You Don’t Have to Do It All: Fundraising Shouldn’t Be a One-Person Show

Fundraising doesn’t need to feel isolating. You don’t have to carry it alone. You just need a culture that’s ready to build together.

If you’ve ever found yourself juggling a grant deadline, chasing down donor thank-yous, fixing a wonky CRM report, and prepping a board update all in one week (or one day), you’re definitely not alone. But here’s the thing: fundraising was never meant to sit on just one person’s shoulders.

Too many of us are stuck in this cycle where development work feels siloed, overwhelming, and constant. And when no one else feels responsible for fundraising, it’s not a capacity issue. It’s a culture issue.

So how do we start changing that?

Invite program staff into the story
Your coworkers are doing the work that donors care deeply about. Ask them to share one story, quote, or win each month. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just something real. These small touches can bring your fundraising materials to life.

Run a casual "Fundraising for Non-Fundraisers" session
Board and staff members usually want to help, they just aren’t always sure how. Walk them through a few simple ways to pitch in, like forwarding an appeal or making thank-you calls. Keep it light and accessible. You might be surprised by who gets excited about it.

Make fundraising part of everyday conversation
Drop a donor highlight into your next staff meeting. Share a win. Thank a teammate for helping with an appeal. The more development work is woven into the day-to-day, the less it feels like a separate, overwhelming world.

Spread the gratitude around
Ask your team to sign donor cards. Have a coworker hop on a thank-you call with you. Invite program folks to add a note to the newsletter. When appreciation becomes a shared habit, both your donors and your team feel more connected.