Summer is coming to an end and planning for fall events is ramping up. If we're being honest, fundraising as a profession can often be a thankless job. You work around the clock (weekends included) for your mission and to make sure that your volunteers have what they need to be successful. You set your board members up for success by prepping them for donor calls, putting together board agendas, or by coordinating meetings. At the end of the day, you’ve worked really hard for other people and thank them for the work they’ve done- but don’t hear it often yourself.
While most people don’t get into fundraising to be thanked, it can be easy to get burned out after a major event, or hard to motivate yourself as the busy season approaches, so we put together a few of our tips on how to remind yourself what an important job you are doing!
Keep a Smile Folder
Call it whatever you want, but keep a folder of personal wins in your email or your desk drawer. Did a volunteer send you a kind note of thanks? Did your donor acknowledge your effort? Did someone simply say “it’s great working with you”? Anything that makes you feel good, keep it in a folder on your desktop. On days when it’s hard to remember why you’re working until 10pm to get ready for an event, open up that folder for some motivation.
Celebrate Every Small Goal
Whether your organization tracks goals or you do personally, reward yourself when you hit one (or even when you get a step closer)! Did you get a verbal commitment from a major sponsor? Cheers yourself after work. Did you solve a major snafu in the event layout? Treat yourself to a pedicure. Whatever motivates you, make sure you celebrate small victories along the way to keep you going.
Use the Buddy System
If you have a big office with lots of coworkers, pick out one or two who can act as your cheerleader (and vice-versa). If you’re in a smaller office, implement some ways to celebrate each other as you charge on towards the end goal. An office I used to work in would celebrate each sponsorship or major gift commitment with the ringing of a cowbell, so that no matter where you were in the office, everyone knew that you had just scored. It’s a fun way to motivate the entire team, while celebrating individuals along the way!
Always Have a Story
At the end of the day, what you do is about the mission that you serve. Always keep a story in mind for those nights when you work until midnight rearranging a seating chart for your gala, because your guests JUST got you those names. (Also, to avoid that, see how Swell’s table management feature can help.) That story should be a reminder of why you’re in this to begin with. Maybe it’s a child who will benefit from the medical research you’re working to fund. Or a family who will have a warm, safe home because of your efforts. Whatever that mission moment is for you, keep it close to your heart and in your line of vision. Tape a picture of that story, person or quote on your desktop or bulletin board.
Nonprofits are crucial in helping make this world go round in the best way possible, and so are you! You make a difference and it is OKAY to remind yourself of that from time to time.
