I Didn’t Leave the Sector—I Left the System


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I wanted to work in the nonprofit sector so badly.

This was back in 2014(ish), when I was working in oil and gas — an industry that was booming. In Calgary, everyone seemed to work in it. But I had seen something different. I had traveled the world and witnessed the power of community development firsthand — the way local people created lasting change with limited resources and endless heart. I wanted to be part of that.

Eventually, an opportunity came through my network: a role at a local nonprofit. Bing, bang, boom… I was in! I was finally doing the work I had dreamed of. I wanted to make the world a better place.

But somewhere along the way, that dream started to slip.

As responsibilities piled up and the “just one more thing” culture took hold, the work became less about creating change and more about surviving the day. I wasn’t driving impact anymore — I was just trying to stay afloat.

And I know I’m not alone.

So many of us come into this sector bright-eyed and full of hope. But over time, the passion that once lit us up starts to crumble under the weight of expectations, underfunding, and relentless demands. We tell ourselves it’s just a season. But that season never ends.

We’ve been conditioned to believe that struggle is a badge of honour — that the harder we push, the more we prove our worth. But what if we didn’t have to?

What if we could remain wildly passionate and be deeply supported for contributing to the well-being of people and the planet? 

Why is that so hard to imagine?

What’s not being acknowledged is what’s underneath it all — that many of us don’t actually believe we deserve better. By pushing harder, taking on more, never saying no, and letting our to-do lists grow endlessly, we’ve accepted that this is how it is. We believe it needs to be this difficult, because if it’s not, maybe we’re not worth it.

At least, those were the beliefs that lived beneath the surface for me. And I know they live in you too — because I can see the same drive and exhaustion in your eyes that I once saw in my own.

This mindset keeps incredible people stuck in cycles of overgiving and depletion. I see it again and again — leaders, fundraisers, and program staff who’ve lost their spark, their hope, their connection to the very thing that brought them here. And then they leave… 

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

When I left my job in 2021, I didn’t leave the sector — I left the system that told me “doing more” was the only way to make a difference. At the time, I didn’t know there was another way. I didn’t have the tools, the internal safety, or the confidence to use my voice. But I’ve since learned that change begins within — in how we see ourselves, how we value our work, and how we show up.

The sector we love is being held back by the glorification of busyness and cheap labour — by people so busy proving their indispensability that their missions are diluted because of it.

Today, I remain fiercely committed to this sector because I know its power. The nonprofit sector isn’t a side player — it’s the backbone of our communities, the heart of our humanity.

But more than anything, you matter first. And it’s time to start acting like it.

Not from a place of proving, but from a place of resonance. From a place that says: I am vital. This work is necessary. And I’m not going anywhere.

The next time you feel that familiar urge to do more, stop and listen.

Ask yourself: Am I being intentional, or am I just trying to keep up?
One small shift — a pause, a boundary, a belief that you deserve ease — can start to change the system we’re in.

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Sara is dedicated to bridging gaps and reducing barriers so nonprofit leaders and entrepreneurs can create extraordinary impact. With more than 10 years in the nonprofit sector, she has raised millions in funding, designed strategies that strengthen organizational capacity, and developed a reputation for clear, impactful grant strategy. 

As a certified NeuroSomatic Alignment Coach, Sara weaves nervous system knowledge into her consulting and coaching practice to supports clients and organizations in developing a leadership rhythm that is both effective and sustainable.

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