The Funding Coach

01/11/2026

01/11/2026

People want to help.
But they won’t search for how.

Explain the need.
Make giving easy.
Ask clearly.

thefundingcoach.ca

01/10/2026

Sustainable funding doesn’t start with grants or donors.
It starts with clarity.

Can you explain:
• Why your organization exists?
• How you are changing the problem you’re solving?

If not, funding will always feel hard.

Learn more at thefundingcoach.ca

01/10/2026

Sustainable funding doesn’t start with grants or donors.
It starts with clarity.

Can you explain:
• Why your organization exists?
• How you are changing the problem you’re solving?

If not, funding will always feel hard.

Learn more at thefundingcoach.ca

01/04/2026

Know Your Purpose. Funding Lesson 2
If fundraising feels heavy, exhausting, or stuck…
it’s rarely a tactics problem.

It’s a clarity problem.

When your purpose is clear, donors lean in.
When it’s not, every ask feels harder than it should.

Before another campaign.
Before another grant.
Before another late night wondering why it’s not working—

Get clear.

01/04/2026

We Are The Victims of our own Success. Why Do Nonprofit Leaders Burn Out - Part 3

No matter the size of your organization, you may be among the 70% of nonprofit leaders currently experiencing burnout. There are many reasons leaders struggle, yet we often overlook one of the most obvious.

We can easily become victims of our own success. Nonprofit leaders are some of the most creative, committed, and hard-working people, which makes this cycle easier to fall into than you might expect.

In business, as you build a reputation for what you do well, it brings in more clients, and with them, more revenue. In the nonprofit world, as you become known for what you do well, it also brings in more clients, but 'YOU' must then find more funding to serve them.

This is the core of the problem: the cycle never ends. The better you are, the bigger the need, the bigger the cost.

Nonprofit leaders tend to be highly compassionate people. That compassion often leads to weak boundaries and difficulty saying no to those in need. Over time, this creates constant pressure to do more, serve more, and stretch further.

Eventually, leaders reach a place where the level of need exceeds their capacity and skill set to fund it. This leads to chronic stress, feelings of failure, and ultimately, burnout.

This is where new skills are required. As needs increase, income generation must change. Boundaries must change. Limits must be set.

These are not easy shifts to make alone. Leaders need space to talk, to share frustrations, and to have someone walk alongside them through the changes that are necessary.

Let’s take some time to talk.

www.thefundingcoach.ca

12/30/2025

Why Are Over 70% of Nonprofit Leaders Currently Burning Out?

I love people who make things happen.They create systems and organizations to better their community. They feel deeply responsible for the mission. They will do anything to keep things going……Yes almost anything. Sacrifice time, family, health, sanity. This is not sustainable.

In many ways, we become victims of our own success. The better we do at fulfilling our mission, the more the community asks us to help. The need never stops. There is always more to do.

Add to this the growing economic struggles we’re seeing everywhere. The number of individuals and families needing help continues to rise, creating yet another layer of pressure. You know it’s not just about maintaining what you’re doing heading into 2026, you already know you’ll be expected to do more.

The reason you’re in your position is because you care. You want to help. You want to make a difference in the place you serve. People with high levels of compassion often end up working in nonprofits, faith groups, and community organizations.

What makes leading a nonprofit especially stressful is that the most compassionate, community-minded people are often asked to do work they were never trained or equipped to do. Most nonprofit leaders end up becoming fundraisers, or what I call “money entrepreneurs” by necessity, not by choice.

For example, in college I learned how to run youth programs. No one ever taught us how to pay for those programs, how to fund staff positions, cover salaries, or build sustainable funding models.

So here you are. You’re being asked to do something you may have zero training for. You’re being asked to do more of it. And everyone is depending on you.

That’s stress.

And this is a big reason why 95% of nonprofit leaders say burnout is a major concern, and 70% say they are currently experiencing burnout.

This is also why I now help leaders in nonprofits, faith groups, and community organizations develop the skills they need to sustain their work. For over 25 years, I worked in organizations that relied on constant funding, from donors, offerings, grants, and government sources.

I personally carried the weight of raising hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, and millions for large projects. I burned myself out doing it.

What’s changed? I now focus my time on the things that produce the greatest results, and I’ve learned to let a lot of things go.
If all of this sounds way to familiar, I would love to talk with you.

To be a place where you can be encouraged. A place where you can voice your stress. And together, we can discover ways to help your organization thrive, while you get your life back.
Dave

The Funding Coach
https://www.facebook.com/thefundingcoachonline/
https://thefundingcoach.ca/www.instagram.com/davesawler

12/27/2025

You may be in trouble. Thinking about starting a new year may feel completely overwhelming.

As of this year, 95% of nonprofit leaders say burnout is a major concern, and 70% say they are currently experiencing burnout. What’s even more concerning is that, despite how high these numbers already are, they continue to rise.

The pressure on nonprofits is growing as community needs increase. People are struggling to afford food, find safe and affordable housing, pay for heat, and cover other essentials. The organizations trying to help are being stretched beyond their capacity.

I want to encourage you: it doesn’t have to stay this way.
Yes, the needs may grow even larger next year, and your organization will still have to navigate how to respond. But with the right strategy and a clear plan, it is possible to reduce stress, lighten workloads, and prevent burnout.

I’ve had the privilege of leading several nonprofits, overseeing building projects, and being actively involved in creating new community centres. That work has been incredibly meaningful and rewarding.

At the same time, it came at a cost. I burned out. Recovery took years. The constant pressure, endless fundraising, ongoing worry, and stress eventually became too much. If you’re feeling this way, you are not alone. In fact, you’re in the majority.

As we head into a new year, I want to invite you to consider making a change. Ask for help. Seek encouragement. Find people you can talk to. Learn how to address your organization’s needs without sacrificing your sanity.

I help nonprofit leaders who are struggling by building long-term funding strategies and clear cases for support. My goal is to make your work easier, reduce pressure on you and your team, lighten your workload, prevent burnout, and help you serve your community more effectively.

If this resonates with you, let’s talk.
Dave�The Funding Coach

The Funding Coach
www.thefundingcoach.cawww.instagram.com/davesawler