatest contribution. Don’t threaten, but explain that you want to grow professionally and that you would like to work with your manager to explore ways you can do that for both your own benefit and the benefit of the organization. The response you get to that conversation will give you a big clue as to whether or not you are in a place to grow or a place where you will stagnate. If it’s clearly the latter, you have a decision to make.

Finally, take charge of your own future. Stop waiting for your employer to invest in you and instead, find an article or a webinar online that covers a new-to-you skill. Volunteer somewhere to learn a new skill or see if you’ll enjoy a different aspect of fundraising. Take a course. And don’t feel the only career path is the one that moves up toward major gifts or foundations or another “higher end” form of fundraising—unless that interests you. As a direct response practitioner, I have occasionally had people ask why I never “advanced” into major gifts. The honest reason? I find it boring. I’ve done pretty much every aspect of fundraising, but I love direct response. Sure, it’s not the aspiration of many fundraisers, but it makes me happy. Figure out what you absolutely love, then become the very best at it you can.

I admit that, on occasion, I get frustrated in my work. It’s not always perfect. But every day, I strive to do something I love, even if it isn’t the most profitable thing I do all day. I write an article, read an article that just looks competing to me, I talk to someone who is also passionate about fundraising and (I admit it) I even look back at some things I’ve done that make me especially proud of how I have invested the last 38 years of my life. Unlike Thomas Campbell, I haven’t stayed at one place (my longest tenure was about 14 years), but I have done a lot of work that I am proud of and that I believe has made a difference.

This old dog knows that when it comes time to transition into a former fundraiser, I’ll look back and laugh about many things, shake my head over a few, but I’ll mostly feel joy that I was able to make a difference—albeit small—in a few corners of the world. How about you? Are you working today because it brings you joy, or is it just a job? I encourage you, if it’s the latter, start today to take steps toward rediscovering the joy—and the fun—of fundraising.