From Challenge to Growth: Lessons for Fundraising Success
AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals)
Chapter Leadership Brief
Date published: October 2025
Link to Published Article:
From Challenge to Growth: Lessons for Fundraising Success
The Fall season is upon us.
The air shifts, the light softens, and we move toward the close of the calendar year. This is the most vibrant stretch of our work: Giving Tuesday, year-end campaigns and the intensified giving that sustains our mission.
This season is more than deadlines and goals. It is a magnifying lens that reminds us how fortunate we are to work in the space of change-making, where every day brings opportunities to encourage philanthropy, uplift communities and strengthen organizations. Our professional world is filled with donors, community members and colleagues deeply invested in the cause. Few professions give us such a clear view of how compassion and commitment turn vision into impact.
Yet, alongside this privilege lies an unspoken truth. Our work is demanding. We navigate expectations, balance organizational needs with personal lives and often encounter stress, miscommunication or unrealistic goals. The good news is that these challenges can be catalysts for growth, if we meet them with courage, humility and a learning mindset.
As a mentor, advisor and proud member of the AFP-NYC community, I have seen how focusing on one challenge at a time can unlock better understanding, improved communication and meaningful change. Below are three specific challenges I have confronted, along with lessons that may help us see them through a fresh lens.
Challenge One:
Navigating Difficult Dynamics within the Organization
Lesson: Strengthen Collaboration through Trust
A mentee once described tension between program executives and development staff. Some program staff felt that development and marketing “dramatized success stories” to appeal to donors. Within any organization, it can be difficult to fully understand another department’s methodology, which often leads to misinterpretation or judgment.
One way to overcome this is to build trust with those who are skeptical. In this case, the development professional attended more program events to gain first-hand understanding of the community and invited program colleagues to review and shape communication with stakeholders. The result was greater mutual respect and stronger collaboration.
At the heart of fundraising is relationship-building, not only with donors but also with the colleagues who walk the path to impact alongside us.
Challenge Two:
Feeling Overwhelmed with Seasonal Tasks
Lesson: Strengthen Collaboration through Trust
Development professionals are multi-talented. We are storytellers and negotiators. We are compassionate yet assertive, energetic yet patient. We listen deeply, speak with conviction, steward donors, model leadership, manage events, track data and solve problems. Each of us should be self-aware of what we do best and where we welcome help. Fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint.
It is no surprise that the last quarter of the year can feel overwhelming. To prevent burnout, set realistic goals and manage expectations of others. When someone is available to share the effort, accept it with grace. Communicate clearly about what needs to be done and where you need help. Clarity is a strength: when you invite others to share the workload, you not only relieve pressure but also deepen everyone’s sense of participation.
Challenge Three:
Uncertainty About
Career Growth
Lesson: Embrace Lifelong Learning as a Path to Advancement
Even with four academic degrees and my CFRE, I continue to nurture growth through continuing education, mentorship and learning opportunities. Every professional should balance what is needed in the current role with what will elevate them for the future.
The joy of self-growth is as important as professional advancement. Choose learning that fits your aspirations, time and budget, but also inspires and fulfills you. The AFP community is an extraordinary place to do this. Participate in upcoming events, join our mentorship program, explore training opportunities, volunteer or simply invite a peer for a brief conversation to exchange wisdom. Professional development is not only about acquiring new skills. It is about staying renewed and grounded for the long journey of self-growth and leadership. In an ever-learning mode, we get inspired and new doors open for our consideration and our exploration.
As we enter this season of intensity and giving, let us remember that the challenges of our work are also part of its unique rewards. Growth does not come only from year-end totals but from being present in the journey, tending to relationships and appreciating the privilege of walking this path together.
May this Fall be a season of achievement, inspiration, and purpose. Let us approach each hurdle as an opportunity for self-growth.
Every challenge is an opportunity to reflect, think, and act, and when you need a compass, remember my personal motto: Progress over Perfection!
Q&As and Key Takeaways from the Article
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The article highlights that in situations of tension, such as between program staff and development staff, the path to better collaboration is to build trust — for instance, by attending program events and inviting program colleagues to shape communications.
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The author suggests setting clear priorities, accepting help when it is offered, communicating what you need, and pacing your work, reminding us that fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint. -
Embracing lifelong learning is essential. The author notes that beyond current tasks, professionals should pursue continuing education, mentorship, and opportunities that renew and ground them for long-term growth.
Dr. Pazit Levitan
Pazit Levitan, Ed.D. CFRE is a seasoned nonprofit executive who serves on the board of AFP-NYC, an AFP-NYC Mentorship Committee Member, and a Mentor in AFP-NYC and AFP’s Women’s Impact Initiative. Pazit is the Founder of a boutique advisory firm called The Path to Impact for nonprofit leaders, where she inspires success through strategic counsel with proven, practical tactics and a personal approach.
