It seems that it wasn’t long ago you were fundraising for the last project. And now here you are again, trying to come up with new ideas to bring in yet more funds. Motivation seems hard to obtain – in fact, you feel as if you have fallen into a hole. You are unable to string a sentence together, let alone come up with inspirational fundraising ideas.

It is important to acknowledge your feelings without letting them take over your actions! It happens to everyone at some point in their career, but you must remember to put it into perspective. You need to realise that the fundraising slump won’t last forever. Fundraising is stressful, and as it is one of the main reasons NFPs stay afloat, a lot is riding on your efforts.

Loosen the boundaries

Firstly, you need to put the ‘fun’ back into fundraising. Without that, you are going to find that it is one hard, long slog to the finish line. Get creative – brainstorm a little and see what happens. Sometimes you need to invoke the inner child and just let your imagination run wild. You can then discount ideas for practicalities further down the track.

Be optimistic

As frustrating as it may have been during the last fundraiser, there must have been some successes that you can celebrate. Think back and remind your team of the positive moments you had – no matter how small – and draw from them. You will be able to recreate more moments like that in the future. We guarantee it.

Have a solid plan in place

If you don’t have some plan in place, then come up with one. If you are not feeling inspired, then all you have to do is stick to the plan. It will guide you through the lull and keep you on track. Having a plan will at least give you momentum until your motivation kicks in.

Get inspired

If your motivation is drained, then find a source of inspiration to fill it back up again. Do you have a mentor you can reach out to? Is there a blog you can read or a conference you can attend to get you back in the game? Remember your why – it is the reason you do what you do. You just need the impetus to direct your attention and remind you of all the good work you are doing.

Create a to-do list

While it feels like you are just going through the motions, use a to-do list and stick to it. Consider each item ticked off as a small win and use it as your motivation to move forward. If your list is achievable, your confidence will slowly return, and you will feel like you are back in a position where you can carry on as before. Until then, take it slow and be kind to yourself and others. You will get there!