Most people start the new year refreshed. Fundraisers don’t.
There’s no real break between Christmas and January in the nonprofit world. Burnout that showed up in April is still here in December, and January doesn’t magically fix it. Yet the expectation stays the same!
That’s hard to do when you’re running on empty.
We created 21 Days of Fundraising Affirmations as a daily reset for nonprofit professionals who don’t get an off-season. Each affirmation paired mindset with one small, realistic action, something grounding, not draining.
Use these affirmations as a moment of calm you can return to between meetings and emails. Read this instead of breathing into a paper bag. Because before we work on the work, we have to get through it.
Here are our top 10 affirmations and actions.
- I am the spark that lights possibility.
- Send one spark-interest email today—reach out to a lapsed donor just to check in, not to ask.
- Our mission matters and my effort counts.
- Take 3 minutes to reread a client or program success story to reconnect to purpose.
- Every conversation I start opens a new door.
- Make one quick call or DM to a warm prospect.
- I grow relationships, not just donor lists.
- Ask a donor one values-based question today.
- I bring clarity to cause and purpose.
- Rewrite one sentence in a donor-facing message to make it clearer.
- I celebrate progress—even the small wins.
- Make a list of three tiny wins from this week.
- I seek not just funding, but true partnership.
- Invite one donor or partner to a behind-the-scenes moment.
- I honor the trust others place in me.
- Send a quick thank-you email highlighting specific impact.
- I am resourceful, resilient, and ready.
- Block 30 minutes for deep work on your top task.
- I am ready — my spark is ignited and moving forward.
- Write down the one fundraising action that will move the needle this quarter.
