Still Standing: What Canadian Fundraisers Told Us – And What We Need to Ask Next

Still Standing: What Canadian Fundraisers Told Us — And What We Need to Ask Next

By Pommashea Noel-Bentley

At AFP COMPASS 2025, we didn’t bring a pitch. We brought a question:

What’s really happening in your fundraising work right now?

We asked that question to development professionals present: executive directors, annual giving staff, major gift officers, and coordinators alike. The responses were raw, honest, and strikingly consistent.

Fundraisers are still standing, but they’re tired. And they’re asking for something deeper than software or another training session. They want support that understands the full weight of the work and what it means to do it well, while under pressure.

We captured their voices in the Peer Snapshot Report — but it’s not a conclusion. It’s a starting point.

Still Standing — But at a Cost

When we asked respondents to describe their past year in one word or phrase, here’s what we heard:

“Non-stop.”
“Grueling but wonderful.”
“Tiring.”
“Chaotic.”
“Collaborative.”
“Experimentation.”

It’s clear that fundraisers are motivated and mission-driven, but also fatigued, stretched, and often navigating big transitions with limited support.

This emotional toll is just as real as any budget cut or campaign shortfall.

Fundraisers Don’t Need More Tools. They Need Trust.

In a sector saturated with platforms and plug-ins, what did respondents ask for?

Strategic planning support / Mentorship and peer learning / Help with campaign readiness / Board alignment / Clearer donor engagement systems

Only a few asked for more consultants. Even fewer prioritized tech.

Fundraisers don’t want more “tools.” They want time, clarity, and alignment. They want trust from leadership, from boards, and from their partners.

What Fundraisers Wish Their Boards Knew

One of the clearest through-lines in the data? The gap between boards and fundraising staff.

Fundraisers told us they’re trying to build compelling cases for support, re-engage donors, and rethink stewardship, while their boards are stuck in old models or unclear on the story.

The need isn’t just tactical. It’s cultural.

We heard calls for:

Board narrative alignment / More listening and less directing / A shift from performance to partnership

A Snapshot Is Not Enough

The Peer Snapshot Report we compiled from AFP COMPASS is just that, a snapshot. One room, one weekend, a handful of honest voices.

But it’s not the whole picture.

To build a more equitable, sustainable, and effective fundraising sector, we need to keep asking and listening. Because the best strategies don’t start with ideas. They start with people.

Add Your Voice: Help Extend the Data

Many fundraisers are responding to a quick poll on LinkedIn, but we want to go deeper.

If you’re ready to share what’s happening in your organization, help us continue the Peer Snapshot series with your voice.

Take the survey: Click Here

It takes just five minutes, and we’ll share back what we learn along with insights you can use.

This isn’t a one-time check-in. It’s part of a broader effort to listen, reflect, and help fundraisers like you move forward — with clarity, support, and strategy.

Explore, Share, Act

Download the Full Peer Snapshot Report: Click Here

Book a Free 30-Minute Strategy Session with Pommashea: Click Here

Because reporting is just step one. Co-creating solutions begins with listening.

Tags:

#AdvanceYourImpact #PeerInsights #FundraisingVoices #SectorRealities #StrategyOverSoftware