Surviving EOFY As a Fundraiser
Well, EOFY is upon us, with 30 June seemingly just moments away. Though I haven’t worked strictly as a fundraiser for two years, this time of year still kinda stresses me out.
I remember the late nights of editing copy, the A/B EDM testing, the donation processing, constantly requesting updates from the Finance team, the mid-campaign pivots and the countdown to midnight, 30 June. But I also remember the times of bonding with teammates, team learnings, exciting explorations of creativity, the relief of pushing the ‘Send’ button, the coffee breaks to clear my head, and the positive staff morale when working towards a common project and goal.
While EOFY can feel like an abundance of high stakes and high stress, it is important to stay grounded, maintain a positive attitude, and look after your wellbeing. Here we dive into some tips on surviving EOFY as a fundraiser.
Manage Your Stress Levels
Prioritise and delegate where you’re able. Not everything on your to-do list is of equal importance or priority. Do what you can to focus on those that are, and delegate other tasks to team members that are willing to help out.
Take a few minutes each day to take a breath, prepare your mind for what the day may bring, or ‘reset’ in whatever way works for you. Sometimes even a break to slowly prepare a hot drink or get some fresh air outside is enough to calm your mind and stress levels.
Keep a Good Attitude
Celebrate small wins along the way. This can do wonders for your overall attitude towards the chaotic EOFY season.
Focus on the positive impact that your organisation is making. And don’t forget that YOU are a vital part of that.
Support your teammates. A little encouragement goes a long way!
Look After Your Wellbeing
Don’t forget to look after yourself. Are you taking a bit of time to unwind at the end of the day? Are you sleeping enough? Are you running purely on caffeine, or are you fuelling your body with healthy foods?
Again, a short walk outside, or even a longer walk or exercise session of your choosing can do wonders to boost your mood and lower stress.
Remain Agile
If you’re like I was as a fundraiser, you would have had a tax campaign plan for many months… and plan on sticking to it! Well, campaigns can be unpredictable, as can suppliers, the postal system, technology, sickness among vital team members, the list goes on. Being agile, and possibly changing your mindset around it, can help you to navigate unexpected challenges and turn them into opportunities for growth or strengthening.
Going through the pandemic taught us all the art of the ‘pivot’. When any setbacks or shortcomings pop up, we must be ready to devise a new plan and ‘pivot’ to align with it.
Be Confident in Your Plan
You did all those months of planning… trust it. If you’re confident in your strategy, you will be more focused and calm no matter what else happens.
However, as mentioned above, don’t stick to the plan at all costs just because the plan says so. Rather, be confident in what you’ve set up, in your fundraising expertise, and knowledge of your organisation’s supporters, and ‘pivot’ when you need to while staying aligned to your overarching strategy and targets.
Report and Reflect
Transparency around campaign performance can help everyone stay focused on the goal and aware of any potential setbacks nice and early.
Don’t forget to perform a post-campaign analysis after the appeal has closed and you’ve all had a second to breathe. Going through ‘what went well’ and ‘what can be improved’ as a team will help to set you up better for next year.
Celebrate your team’s or organisation’s achievements before rushing into the next project – though I know this can be difficult for many deadline-based roles. Take a moment to tell one another ‘well done’ and see that your team members feel appreciated for all the effort they put into your tax campaign.
Move Onto Next EOFY
Once you’ve closed off the previous EOFY, another one instantly begins. But with the new insights you’ve gathered from your tax campaign, you can waltz into it feeling inspired, motivated, and prepared but relaxed.
Again, trust in your plan and your teammates, trust in your organisation’s cause, and be confident in yourself and the expertise you bring. Ensure you’re looking after yourself – especially during a hard workday and outside of hours.
Congratulations for surviving the EOFY. Now onto another successful, impactful one!
Well done… you survived!!!
Other related Gembridge blogs are:
The Eisenhower Matrix: here