As someone who has been working as a fundraiser, managing fundraisers, or working alongside fundraisers for nearly three decades, I have been keenly aware of the ever present – and growing levels of – stress that professionals feel about succeeding at their jobs. There are many factors affecting stress as voiced in this and other publications, in postings on social media, during conference sessions and through other sector gatherings.
The increased stresses being placed on fundraisers has not gone unnoticed. As the needs of organizations to consistently raise more funds continues, the expectations on fundraisers also continue to rise. This is accompanied by feelings of loneliness and isolation. This is happening as – and let’s be frank here – there are decreasing supports and resources available for those fundraisers although there has been a lot of talk and general advice given.
This is a heavy burden that fundraisers who are working with a team, or as is mostly the case, working alone, should not have to carry on their own.
A pilot project
We at PGgrowth felt that it was time to move from providing information about the stress of fundraising—which may be causing even more unintentional pressure—to providing a forum for providing professional support. The initial results were remarkable.
PGgrowth partnered with Talk, Listen, Connect (TLC) to pilot community support circles, a group framework tailor-made for fundraising sector workers. The goal was for professionals to learn from (and lean on) peers who share in these experiences, reminding each other that they are not alone in carrying the weight and pressure of their jobs.
As one participant shared after a session, “I was moved by the willingness of the participants to share their stories, challenges, and triumphs, which made the experience all the more meaningful. This was the first time I've ever been a part of such an amazing group, and it left a lasting impression on me, making me realize the power of community in the fundraising journey."
A facilitator of one of these groups (someone new to working with fundraisers) witnessed the “light-bulb” that goes off when participants realize that the experiences they have been so deeply struggling with, are actually shared by many. She commented on the visible relief that was evident when professionals were are able to find connection through shared feelings and challenges.
It might seem like a small thing but it appears to have a huge impact.
Community circles
Our community circles were created as a space where fundraisers could take action, and find support. They are facilitated with the goal of turning burdensome emotions into tools to cultivate the community that seems to be lacking in the fundraiser sector. In this sense, fundraisers, as they often have to, are building a community for themselves.
The pilot showed that (for some) hope, optimism and solace can be achieved by connecting with others in the field who have similar experiences and support to share.
In fact, the community circle pilots have been so successful that additional sessions have been scheduled at a nominal fee. As a special offer to Hilborn Charity eNews readers, we are offering a 50% discount for the first 10 people who sign up. Email me directly at ed@pggrowth.com to save your spot and get more details.
PGgrowth recognizes how much work there is to be done in the fundraising sector to support the wellbeing of its professionals. We want to be a part of starting a practice for people seeking support in dealing with understaffing, increased workloads, burn-out, compassion-fatigue, and the multitude of other factors that are part of our day-to-day work.
