Why You Might Feel Alone as a Fundraiser (and How to Fix It)

When I was a development director, there were times I felt really alone.

Especially when things weren’t going well.

I didn’t have many people I could bounce ideas off of. And back then, it wasn’t easy to find others who were dealing with the same challenges I was. So I kept a lot of it to myself and just tried to push through.

If you’ve been in this work for any amount of time, you probably know that feeling.

You have a donor meeting that doesn’t go the way you expected, of maybe your numbers aren’t where they need to be. Leadership is asking questions you’re still trying to figure out and you’re sitting there thinking, Who do I even talk to about this?

Because major gifts work, for all the good it brings, can be isolating.

The Weight You’re Carrying (And Why It Feels So Heavy)

It's not easy to manage relationships that require real thought and care—and then connect them to your mission in a meaningful way.

Then you add everything else on top of it.

• Lack of systems
• Internal roadblocks
• Pressures to hit your goals while everything around you feels uncertain

Let’s be honest, this isn’t new.

For years, the non-profit world has quietly reinforced this idea that if you really care about the mission, you’ll just keep giving more of yourself.

You just push through.

With all the uncertainty right now, teams are stretched thin, expectations haven’t changed, and you’re left trying to make it all work.

At some point, it can feel like you’re on a hamster wheel, working hard and doing your best. But it’s not always clear if you’re getting where you want to go.

More than anything, it can feel like you’re doing it alone.

What Actually Changes Things

Here’s what I’ve learned over the years, both in my own work and from walking alongside thousands of fundraisers.

Things start to change when you stop trying to carry it all yourself.

I know that’s easier said than done.

When you’re not feeling “on top of your game,” the last thing you want to do is raise your hand and say, “Hey, I’m struggling with this.” There’s a part of you that thinks you should already have the answer.

But what I’ve found is this: when you become a little more open, when you’re willing to be honest and vulnerable about what’s really going on, other people start to open up, too.

Suddenly, you realize you’re not the only one trying to figure out how to move a donor forward, dealing with internal challenges, or navigating a tough week.

That’s where the real value is.

You need people in your life who you can be real with. People you trust and will listen, but who will also challenge you. People you can call after a long day and just say, “That didn’t go well,” and they get it.

If you have that, you know how important it is.

This work is too hard, and too important, to do by yourself.

A Place to Find Your People

That’s exactly why we created the Veritus Community Hub.

We kept hearing from fundraisers who were feeling the same way I did years ago. They wanted a place to connect with others who understand this work, as well as a place to ask questions, share ideas, and not feel like they had to have everything figured out.

So we built it.

Inside the Hub, you’ll find spaces where you can learn from others, ask the questions you’ve been holding onto, and get practical ideas you can actually use. You’ll connect with fundraisers from all over who are committed to the same kind of relationship-based work you are.

And just as important, you’ll find encouragement.

The Hub is free, and it’s there for you whenever you need it.

If you’ve been feeling that weight lately, I get it. I’ve been there. But you don’t have to keep carrying it on your own.

Come find your people.