Burnout in the Development Office
Burnout is common among professionals and students as they tackle constant tasks without passion and without a balance with normal life. In development and fundraising, the tasks of constantly asking and proving ideas to others can be taxing and emotional.
According to NonprofitAF, burnout is not simply solved with a meditation app or breathing fresh air. Instead, we have to find the root cause. This is similar in most fields: under-funding, unrealistic expectations and task lists, and a poor work culture. In my experiences with small nonprofits, these issues are highlighted because the group is smaller. It is common to see one individual managing fundraising events, grants, major gifts, and communications without proper professional support.
The other difficult part of burnout in nonprofits is the relationships. Development is a career that is incredibly personal for all stakeholders. A mission is based on the person's identity and values. Because of this, the rejection from a donor can be emotionally exhausting.
So, how do we protect ourselves and reclaim joy in this work?
Boundaries. This is a step that is difficult for so many professionals in development because they are called or drawn to helping their mission. It is important to realize that not every email is urgent and not every opportunity is meant for your team. Learning to say "no" is important for setting proper boundaries and avoid taking on too much at once.
CompassPoint lists many insights into how nonprofit professionals can shift from survival mode to thriving while in emotionally demanding roles.
The most important thing to remember is your “why.” In development, there is a goal you are working towards that often benefits others. In your role, your passion, values, and purpose, drive your work. As important as these things are, you matter just as much. As a professional, you deserve the same care, dignity, and support you work hard to offer to others.
This article resonates with me because it reminds me of my days as an international development worker in developing nations. You put in a lot of time, energy and effort into improving the lives of people in communities, and you are also at a crossroad, ensuring that you meet donors' expectations and deadlines, and answering tough questions that are suggestive of lack of trust. However, one must always attempt to balance out all the efforts.
ReplyDeleteThis topic is so timely! Everyone I work with feels burnt out and it seems like there is no solution to it except tanking the PTO bank.
ReplyDeleteI never knew what burnout was until last year. Let's just say this article hits heavy. I think it's also important to include the medical issues one may face when they are facing burnout (physically and mentally).
ReplyDelete