Let Go to Thrive: Wellness Strategies for Fundraisers Who Are Doing Too Much

Working as a non-profit fundraiser can be one of the most rewarding careers, but it can also be one of the most exhausting. The constant pressure to meet revenue goals, maintain donor relationships, and keep your organization thriving can leave you feeling overwhelmed and drained.

When things feel out of control, our natural instinct is to grip tighter, control more, and try to “fix” everything. But here’s the truth: that response will lead you straight to burnout. The good news? There’s another way.

Let’s look at two hidden energy drains that could be pulling you down—and what to do instead.

Energy Drain #1: Trying to Control Everything

One of the fastest paths to burnout is trying to control things that are not yours to manage. I see this all the time with fundraisers—your heart is in the right place, but you end up over-functioning. Sound familiar?

Ask yourself:

• Am I taking responsibility for other people’s decisions or emotions?
• Do I feel like it’s my job to keep everyone happy?
• Do I think that I have to save the organization?

Here’s how this shows up in real life:

Trying to manage others’ emotions

 – Worrying about how a donor will react 
 – Overanalyzing what your coworkers think about you 
 – Wanting everyone in the room to be comfortable and in agreement

Over-preparing for uncertain outcomes

 – Rewriting donor emails a dozen times to get them “just right” 
 – Avoiding donor calls by endlessly preparing for every possible reaction

Micromanaging or overextending

 – Constantly checking a teammate’s work instead of trusting them
 – Doing tasks outside your role (like IT troubleshooting or planning events you no longer manage)

Obsessing Over Outcomes You Don’t Control

– Stressing about whether a donor will give
– Worrying what other departments should be doing

You may tell yourself, “But I’m just trying to do excellent work!” Yes—and excellence is good. But there’s a tipping point when striving becomes controlling, and that’s when you lose energy and clarity.

Instead, try this: Let them.

Let the marketing team take their approach. Let your teammate learn from their own mistake. Let a donor take their time deciding.

Mel Robbins calls this the “Let Them” theory—and it’s a powerful mindset shift. Instead of obsessing over what others do, focus on how you respond. This approach frees up mental space and emotional energy so you can direct it toward what actually matters.

You’re not responsible for fixing everything.

Energy Drain #2: Waiting for Someone to Rescue You

It’s easy to think that someday, someone— your boss, a new team member, a future hire —is going to swoop in and fix your workload, advocate for your needs, or give you the clarity you’ve been craving.

But here’s the truth: no one is coming.

Now, that’s not a message of despair. It’s actually a message of empowerment.

When you stop waiting and start owning your experience, everything begins to shift. If your workload is unsustainable, you need to set boundaries. If your role no longer brings you fulfillment, you get to explore new possibilities. If you're stuck, you need to get clear about what you want.

This is where you choose action over frustration. Educate yourself (consider our Creating Strategic Plans and Goals for Every Major Donor white paper), carve out time for uninterrupted donor focus time, or build your own simple follow-up plan. These steps aren’t massive—but they’re yours. They give you energy. They give you hope.

What This Looks Like in Practice

Thriving in fundraising doesn’t mean doing more—it means doing less of what drains you and more of what energizes and aligns you. That might look like:

• Blocking focus time to manage your workload intentionally
• Asking for support rather than waiting to be rescued
• Regularly checking in with your own career path and adjusting as needed

These two shifts—letting go of what you can’t control and taking full ownership of your well-being—are the foundations for a thriving, healthy career in fundraising.

The Bottom Line

You’re doing too much.

And maybe, just maybe, holding others responsible for your happiness, your boundaries, or your career satisfaction is how you keep getting stuck. How you stay a victim of circumstance. How you burn out.

When you're burned out, the idea of trying something new can feel overwhelming—just another demand on your already depleted energy. But here's the surprising truth: taking ownership of even one small thing that’s been causing you stress or fear can actually restore your energy.

Shifting from avoidance to action, especially in a space where you've felt stuck, often unlocks a sense of empowerment. It brings clarity, momentum, and even sparks creativity. You don’t have to do everything—just start with one thing.

So let go of what’s not yours. Take ownership of what is. And watch what happens when you reclaim your time, your clarity, and your energy.

This is your career. Your mission. Your life.

Thrive in it.