Here's how you can effectively manage your time and prevent burnout as a fundraiser.

As leaders of the group, we should have a comprehensive view of all relevant aspects, including the political factors that influence donors' decisions on project financing. The needs on the ground in the developing contexts we work in are always significant, with numerous priorities and various project ideas on how to address the issues. This complexity makes it challenging for donor agencies to decide what to prioritize with their limited resources, which are always less than what is needed on the ground. Political considerations become an important factor in this equation because decision-making institutions are part of their countries' political systems and cannot ignore their national interests.

Not every fundraising action has the same impact; prioritization is key. In my experience, burnout can come into play due to lack of vision or strategy, unrealistic expectations and/or role ambiguity. Once this foundation is set, the team can work collaboratively to decide how to get there. With any job, the work is always there and the volume ebbs and flows. Leaders must model strong priority management and effective work practices. It's also important to identify signs of burnout in their team members to support them in working more efficiently.

Prioritizing your task is one of the best ways to avoid burnout. Putting timelines to them and ensuring that you are focused on the most important and result producing tasks without doing everything at the same time.

Start by making a list of all the tasks you need to get done. Rank them in order of importance and urgency. Focus on the top priorities first, so you’re always working on what matters most. This helps ensure that critical tasks don’t get lost in the shuffle. It also gives you a clear sense of direction and accomplishment. Break large tasks into smaller, manageable steps to make them less overwhelming.

One thing that I’ve noticed as a licensed mental health professional is the struggle individuals face in setting boundaries, especially in their careers. Many fear losing their job or being seen as inadequate, often ignoring signs of burnout. I recommend setting specific working hours and adhering to them. Also practicing assertive communication helps build confidence in establishing these boundaries with colleagues and donors. In fundraising, managing expectations of colleagues and donors is crucial. By fostering a respectful work environment, burnout is reduced. Remember, saying no to requests outside work hours is necessary. Prioritizing mental health leads to a more balanced, productive life.

Setting Boundaries is much easier "said" than "done". The statement in the article, "Remember, it's okay to say no to requests that fall outside your working hours or that would overload your schedule." is conditionally true. Taken as a blanket statement, tread very carefully how and when you say "no" to your boss and try to maintain balance and flexibility. No easy answers here, but point 2. Set Boundaries is too black and white--sometimes you can say "no" and sometimes you should think twice. Some jobs routinely require time outside "normal" working hours. There is no substitute for hard work and sometimes long hours. The higher up the ladder you climb the more often you will be expected to not say "no" to occasional "extra" hours.

It’s essential to set boundaries between work and personal life. Establish clear working hours and stick to them. Make sure to take regular breaks throughout the day to recharge. When you’re off the clock, disconnect from work emails and calls. This helps prevent work from taking over your personal time. Communicate your boundaries to colleagues and donors so they respect your time.

You don’t have to do everything yourself—delegate tasks when possible. Identify team members who can take on specific responsibilities. Clearly explain what needs to be done and provide any necessary resources. Trust your team to handle tasks and resist the urge to micromanage. Delegating helps lighten your load and empowers others to contribute. This approach allows you to focus on high-priority tasks and avoid burnout.

Delegation is a very key skill particularly in nonprofit fundraising. Some of the best delegation advice I got is "If someone else on your team can do the job as much as 80% of what you can do, delegate it and focus on a much better use of your time". The best thing is delegation is a 2-way street. It builds the capacity of your team members and helps you to focus on what really matters.

Technology is an absolute necessity when fundraising. A customer relationship management (CRM) software will enable you to be more efficient by generating and cultivating leads, capturing funding opportunities and managing proposal writing calendars and generating data insights and dashboards. There are a bunch of CRMs that I have found helpful for nonprofits including Zoho, Salesforce, Insightly, Asana, Monday and Instrumentl. Deploying tech consistently such as CRMs and generative AI will help improve your fundraising success rate.

The journey is long and hard. It is a never ending cycle of searching for opportunities and responding to deadlines, seeking donor prospects and building relationships, and constantly developing new strategies to respond to changing donor priorities. Unplug! Take time to go on that vacation and spend time with people that care about you. You will be much more refreshed when you are back and ready to hit the ground running again with higher chances of success.

To effectively manage your time and prevent burnout, it's crucial to prioritize self-care and set realistic expectations for what you can achieve within a given timeframe. Start by clearly defining your work hours and sticking to them. Use tools like time-blocking to dedicate specific hours to tasks, ensuring you also schedule breaks and downtime. Regularly assess your workload and delegate when possible, allowing you to focus on high-priority projects while maintaining a balanced workload. Remember, taking time to recharge isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for sustained productivity and well-being.