The Pulse of Fundraising – February 2020

Pulse of Fundraising

Women in Development of Greater Boston is excited to share this survey being conducted by Rebecca Geragosian, the principal investigator on the study, who has been working in development for 13 years in independent schools, higher education, and art museums. She is completing a Master’s of Science in leadership at Granite State College in Concord, NH. As part of her capstone, this survey will provide qualitative data supporting scholarly research on perceptions of professionals in the field of development and fundraising regarding work-life balance, boundaries, and organizational norms and expectations regarding working outside of typical hours.  

Participate in a Research Study

Open to all development and fundraising professionals, 18 years of age or older, who live in the United States. You are invited to participate in a quick, anonymous survey that will advance our understanding of work-life balance in the field of fundraising and development. What we expect in terms of a separation of work and life changes as cultural norms and values change. This study is interested in researching and defining what the current perspectives and expectations are regarding work-life balance and boundaries and how those work habits and expectations are shaping our work, job satisfaction, and personal lives. We hope this study will yield some helpful insights and offer recommendations for the field and future research. Participation is anonymous, voluntary, and low- to zero-risk, and your participation may yield a better understanding of the pressures professions face outside of work.

We dedicated this month’s The Pulse of Fundraising to share resources to better understand the current state of work-life balance in the fundraising and development profession. 

 

Person holding briefcaseHow to Leave Work at Work by Elizabeth Grace Saunders (Published February 3, 2020)

Saunders delivers four steps in which she challenges the reader to gradually implement these changes and see how much you can leave your work at work — both physically and mentally — in 2020. She includes the concept of timeboxing your weekend and after hours work in particular.

 

 

Empty chair, desk with digital clock on it, large window with a scenic view of the forestCan flexible work environments fix some of fundraising’s turnover problems? by Jason Lewis, host of The Fundraising Talent podcast

This 37-minute podcast episode features Lewis interviewing Angeline Mather, Director of Development for Iowa State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She’d been working remotely for about a year at the time of the interview from her home office when she relocated to Chicago, IL. It was evident in the conversation this posture has enhanced her productivity. She has become better at self-management and developed better organizational skills. 

What PwC Learned from Its Policy of Flexible Work for Everyone by Anne Donovan

To create behavior change, you need to allow for variance and creativity and agility. In other words, be “flexible” when creating a flexibility culture. At PwC, they loosely call it “everyday flexibility.” It isn’t something they mandate all teams adopt; it’s a mentality and a way of life that should be individualized for each person.

 

Should You Take a Sabbatical? 3 Women Weigh In by Meghan Lazier

Read how three women decided to take time out for themselves and the career benefits they got from doing so, plus what to think about if you want to take a sabbatical of your own.

 

Book - The Happy Healthy Nonprofit The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without Burnout by Beth Kanter and Aliza Sherman

In her review of The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit for the National Council for Nonprofits, VP of the 

Council (at the time of review) Jennifer Chandler wholeheartedly recommends this book. “Less than 200 pages, it contains hilarious (and poignant) cartoons, includes lots of tips in the form of charts and checklists that serve as self-assessment tools, and personal stories that keep the focus on real-life challenges and practical next steps. The book’s website is rich in resources, including apps and printable assessments. The Nonprofit Burnout Assessment is not to be missed.”

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