Why Does Fundraising Feel So Hard?

Spoiler: It’s not you. It’s likely not just one thing; it’s a culmination of issues. 

If you’ve ever ended a workday or workweek thinking, “Why is this so hard?” 
You’re not alone. 

Fundraising can feel like an uphill battle: chasing down donors, scrambling to meet goals, managing one-too-many spreadsheets, planning events (yuck) and trying to inspire action in a noisy, distracted world. But here’s the thing: 

It doesn’t have to be this hard. 

At FourPoints Collective, we work with nonprofits across the country who all say the same thing: We know our mission matters. We just can’t figure out why it’s so hard to fund it. 

So, we dig in. And almost every time, we find the same thing: 

It’s not a motivation problem 

It’s not a mission problem. 

It’s a structure problem.  

Let’s break it down the FourPoints framework: 

1. Systems 

Broken systems, or no real systems at all, make everything harder. You’re using tools that don’t talk to each other, tracking donors in outdated spreadsheets, or managing relationships with no clear plan. Most teams are just trying to keep up, not scale up. No wonder it feels exhausting. 

2. People 

Even the best people can struggle without clear direction, we’ve seen it so many times. And, they feel exhausted, like failures, when what they need is a clear path to success. 

We also often see the wrong people in the wrong roles, or high-potential team members burning out because they’re being asked to do everything. Leadership isn’t always sure how to structure a team for growth or what “good” fundraising leadership really looks like. So, nothing moves. 

3. Impact 

You know the work is meaningful. But do your donors? Are you telling the right story? Too many organizations forget to share the impact with the people who make it possible. Donors don’t just want a thank you. They want to know what they’re helping solve. And when they don’t see it, they disengage. 

4. Innovation 

Fundraising has evolved. Has your organization? We’re living in a time where you can analyze your data using AI, send handwritten cards with one click, and automate moves management or prospect plans across an entire portfolio. Yet many nonprofits are still stuck in old habits because innovation feels overwhelming or “too corporate.” That mindset is costing you. 

This is why we built FourPoints. To help organizations fix what feels hard. 

Sometimes it’s one point. More often, it’s all four. We don’t believe in fluff, Band-Aids, or shiny one-size-fits-all solutions. We believe in structure, strategy, and fixing what’s broken so your fundraising actually works. 

What happens when your systems are solid, your people are empowered, your impact is clear, and your tools are working for you? 

Then you can finally focus on what really matters. 

• Bringing your donors joy. 

• Telling stories that move them. 

• Sharing numbers that show what donors made possible. 

• And being curious. Curious about what brings them joy, so you can raise more by building real relationships that last. 

Fundraising at its heart shouldn’t feel like a scramble. I’ve always told those I coach to think of themselves as “Brokers of Joy” – when you do that, fundraising feels like a connection, like progress.  That’s what we will always aim to create at FourPoints.   

Now, go out and be your best Broker of Joy today – find one donor to connect with and share the impact of their giving through a real-life story. A story of how their philanthropy is funding your mission. Trust us. It won’t just feel good to the donor; it will fuel your soul too.