Folly #26: Boundless Energy

In search of renewable resources.

I have a lot of energy.

Apparently I live in a galaxy of perpetual motion – both physical and mental. I am not kidding when I say that I have so much energy that it comes out of my fingertips. (My partner first asked about my dancing fingers, to which I responded with complete obliviousness.)

All this activity feeds my energy, which probably isn’t normal. But it is my preferred universe. As my family can tell you, this is nothing new for me.

So then why haven’t you heard from me this month? My boundless energy hit a wall. As I reflect on what I need personally to replenish, I’m also reflecting on how common burnout is in my chosen field of nonprofit work.

In a weird way, burnout is what motivates me to share the Follies. I see talented colleagues leaving the fundraising profession for other careers. This is the career that I describe to other people as “rewarding” and “fun.” I don’t usually include “exhausting,” but all these things are true.

Now I work as part of a small team serving the diverse fundraising needs of small nonprofits. (Nonprofits where the executive director is doing most – if not all – of the fundraising.) We get great feedback. But the work also involves taking up the hard-not-to-feel-anxious energy of the ED who’s still working to fund the current fiscal year budget.

And our role as fundraising consultants for bootstrapping nonprofits is intentionally transitional. Which means I’m often on the lookout for permanent staff to fill these roles: development positions that are fantastic opportunities with amazing organizations and teams. Yet fundraising openings are notoriously hard to fill.

Enough about my woes. Admittedly, they are few. But instead of talking about fundraising follies, I’m interested this week in how to replenish.

Good food, good friends. Mountains and water. Adventures with John. Visiting adult kids in London and SLO. These things fill me up and I am so blessed to be able to work remotely, no matter the time zone.

A recent backpacking escape with John

Professionally, I love the spirit of community and learning from Development Executives Roundtable and am honored to serve on their board.

Some funders get it. The Durfee Foundation funds paid sabbaticals for nonprofit executives to recharge.

Do tell … how to you keep your energy for solving Big Problems through your nonprofit work? We’re all in this together. And this amazing, challenging, rewarding, difficult work – and the people doing it – need sustenance and rejuvenation.

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Another thing that would really fill up my energy reservoir if you would help us get to 1,000 subscribers. I hope you’ll forward this Folly to a friend and encourage them to …