Earlier this year, I had the privilege of speaking with leadership of AFP Greater New York about trauma-informed approaches to fundraising work. Here are the key themes from that conversation.
Recognition
The first step is recognizing that fundraising is emotionally demanding work. We deal with rejection regularly. We navigate complex power dynamics. We’re often expected to perform enthusiasm regardless of our actual state. This takes a toll.
Reframing
Trauma-informed practice starts with reframing: instead of asking “What’s wrong with you?” we ask “What happened to you?” Applied to fundraising, this means recognizing that stress responses and burnout aren’t character flaws—they’re predictable responses to difficult conditions.
Resources
Organizations can support fundraiser wellbeing through:
- Reasonable workloads and expectations
- Supervision that includes space for processing difficult interactions
- Professional development that addresses emotional skills, not just technical skills
- Cultures that normalize talking about the hard parts of the work
Relationships
Ultimately, healthy fundraising requires healthy fundraisers. When we take care of the people doing this work, they can take better care of donors—and that benefits everyone, including the missions we serve.
