2022 was hard... but don't give up!

2022 was hard... and if you feel like you’re running to the Christmas break, you are not alone.?

This year we came out of two years of COVID restrictions, leaving many Australians fatigued.

And while the tank may have felt low, demand for not-for-profit services reached an all-time high.?

2022 was challenging for us too.?

Demand for our services grew 50%, right when our team was going through a massive change.

We said goodbye to key team members at inconvenient times. Borders re-opened, leaving us (along with every other organisation) navigating how to work in a world of hybrid meetings and different time zones. And hiring was impossible! One role took us over 12 months to fill.?

It all meant that, no matter what we did, our team had to take on massive workloads. It was painful to see those who give so much, be stretched even further. I chose to work longer hours, weekends and nights to ease the pain and find our new team members.??

We’ve hired many wonderful people and grown to a global agency of 42.

?But coming to the end of this year, I am most grateful to those I’ve started referring to as the “Class of 2022”. The 25 staff members who remained from January to December, committed to ntegrity’s clients, committed to each cause, and committed to helping good grow.

Together they helped raise $22M for our clients.

It is a testament to their commitment and their perseverance. It was a joy to celebrate them at our recent Christmas party. ?

So if you’ve had a tough 2022 marked by perseverance, I'm writing to encourage you to please hang in there.

The work you do matters, and you are integral to it.

Why?

• For the first time in 20 years, poverty is increasing because of COVID.?
• 50 million people are facing famine due to the conflict in Ukraine and drought in the horn of Africa.
• 1 in 5 Australians experienced a mental health condition last year, with young people bearing the brunt of our mental health crisis.
• In the fight against climate change Australia has the highest emissions per capita amongst its key trading partners.
• And while many are wealthier than ever in Australia, there is a huge gap between those with and those without – today,? 10% of Australian households own 46% of our national wealth.

History shows that wherever gaps appear, not-for-profits are there. Not-for-profits are quintessentially market led — you exist because there is a market need. If not you, then who?

For not-for-profits to succeed they need bold and stable leadership. They need empathetic and talented staff that can persevere. Tenure brings wisdom and trust, the necessary and often overlooked foundation of innovation!?

So do not give up. Remain committed. Your resilience, persistence and belief in a bolder, brighter future is central to your cause.?

Your organisation needs you. Creating change takes commitment.?

With all that in mind, I’ll leave you my strategic recommendation for the holidays:

Enjoy a well earned break!