Work setbacks are nailing me...

[redfox]

I am a half time exec director, contract/consultant, of a very small national org. This year has been grueling, with a board prez who was completely dysfunctional. She stepped down a few weeks ago, thank God, and the person who has stepped up is awesome, luckily. We are running out of $$, and this board just isn't picking up the absolute necessity of fundraising, and NOW. And they have been burning through $$ for 3 years - long before I came into the picture. We're also burning through board members. The person I have felt the most support from is 73, and tired. She picked up the slack when the prez's behavior became erratic, but she's done too, understandably.

When I came on, I was able to create an Ops Mgr position, half time, to handle all the ops stuff so I could do big picture stuff, and I hired the BEST staffer! She has kept me sane, literally. Today she gave notice. I have been curled in a ball with a glass of cognac ever since I got home.... when I wasn't crying in my husband's arms (so hard to drink when sobbing). I don't care any more. I cannot function with my only solid support gone. If I was FI, I'd be gone too. I'm 57, and freaked out about getting another job. And I am fighting depression. Some intense Samhain this is... all I want to do is shriek and throw things. But it's late, and I'm trying to stay in my adult self. Thanks for listening.

[iris lily]

Ack.Sorry to hear this.

[lhamo]

Oh, redfox -- I'm so sorry! You deserve better, and I'm confident you'll find it.

Can you bring on someone as an unpaid intern from one of the non-profit management programs in Seattle? I have an old grad school friend who I think is teaching courses in the program at Seattle U -- I could ask her if she knows anybody who would be up to the challenge. I know it is better to pay people, but the reality is that people really need experience to get started in the field, and the job market is so bad maybe someone in school would be willing to help for free for awhile (especially if it could potentially turn into something paid depending on how the fundraising goes). Maybe if you have help to mount a good fundraising campaign before the end of the year you can get things turned around. She might also know of places that could use your help and that are run more professionally (her area is in immigration-related stuff, so knows a lot about organizations in the International district, which would at least be a close commute)

If the financial situation is so dire and really unfixable, can you ask them to lay you off so you can at least get unemployment? That might at least be better than going down with a sinking ship. Does that work for a part-time position?

Hang in there, you'll come through this. We're all pulling for you.

lhamo

[lhamo]

PS: This would be a sucky commute and a step backwards from being ED, but it's full time and maybe a bit more stable than the field you're currently in (lots of foundation support for early childhood stuff these days):

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/npo/3375894105.html

[lhamo]

And here's a place that could use your strategic planning/development skills:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/npo/3372895624.html

[lhamo]

OK, one more -- a job at Goodwill!

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/npo/3365236174.html

[Float On]

I love lhamo's idea of an intern because you just can't get a job in non-profit without experience.
I'm sorry this has turned out to be such a mess. Any job that leaves a person in tears......is it worth it? It sounds like this non-profit is on it's downswing...is it worth saving?

[razz]

Oh, yuck.. Hugs and best wishes for a speedy resolution through this.

[SteveinMN]

My sympathies, redfox! All of that takes a poor situation and just makes it worse.

The internship idea is a good one, though it kind of puts you on the hook for being there until that person is up to speed. In my experience, however, without some big changes, dysfunction just loops on itself. No one person can put it asunder. You may just be better off taking advantage of the FI you have and moving to a more healthy workplace.

[redfox]

OK, one more -- a job at Goodwill!

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/npo/3365236174.html

Ha! You totally know my soft spot... thank you, and yes, I'd love to talk with your friend at SU, for both intern ideas and other options for me. I'll PM my contact info. Sadly, I cannot get unemployment as I am a contract staff - my choice. And at this point, I don't care if something else is a step down from ED. I could use a break. It's been 10 years since I've been in a position that I felt respected and valued. That's a really long time to force myself to work every day... I know ED work is burnout work; the average duration is 18 months. I've surpassed that in this position, but it's hardly worth it when I cannot make a positive impact.

[JaneV2.0]

The veil is thin...I read somewhere this is a good time to meditate on advice from some other dimension. Here's a little from the Eastside dimension: Run away! Or at least ramp up your looking. There's nothing like a hellish work environment to work you over, healthwise. It's a difficult situation; I hope you can exit quickly and smoothly. Consider yourself hugged.

[fidgiegirl]

Boo redfox!!! I have no advice, also just hugs :(

[Spoony]

I once interviewed for an Exec. Director position with a local charitable organization that provided summer and winter camps for disabled children. I had multiple interviews, the final interview before the Board of Directors. The Board consisted of seven very unique personalities.

During the two-hour long interview, various members of the Board openly bickered with each other and disagreed on the direction of the charity and even what my duties were supposed to be. I got home, completely exhausted due to the conflict and realized that working there would have been career suicide. I promptly sent a polite email withdrawing myself from consideration.

They hired an ED and I saw the same ad for the same position 3-4 months later and although still unemployed, I DID NOT apply for it. I went on to find a great job and thus far, am very happy. Your situation might be the universe's way to tell you that it's time to move on. I wish you the best.

[Lainey]

I second Spoony's thoughts about this maybe being a wakeup call. So sorry to hear you've got to deal with this, though.

[Zoe Girl]

Just hugs, I don't have any advice honestly but I can tell this is really stressful. I would love to have back a few people who have worked for me over the years and I didn't get to work with them long. They weren't perfect but a good match for my work style

[Blackdog Lin]

Echoing all the sympathies you've received - and agree that perhaps it's time to look elsewhere. A stressful job that sends you home in tears.....too yucky. Sending good vibes for happy resolutions for you.....

[redfox]

Thanks for the wonderful empathy, sympathy, and feedback. I have been wondering how to make the jump into the for-profit world... Any advice?

[SteveinMN]

Network. Figure out what you like to do and what you're good at, and start talking with people who do that kind of thing or ask people you know who in their organizations might do that kind of thing. When I was looking to get out of IT, I did pretty well with calling up the real estate agent friends of mine and RE agents of family members and (non-work) friends -- and then inviting them to lunch or coffee/drink after work to just chat about the field. No pressure, no handing over of resumes, just learning more from someone who actually is in the field. Very valuable and it leads to other contacts, as well.

You could try LinkedIn as an on-line resource, but if you want to keep your job search quiet, that may not be the best option. I'm also of a mixed mind about how useful LinkedIn actually is. It's kind of like Facebook for Business, what with the "friending" and the inevitable trolling of interest groups by people looking to sell something. But if nothing else it lets you establish contact with people you've worked with in the past, and that may help.

Then there are the jobs boards, like monster.com or maybe the Web site run by the professional organization of people who do what you do.

[Lainey]

You can also join local chapters of national groups related to work you're interested in doing: real estate, business consulting, medical field, you name it - they all have some kind of local face-to-face group. To me that's where the real networking happens.
That's where I think LinkedIn can give you info on what's out there. Then just attend the next monthly meeting of which group sounds interesting and take it from there.

[redfox]

Thanks, Lainey & Steve! Great ideas. Will pursue...