Happiness, Habits, and Fundraising: Strategies to Help You Survive and Thrive

Fundraising can be incredibly rewarding work, and it can also take a toll. Many people step into this field because they want to make the world a better place, yet they often find themselves stretched thin, juggling too many priorities, and stressed out. Over time, the pressure can dampen the passion that first inspired them.

The good news is that fundraising doesn’t have to be miserable. By building the right habits and cultivating a healthy mindset, you can raise more money and feel energized in the process.

Fundraising Habits that Pay Off: A True Story

A few years back, Sarah, the Vice President for Advancement at a community college in California, faced a $12 million campaign. The goal was far larger than anything her team had attempted before.

As part of a Guided Feasibility Study, Sarah met with the head of a local foundation, John, who she hoped would be a lead gift donor to the campaign. Unfortunately, he told her the project simply wasn’t the right fit for his foundation.

Sarah was disappointed, but she stayed in touch with John regularly anyway. She could have simply written him off, but she didn’t.

Sarah kept John updated on the project, and asked for his advice about how she could overcome hurdles, as well as strategies for approaching other donors in the community. Sarah treated John as a real partner in her process.

After two years, the foundation came through with an unexpected gift of $2 million — the largest gift of the campaign — and that put them over goal.

One Habit that Will Transform Your Fundraising

Have one conversation. With one donor. Every day.

But not just any donor. One meaningful conversation with one person from a list of about 50 carefully selected prospects who could make a meaningful gift to your organization.

That’s it.

Of course, scheduling the meeting won’t be easy at first. But it will get easier. And soon, your workweek will revolve around these meetings and this small group of donors will transform your fundraising.

Start by Getting Curious

Start by getting genuinely curious. Find out why your prospects care about your organization. Learn why what you do is important to them. Ask what type of change they would like to see in the world.

Some Real-World Inspiration to Boost Your Mindset

Forming new habits is not easy. Many people make New Year’s resolutions, to exercise, eat better, or break old patterns, only to watch them fade after a few weeks. The difference between a habit that sticks and one that fades is often consistency and accountability.

I learned this firsthand when I decided to run a 5K. At the time, I wasn’t a runner. In fact, I could barely run for two minutes without stopping. But I told my colleagues I would complete a 5K at our annual retreat in September, which meant I had nine months to prepare.

I had accountability partners who checked in with me regularly. I tracked my progress with a running app. And while the first few weeks were slow and painful, something surprising happened: I ran my first 5K just ten weeks later, months ahead of schedule.

Why did that work? Because I committed publicly, built accountability into the process, and tracked small, steady progress. Fundraising works the same way.

3 Steps to Build a Successful Fundraising Habit

To build a habit of daily donor conversations, you need to do three things:

Step 1: Set Clear goals of speaking with donors daily.

Identify your top 50 donors or prospects and get into the habit of connecting with each of them regularly.

Step 2: Find Accountability partners.

A colleague or supervisor who checks in with you.

Step 3: Use Tracking tools.

A spreadsheet or database to track and measure your progress.

Just like training for a race, fundraising success doesn’t come from one big burst of effort. It comes from small, steady actions that build over time.

As a Capital Campaign Pro client, you’ll also get access to our team of experts and peers on our weekly peer support calls. You’ll learn skills to shift your perspective, strengthen resilience, and lead more confidently through campaign challenges. Learn more here »

Why Good Fundraising Habits Matter

Too many fundraisers are miserable at work. They’re frustrated and burned out. You may be feeling that way too.

Fundraising is not a sprint. It’s more like a marathon. Or, to borrow from my own experience, it’s like training for a 5K. Success doesn’t come from one big effort. It comes from small, consistent steps that add up over time.

With the right mindset and daily habits, you’ll not only raise more money, you’ll also find greater fulfillment in your work.

This post is a snippet from a keynote I will be giving at the CASE Conference for Community Colleges. Will I see you there? I’d love to say hello in person. Drop me a comment below.