Nonprofit fundraisers can be complicated, but they are a necessary part of achieving your mission. However, it is not uncommon to feel burnt out or frustrated with the fundraising process. If you’re feeling this way, it may be time for a fresh start. A new beginning can help you rediscover your passion for the work and make you excited to go to work every day. Here are six things you need to make a fresh start in the way your nonprofit runs fundraisers.
Start with an Honest Assessment
The first step is to do an honest assessment of your current situation. Is it the job or a specific situation that is making you unhappy? If you love the job itself but are having problems with a co-worker, your approach will be different from when you feel burnt out on the work and want to change careers entirely.
Consider Your Skills
Once you have done an honest assessment, it’s time to think about your skills. Start with a SWOT analysis – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. This kind of review lets you know what you have to offer and where you need some work. If you can figure out your passion and abilities, then combine those into your daily work, you have a winner professionally and a direction for your fresh start.
Fill in the Gaps
If you’re looking to make a proper fresh start, you’re going to want to go in with the skill set needed for where you want to be. Were there areas where you need some further education or training? What can you do to obtain this? How can the nonprofit’s board of directors help provide this training?
Initiate Discussions
Next, talk to your mentor for advice on where you should go next. If you don’t have mentors, consider talking to others in the position you desire to get their take on the skills you’re going to need to get where they are now. With any luck, they’ll also give you some solid advice on how to get there. If not, you may need to reach outside of the nonprofit’s leadership to gain these insights.
Consider All the Options
Don’t get so locked into one idea that you fail to see other options. Take a step back to consider all the angles. Are there other methods of doing your fundraising job? Could they be applied so long as you have similar skills? What other areas of your fundraising campaign inspire and interest you? What are the opportunities you might be missing?
Hone the Right Attitude
No matter what, as you start on this journey, keep positive. Attitude is everything, especially when you’re working on a difficult campaign to fund your nonprofit. Stay focused on your goals and remember that with the right mindset, you can overcome any challenge.
Making a fresh start in the way your nonprofit runs fundraisers can be a game-changer. By following these six steps, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses, fill in the gaps in your skillset, and initiate discussions with mentors and others in your desired position. By keeping a positive attitude and considering all your options, you can achieve your fundraising goals and feel fulfilled in your work.
- Content curated by search on internet and OpenAI with formatting and editing by the JPC staff.