Staying Human in Nonprofit Work: Amy Busch on Fundraising, Burnout, and Boundaries

nicole: [00:00:00] Hi Amy. Thank you so much for joining us today. I am really excited to, uh, hear a little bit about your journey and hear a little bit more about you. 

Amy: Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it. 

nicole: Of course. So, if you could introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your nonprofit journey. What led you into this work and what keeps you inspired today?

Amy: Uh. So my journey, gosh, um, probably started when I was in childhood because my parents were very active, still are in nonprofit, volunteer work, and in their church. Um, and I was a Girl scout, so you know, we had a deal for our service volunteer work. Uh, it’s always been super involved in nonprofit work. Uh, but really after college I wanted to do environmental work and I had no idea what that would look like.

Right. Um, and kind of through AmeriCorps, I [00:01:00] connected with some nonprofits and some marine education. Spaces and fell in love with that. And next thing I know, I was working at a camp teaching kids how to snorkel and kayak and all about the ocean. Um, and I did kind of. Seasonal education work, uh, for a long time.

Uh, and then, uh, got my first real kind of permanent nonprofit job for the Catalina Island Conservancy and realized I didn’t really understand the business side of nonprofits, um, and wanted to learn more how that worked and how you get funding and all that. So I went back to grad school, got a master’s in environmental education and a certificate in nonprofit management.

Um, so it was a great combo. Um, and that really set me up to kind of where I am now today. I ran a youth program for like eight years. Um, and then [00:02:00] realizing I was getting a little tired of doing that and wanted to try something different and was already kind of running. You know, writing my own grants and fundraising for my own program.

And so I jumped ship to another nonprofit and helped them launch a capital campaign and got really invested in development work and really love, I just love getting to know people. I think that’s why I love this work. Um, and development work is really that joy to me of. Getting to know people, learning their values, aligning their values and their joy to the organization’s mission, and really having that opportunity to see them light up to fill it.

The, they’re part of something bigger than themselves. Um, they’re leaving that legacy. They’re tied to their community ’cause they’re giving back as well. And I am continuing that development work. I am now with, um, Oregon Rural Action, helping them build a development program and. Connect rural communities to the great work [00:03:00] they’re doing.

Um, and it just continues to bring me joy. 

nicole: That’s amazing. I love how, I love that you started in the program space. Obviously it started at a very young age and you had great role models to show you kind of giving back and the what joy that can actually bring to you. Uh, but when you get to work in like the front lines and see the impact you’re making directly and then share that with the.

Potential donor. I just always appreciate that full circle moment when, when that all comes together and how you are finding value aligned people to meet the organization’s needs and getting to see that like excitement and joy. And I love how you said like. Seeing something bigger than themselves or being part of something bigger than themselves.

I think that’s like one of the biggest pieces of fundraising and that development work is really creating those legacies for people. So I love, I love that that’s someone like you is in this space to help bring that to life for folks. It’s amazing. [00:04:00] 

Amy: And they’re just neat people, right? You get to know their personal lives and what 

nicole: Yeah.

Amy: You know, some of ’em, some of my donors I’ve worked with are like 75 plus years. Old, I mean, one of ’em is in their nineties and just learning their journey of life and, and the expertise and what they’ve seen. I mean, I’m just in awe of what they’ve accomplished. 

nicole: That’s awesome. It’s so good. Um, so I, I’m, as I have an assumption of what you’re gonna say here, but I’m so curious now, um, what part of the work lights you up the most?

Is there a story impacts, uh, moment that reminds you why you’re doing what you do? 

Amy: Uh, again, like I said, I think those one-to-one relationships, um, and how they trickle out. Um, so one of the last organizations I worked for, a former board member just loved the mission, right? And she had such a great mindset that I love it.

So [00:05:00] my friends will love it. So I’m gonna invite them and I’m not gonna make any assumptions on their capacity to give. And it’s such a unique mindset. Most people don’t have that. And she would, she would invite all her friends and pay for their tickets to events and be like, it’s a fundraiser so you know what to do.

Uh, and was just so unashamed about that. But the neat thing was is she would sure I got an introduction, right? And so then I could make that relationship with the organization from their friends and that friendship. Her friends became bigger and bigger, and then they invited their friends and it just rippled out from that one relationship.

And that was just so cool to see how one person could create all these connections and create kind of a movement, um, just through her fun friend group. Uh, and they just. When I talked to her, she would always [00:06:00] be like, guess what we talked about? And they would talk about the mission and the organization and how they were so excited to go together again and, and do this together.

And it just created a sense of community and belonging, which I think we’re all really seeking right now. 

nicole: Yeah, I couldn’t agree more. And what a dream me board member. That’s like the best of the best, right? 

Amy: Yes. 

nicole: Um, and I love that, you know, bringing people in. She’s the one really passionate about it and she’s the one speaking you.

You barely have to like probably share much because she’s already kind of filled in those spaces for you. Um, I love that. And you’re right, community is so needed right now and I think people are just feeling. Detached from some of these pieces and when we can bring impact and things that people are really passionate about into their lives and they actually get a chance to see it, it’s so beautiful.

Um, what a, what a cool opportunity to do that. 

Amy: Mm-hmm. Yeah. And it was, [00:07:00] it was just fun. They were always my most lively table at any event because they were just so excited to be there. 

nicole: That’s awesome. So what’s one challenge or shift you’re currently navigating in your organization or in the sector across the board?

Um, how are you approaching it and what kind of support do you think would help? 

Amy: I think the biggest, if you’re thinking across the board mm-hmm. It all just seems like there’s so much need. There’s so much we need to do right now. Feels everything feels urgent. Um. Especially in rural, I’m in a very rural part of Oregon and northeast Oregon and rural communities have a little less access to resources, uh, talent and to funding.

We just get funded a lot less than urban. Uh. Nonprofits. Um, and, but the needs just as great. The problems are just as sophisticated. Um, our relationships are deep in the community because we live in these communities, we’re experiencing the same things, [00:08:00] and so it’s just, it’s exhausting, I guess, is like.

That kind of constant of like, I’m not doing enough. We don’t have enough resources, we don’t have enough funding. We need to do all these things. We need all this infrastructure. We, we don’t have access to this infrastructure. We don’t have the funding to get the infrastructure, uh, the communities are looking at is like, help, help, help.

Right? And that gets, it’s hard to go home and sometimes take that hat off and just. Remind yourself to still find joy and still live and still do all the things you’re passionate about and it’s okay to go do them and just be happy. Right. Um, I feel like it feels so heavy that you have to be in this like doom state all the time.

nicole: There is definitely a level of, um. Almost like this need to constantly be doing something in the nonprofit [00:09:00] sector. Like I always, any nonprofit professional I connect with, it’s like they’re on the cusp of burnout because there’s just so much more You’re nev your to-do list I feel is never done. I come from a world, a world of events, and that was always a thing.

Like I always, there’s always more to do. There’s always something else you can do, but it’s, you know, how it presents at the end of the day. Having that deadline was always helpful, but. In the grand scheme of the nonprofit work, there’s always more you can do. 

Amy: Oh yeah. And does it mean you need to do it all right and do more?

And 

nicole: that’s 

Amy: true. I mean, this is, to me, I’m an athlete. So is this an ultra marathon? Like this is the long haul. Like so how are we training and fueling and taking the rest and the break so you can come back and keep doing it? ’cause if you don’t, you’re just gonna hit a wall and you’re gonna crash. And then we’re seeing that, right.

People leaving the sector or, um, I mean, I’ve had it [00:10:00] too where I’ve had to just like, I gotta, I, I gotta shut off, like completely shut off and take a whole month off. Like, I can’t do this anymore. Um, and. We, we can’t, we can’t keep moving at that pace. 

nicole: Right? No, for sure. And doing that, like taking time for yourself and actually taking the time to find things that bring you joy is so, it’s like it fill my tank.

It I, it fill so many people’s tanks. I actually had the opportunity to read two books on the weekend and I can’t tell you though. Last time I did that, like hard books and I was like, it, it was so refreshing. Um, 

Amy: sounds luxurious, 

nicole: right? I was like, I was at a spa. Um, but yeah, taking the time to do that is, is needed.

And it, it’s also hard because you can feel guilty about doing it as well, but it’s, it is something that, it’s the only way we can get through rest is crucial. So we can continue to do the work. So. [00:11:00] Rest and conversation and community and connection, all those things, um, I think tie into one another. So I’m curious, as a nonprofit Hive member, I’m curious if you’ve had any conversations or connections through the nonprofit hive that have helped shape your perspective.

Uh, this could be a person you met, an idea that struck or simply just the, the feeling of not being. 

Amy: I think the feeling of not being alone, um, it found you all right. When I was at a really low point in my life, um, in my work, uh, I actually got laid off from my last position. And so I was kind of like, whoa, what do I do now?

What do I wanna do? Um, and being in a real rural, small community, you know, my connections were pretty. Small in terms of like thinking of more regional or national work. And so it was great to find you and have conversations one-on-one with people. [00:12:00] People had been gone through the same thing, been laid off themselves and gave me wonderful advice as my first time I’ve ever experienced that.

So how to kind of rest and recruit and take that time to really rediscover my passion. Uh, it was talking with people who were like, oh yeah. This is happening across the board. It happened to my friend. This is the nonprofit sector. Like, I was like, man, I wish I would’ve found you all sooner. So I would’ve been able to, you know, when I was struggling at work, have kind of have that conversation, realize like, oh, I’m not alone in this, in terms of that fear of losing funding and, you know, cutting kind of non-essential positions.

Right. Um, so yeah, just, it’s just been a joy to meet people. Not just in the US but Canada overseas. Like I talked to someone who was in Spain living in a tree house. I mean, it was the coolest experience ever. She showed me around on her computer. Um, so it was just a fun [00:13:00] way every Thursday to be like, I have a fun conversation to look forward to.

nicole: That’s awesome. And I agree. I think there is something about, I love the tree house, but like just having somebody to connect with that understands it and gets it and it can be hard work, it can be lonely. There are a ton of layoffs happening and just taking the time again, it’s almost like a moment to pause and find joy within the folks working in the space.

Um, ’cause it is a lot of work and I think. The current reality with the nonprofit sector can also be daunting because there’s so many things like that happening. Um, so knowing that we’re in it together and having conversations that are potentially thinking differently about how we operate in the sector, maybe sometimes a layoff is the best thing that could actually happen to somebody because it gives them time to rest.

And actually, like you said, take the time to find what they’re passionate about again, because when you’re in the grind, you kind [00:14:00] of forget. What you love doing. So because, you know, it’s just like, I have to do this, I have to do this. And you don’t get the time to stop and actually think. So I find there, there are odd mixed blessings in those moments of rest.

Um, even if it’s forced. Mm-hmm. Um, but having these conversations and getting to connect with people who have already gone through that makes it a little easier, I think. And I, yeah. 

Amy: Yeah. Yeah, and like, like I mentioned earlier, I think that sense of belonging and connection is, is huge. And many times when you’re in the sector and in your little silo and in your little kind of part of the nonprofit world, you forget like, oh, we’re all experiencing this.

I’m not alone. Okay. This is normal. Okay. I know how to kind of, it helps you kind of like the anxiety go like way down. Yeah. 

nicole: Yeah. Yeah. So with that, what’s one insight, resource or mindset that’s helped you [00:15:00] recently and might help others, um, in the community too. 

Amy: So one of my, I hired a job coach and she’s been kind of coaching me in my new position and she said, that’s er, it’s good to set boundaries early.

nicole: Ooh. 

Amy: Um, it’s hard to reset ’em later. So she’s, she had me think about what boundary that I always wish I had in my other jobs. That I was not good about really doing. Um, and that you really wanna be intentional in your new job. And mine was always working through lunch. 

nicole: Mm-hmm. 

Amy: And then I would crash and thinking like, I’ll get a little bit more done.

Um, and so this new job, I’ve been really good at turning off my computer at noon and taking a 30 minute actually eating my lunch. Stepping away from the computer, not taking my phone with me. Um, and just having, even if it’s [00:16:00] just sitting in quiet or reading something or watching silly, like. Cat video, something just to lighten my day.

nicole: Yeah. 

Amy: Um, for that 30 minutes has really made the day go much joy, like the afternoon be so much easier. Um, and so I know it’s harder to set boundaries once you kind of establish in a routine. Um, but I would seriously try to figure out how to find a way to have just a pause in the day, um, where you’re just not doing work.

Um, and I, ’cause I think many times we forget to do that and, and fuel ourselves. 

nicole: Setting boundaries. I have been saying that’s my goal for my forties in a whole decade to like build that muscle. Um, but it’s so important and, uh, like you, you shared such a easy, like anyone can relate to working through lunch, right?

Everything seems urgent. Of course, I’m gonna work through lunch, but [00:17:00] then that just creates that pace all day and you constantly feel like you’re. That, that you need to get that one thing done off the checklist. Um, that’s awesome. I think the really important reminder that most of us know, but it’s hard to continue to instill it into our daily routine.

Even like breath work. I find that something that I’m just trying when I’m feeling like that ongoing list that I am constantly checking things off and then. Onto the next thing quickly. I’m trying to like pause and actually take even a minute just to like deep breaths. Mm-hmm. Before I jump into that next task.

Um, ’cause it’s important to pause and it’s important to like Yes. Celebrate that win for checking something off your list some days and then taking the minute to before you move to the next one. 

Amy: Yeah. That was probably one of my development mentors. That was his Always His thing is taking time. To [00:18:00] celebrate, uh, especially in development work.

He’s like, after a big fundraising event or appeal or you brought in a major donor that you’ve been working on for six months, he always made sure, uh, we finished work early. He liked to go get a beer, um, but, you know, do something that we would just go and celebrate, have a beer together and talk about life and, and enjoy what the work we did.

’cause he’s like, tomorrow you’re gonna hit the ground running again. Um, especially in development work, right? It’s like, 

nicole: yeah. 

Amy: Staff, the organization’s like, okay, when’s the next money coming in? And if you don’t stop to celebrate, he says, you’ll never, you’ll forget why you’re doing what you’re doing. 

nicole: It’s true.

So true. So, Amy, where can people find you if they’re interested in connecting with you? 

Amy: Uh, you can. You can find me on LinkedIn. I’m on LinkedIn, of course. Um, you can always, uh, reach out to me through work at Oregon Rural Action. It’s [00:19:00] ab@oregonrural.org. Um, and love to connect, especially if you’re in the rural space.

There’s very few of us out here. 

nicole: Love it. Thank you so much. It’s been such a pleasure connecting and getting to learn a little bit more about you. 

Amy: You too. Thank you so much, Nicole. 

nicole: Pleasure.