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How to Really Help Your Overworked Nonprofit Fundraiser
When “make sure to take breaks” isn’t what your nonprofiteers need to hear
If you are a nonprofit fundraiser, you are familiar with stress. I don’t believe this is up for debate. Even after the year-end campaign wraps, or the multi-year grant application is finally submitted, or you close the books on your annual luncheon, there’s always more to do. Especially on the latter, I always roll my eyes at colleagues who say, “The big event is done, you can finally take some time off!”
Ours is work that is never quite done.
When bosses offer to support and come to the rescue, we often feel many things. Sure, it’s kind to hear words of encouragement. People mostly mean well and that should be recognized. But there is a point of diminishing return when their kindness actually translates into more work for us.
I’ve had phenomenal bosses over the past 20+ years, including my current CEO. One of the things these managers do is find (and activate) the delicate space between kindness and effectiveness. During periods of employee stress, offering words of encouragement will rarely (if ever) go as far as walking the walk with them. It’s the difference between saying “make sure to take breaks” and meaningfully helping with a task so your…
