Gratitude has a way of reframing everything. It slows us down, gets us out of our heads, and forces us to look at what’s right in front of us. When we practice gratitude intentionally, we not only notice the good things around us — we begin to see our own work with fresh eyes. And in fundraising, that’s essential.
I recently had the chance to reflect on just how grateful I am for the opportunities my work has given me — the planes I’ve boarded, the people I’ve met, the donors I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside. Some people would see all this travel as a burden, but I see it as a gift. It’s an opportunity to connect with new people, revisit old friends, and play a small part in advancing causes I believe in.
That gratitude made me think about one of the most important questions I ask when I work with nonprofit teams: Are you in the right job?
The Cost of Being Half-In
This can be a tough question to face. Maybe you’ve been with your organization for a few years. You like the people, you appreciate the mission, and you’re reasonably good at your job. Your CEO or executive director is happy enough with your performance to invest in your growth — maybe that’s why I’m even in the room. But here’s the thing: if you’re not truly all-in, if you don’t feel that spark, if you wouldn’t tell a donor with complete honesty, “I love this organization,” then you’re holding yourself back.
Donors can feel it when you’re just showing up to do a job. Marlin Burnham, the great philanthropist, once said, “When someone calls on me, I can tell if there’s a passion for the organization. I can actually feel it. If the fundraiser isn’t deeply committed, how can they expect me to be?”
If you aren’t completely sold out for your mission, you are building relationships that won’t last. That means delaying your own growth, stalling the organization’s progress, and taking the seat of someone who might be ready to go all-in today.
Doing the Next Right Thing
Passion isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s the fuel that allows you to stick with donors long enough to see transformation happen. Watching a donor grow from a $1,000 annual giver to someone who is fully invested — even writing six- and seven-figure checks — is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have as a development professional. But that only happens when you are committed for the long haul.
Sometimes, doing the “next right thing” means staying where you are and recommitting yourself to the mission. Other times, it means making a change. Maybe it’s time to make that career move that seems scary or even illogical to the people around you. When I left my job at the Reagan Ranch, people thought I was crazy. When my family moved to Guatemala, they thought we were even crazier. But each of those steps was the next right thing — and they’ve led me to where I am today.
Steve Jobs put it this way in his famous Stanford commencement address: “You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever — because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-worn path.”
So ask yourself: Are you doing what you would want to do if today were the last day of your life? Or is it time to make a change?
Make Your Move
If this resonates with you — if you’re realizing that you aren’t all-in where you are — then it may be time to take action. Make mistakes of ambition, not mistakes of sloth. Go for it. Find the organization where you can say with absolute conviction, “I believe in this mission.” Get yourself in that seat as soon as possible so you can start building donor relationships that will transform lives — including your own.
And if you’re wrestling with this question, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at Clark@MajorGiftsFundraiser.com — I’d be honored to be a sounding board as you figure out what’s next.
And while you’re here, I want to personally invite you to check out the Major Gifts Fundraiser Podcast on Spotify. Every week we dig into real-world fundraising challenges, strategies, and mindset shifts to help you raise more money and build deeper donor relationships. If an episode sparks something for you, share it with a colleague, follow the show on your favorite platform, and leave a review. Your engagement helps us reach more fundraisers just like you — people who are committed to raising money in ways that honor and serve donors.