Tickling the Beggar's Funny Bone

Beggars, holy or otherwise, need a laugh and are even originators of the laughs of others. Kudos to the Chronicle of Philanthropy for having a cartoon section. :))

Burn Out ...

From The Chronicle of Philanthropy ... If we Holy Beggars only had such luxuries ...

A Recovery Plan for Fundraisers Facing Burnout

October 31, 2012  by Carol Weisman

Do any of these describe you?

• You spend more the 50 percent of your therapy session talking about fundraising.

• Your efforts to get board members to help raise money are so unpleasant, you find yourself daydreaming of the good old days when you were on the front lines in the Vietnam War.

• You have gained more than 30 pounds, tripled your alcohol consumption, or taken up smoking over the age of 40.

• You and a co-worker are thinking of leaving together. The only thing you haven’t decided is who will be Thelma and who will be Louise.

If any of these sound familiar, you may be suffering from burnout.

It surprises some people that burnout occurs in fundraisers. After all, they are not making the big bucks, and they are on the side of the angels. But burnout is real, and it affects the mental and physical health of people who raise money just like anybody else.

Even if you’re burned out, you can recover your edge. Here’s how:

Chill out and take a break. This is easier said than done when you feel that if you don’t get the work done, no one will. For some people, a weekend with no text messages, meetings, or e-mails will give you the perspective to approach your work with more energy. For others, you might have to walk away for a longer time. If the organization falls to pieces without you, perhaps it is time to walk away for good. During this down time, write the three things that are most important in your life other than this commitment. If these things are being seriously compromised, think about whether its time to move on.

Implement healthy habits. When you are holed up for hours with Cheetos and a flickering computer screen trying to respond to complex, nonsensical, or infuriating e-mails, your blood pressure, attitude, and effectiveness are compromised. Take a walk, eat healthier food, cut down on the caffeine, and go to bed earlier.  These are all simple concepts but not easy to do consistently. You might want to enlist a friend or relative to support you.

Set boundaries. Fundraising is a team sport. You don’t have to go it alone. If you are, it is time to recruit someone to work with you. Find a volunteer who has different strengths than you have. Ask for a new role in the organization that fits your time and skill constraints. Or ultimately, find another job that fits your abilities, life, and work style, and priorities.

I will never forget working with a nonprofit leader who was a major burn-out case. I told him, “Working at a nonprofit is the dream of many corporate folks. Ideally, you should feel like you are accomplishing something, enjoy the people you are working with, grow intellectually and emotionally and have fun.”

He said, “This is less fun than war time in Vietnam.”

Then he spent three months not working more than 55 hours a week, got a job at another organization that was better staffed, and called me. “Son of a gun,” he said. “This is fun. And I’m getting something done”

You don’t have to give up nonprofit work. If the strategies outlined above don’t work, you can divorce your current nonprofit and find joy with another!

To which Your Humble Holy Beggar replies, "Poppycock!" 

And remember, 

no matter what,

Don't forget to ask for the money.

Being Charitable Without an Income

This just rattled my begging bowl! (I always put some change in there to encourage others to donate and to enable me to be charitable as well ... even in these very rough times.)  What do you think?

http://philanthropy.com/article/White-House-Says-Charitable/130862/?sid=pt&utm_source=pt&utm_medium=en

Here's my reply:

NEED AN INCOME TAX DEDUCTION? HOW ABOUT $21/HR. FOR YOUR VOLUNTEER LABOR?

Looking for a bail-out-free economic stimulus? If you volunteered your time to a nonprofit organization, it was worth more than $21/hour (national average, per Independent Sector) in 2010. Would have been great to deduct it, but IRS says you only can deduct your direct expenses.

Please share this petition with your Facebook and Twitter fans, family, etc. Tell your elected official running for or against the incumbent to make this a campaign priority! Something on which they can all agree.

Let's not be romantic about volunteerism. We're really doing essential WORK that in a better economy a person would have been paid to do. Soon it'll be the top bosses with big salaries and volunteers.

America is a great working society, but volunteer labor -- estimated by the Corporation for National Community Service (funny, profit-making sound) accounted for $173 billion in 2010 (up from $168 billion in contributed time in
2009) but not counted in the GDP.

And remember,

No Matter What

Don't Forget to Ask for the Money!

Uber - Super Rich ... Less Rich? Where are you?

An article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy really rattled my begging bowl today for 2 reasons. (I always put in a few coins into the abyss even if no one else will ... just to exercise my own need to be generous!)

The first is the language: "lot less rich" ... Where are we on the economic continuum? Does it run from super-uber rich to super-unter poor? The sky's the limit when we speak about wealth but it's not called "rock" bottom for no reason. Two times broke is still broke. This article is a mirror on the desperate reality that there is a disconnect within the “haves” and “have-nots”. The middle (class) is incapable maintaining balance because of that great sucking sound from above. (Funny ... or not ... that the heavier kid always ends up at the bottom on a see-saw! Is Justice playing a game?)

The second is the lack of concern that we folks who, in addition to cash and non-cash goods, donate our labor / work / expertise / skills / time to “help” nonprofits deserve a tax deduction (currently valued at $21+/hour on the average by Independent Sector), as well as for the material donations (cash, stuff, etc.) Nonprofits are laying-off paid staff due to budgetary issues, but the unspoken reality is that they know there is a pool of free, skilled (or not) labor to fill in the gap. What do volunteers get ... good feelings? Try to take that to the bank when it’s time to pay bills. I hope my petition to the President at the White House website http://wh.gov/8rM will attract some strong attention. Please sign it if you haven't already.

And remember, no matter what

DON'T FORGET TO

ASK FOR THE MONEY!

With Layoffs, Nonprofits Relying More on Volunteers

Check out the July 14, 2010, article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy

http://philanthropy.com/article/Charities-Say-Staff-Shortages/66280/

on the Johns Hopkins University study \(http://www.ccss.jhu.edu/pdfs/LP_Communiques/LP_Communique19_jobs.pdf)

Your Holy Beggar is working hard to get Congress to change the tax laws to provide an income tax deduction tied to volunteer service.

It's time that volunteers get more than a handshake and a certificate. Romanticizing the value of free labor is not appropriate in today's economy ... actually it never has been.

Is this like a beggar selling advertising on her begging sign? I'd love to see a sign that asks for help on a board that reads, "The pause that refreshes! Coke!"

Please, sign the petition ... or do what you can to get Congress to change the tax laws!

http://socialentrepreneurship.change.org/petitions/view/income_tax_deduction_for_volunteering_a_bail-out_free_stimulus

And no matter what,

Don't forget to ask for the money!

Chronicle of Philanthropy Features "Holy Beggar" Persona Jan 14, 2010

Can a blog's feelings be hurt?

You betcha!

The Holy Beggar’s letter to the editor of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, the “Bible” of the philanthropic sector, garnered some attention to we professionals who have been laid-off from nonprofit organizations in the midst of successful careers serving others due to the economic turbulence.

Since November I was in deep conversation with a smart, compassionate, insightful staff journalist and the article came out January 14, 2010, page 15 etc. By all accounts, my colleagues who are still (and recently pink-slipped) employed, it was a good piece.

I agree, but there are a number of concerns (of course) that could have turned a reasonable article -- about the issue of the difficulties of finding employment not to mention keeping it during the recession -- into something provocative, dare I say strong enough to give us hope and wake up those higher-ups who still are employed.

One concern was that editorial policy mandated describing the for-profit "sector" as “business” ... as if multi-million dollar non-profits were a ... what ... hobby? I thought TCP was a trade publication, not one for weekend-warriors.

Further, the reporter was reminded many times by your Holy Beggar of this blog. The HB had commented frequently in TCP's online site. Yet the editor failed to allow the Holy Beggar, or this blog, to be mentioned by name! Just her creator's name (and likeness ... see P.S., below)

Are they afraid to “promote” something so benign as a simple, free blog, one that has fueled the article to begin with? How even more wonderful would it have been to invite the Holy Beggar to blog within the Chronicle itself.

Well, I'm sure that Mae West had a better way to say it but, "There's no such thing as bad publicity."

To all of you out there in non-business land, who feel a bit better that someone has honored your achievements and sympathizes with your plight, you're welcome, indeed.

Remember,

No matter what,

Don’t forget to ask for the money!

P.S. Seems it’s better to have a doggy (or kitty, or perhaps even your human child or the disadvantaged folks you help?) in your professional photo. You will get on the front page.