Real Talk and a Deep, Communal Breath:              Reclaiming Joy and Power in Fundraising

What happens when a room full of nonprofit leaders finally exhales.

Last week, I had the privilege of presenting a workshop at the San Diego Fundraising Conference. I was blessed to have my brilliant friend Frank Velàsquez, Jr. of 4 Da Hood join me as my hype man and partner-in-facilitation.

The session was called “From Burned Out to Lit Up: Reclaiming Joy, Power & Purpose in Fundraising.” It was my first time bringing this workshop to a conference, and sharing a lot of the framework I use in 1:1 coaching, with a room full of nonprofit leaders

We Started With the Truth

We opened the room with some radical honesty: Burnout is real. Especially for change makers. 

Y’all know it’s no small task to shoulder the weight of responsibility that accompanies wanting to tackle big, social problems. We talked about how the external pressures of our sector (the unrealistic expectations to make magic happen with extremely limited resources, the emotional labor no one acknowledges) collide with our internal wiring—our care, our drive, our perfectionism. And how too often, we’ve been taught to believe we must fake it ‘til we make it, or white-knuckle our way through.

But this time, we didn’t try to push past the discomfort of reality. 

We created space to breathe, to tell the truth about the strain of political turmoil, and to be witnessed as a whole person, not just a nonprofit leader. 

We Moved from Holding It Alone to Holding It Together

We began with one big restorative circle—every single person in the room together. We grounded ourselves in agreements, set intentions, and built a shared container of trust.

Then, we shifted into smaller restorative circles, where folks engaged in an exercise Frank and I called: Hard Thing, Empowered Response

Each person named something they were carrying—something heavy, real, unfinished. Then, in their restorative circles alongside their new partners, they explored: What’s one empowering choice you could make around that hard thing?

The intention was not to fix it. Not to spin it. Just to attempt to relate to it differently—with more agency, zero shame, and the audacity of belief that we have the power to change our sector.

The depth of what people shared—about grief, burnout, feeling unseen, feeling afraid to say no—was humbling. And the support and joy that emerged in those circles? Pure magic that can only be found in Community.

What I’ll Remember Most

It wasn’t the hilarious burnout-o-meter slide featuring a dumpster fire being carried away by flood waters. It wasn’t the frameworks that Frank and I shared from our own coaching practices.

It was watching people soften their shoulders. It was hearing someone proudly share about a boundary they established with their employer that was a game changer for their family.

I’ll remember the all-female group of leaders who found so much joy and connection in their small restorative circle, that they couldn’t contain their laughter. Their share-out to the rest of the room was met with smiles and applause. 

I’ll remember the woman who approached me afterward to say thank you and graciously share how much they enjoyed the session. “I didn’t realize talking about burnout could be so fun,” she smiled at me. 

“That’s the best part,” I responded. “Our experience can be anything we want it to be, as long as we’re bold enough to decide we CAN lead differently.”

Grateful and Grounded in Purpose

If you were in that room—thank you. Thank you for showing up open and curious. Thank you for holding space for others. Thank you for finding grace with yourself. 

I’m grateful that my buddy Frank was so generous and willing to co-create the experience so everyone in the room got a small dose of the magic I offer through TPC intensives, and Frank provides in his Ascending Leaders in Color program. 

At The Philanthropy Coach, we believe that sustaining the people who sustain the social sector isn’t optional—it’s essential. 

That’s why we’re deeply committed to creating spaces and tools that support self-empowerment practices rooted in reflection, joy, and connection. Through our empowerment coaching, we’re already helping nonprofit leaders reclaim their energy and reimagine how they lead. 

And soon, we’ll be expanding that work in new and accessible ways—so more changemakers can get the support they need to keep showing up with clarity, purpose, and power. Because this sector can’t thrive unless you do.

As always, we’re rooting for your success,

Hannah

ThePhilanthropyCoach.com