Raise your hand if you are bored.

And by “bored,” I don’t mean shuffling in fuzzy socks back and forth between the kitchen and living room sans intention (which, by the way, is an entirely plausible way to spend these gray winter afternoons). The past year has been a harsh reminder that we can be simultaneously busy and bored to tears by our day-to-day experiences.

Are you pasting on a smile for your sixth Zoom call of the day? Cursing the nonstop stream of dirty dishes that manifests out of thin air? Struggling (again) to explain the most recent unprecedented national event to your children?

Somewhat unjustly, hustling through overscheduled days, weeks, and months does not preclude boredom. And the reality is that most of us have been, appropriately and unapologetically, cycling through periods of just not feeling okay.

Our fatigue impacts how we relate to and communicate about our work. Consciously or not, you may have grown apathetic towards your projects or simply find yourself stuck. You’ve read that annual appeal draft 22 (or a million) times. Outlined strategic goals and analyzed donor data until your eyes cross. The simple fact that you are uber familiar with your mission—perhaps living and breathing your work—contributes to creative stickiness.

In what world can you be expected to merge a multitude of campaign goals into one concise and compelling case statement? How will you find and tell stories that elevate your newsletter and website beyond the mundane? Is it humanly possible to unearth a different way to say thanks for your support?

Now picture your donors. Also facing the busy/weary conundrum, members of the philanthropic community receive essentially the same email from dozens of organizations every day. Businesses large and small are using similar taglines about the new year and repetitive, unironic jokes about fuzzy socks.

At some point (probably already), they become bored. They stop reading.

Who could blame them?

You may even find your own organization’s collateral stale. Or you may be too deep into the messaging to recognize the need for a refresh. Either way, unsticking yourself/your team/committee from something so familiar is straight up hard. This is true even in non-pandemic times.

An insider knows more than the average person, tending to use jargon and to assume the reader wants to hear what you want to say. Yet, you are not the audience for your donor messaging—the impact of which is often underestimated. Because written communications can make or break donor loyalty, alumni relationships, and campaign success, language must be crafted specifically for your donors.

Outside counsel can offer insight into how others experience your communications: New eyes on your website can assess and elevate its donor-centricity, while a freelancer’s fresh perspective will zhuzh up your newsletter and a professional storyteller can transform a case statement from a to-do list stressor into a strategic fundraising tool. An external eye proves a welcome antidote to the overworked draft or blank page.

It’s daunting to anticipate another restless season when already exhausted by political turmoil, coronavirus losses, and isolation heartache—all reminders that our work in the nonprofit sector is ever critical to supporting our communities. Let’s commit to helping each other prevent boredom from becoming boring when it comes to making the world a better place.

If you are considering whether hiring a storytelling freelance writer or communications consultant is right for your organization, check out this blog post from last January for tips. And please reach out—I’m here to help!