As the long days of summer stretch on, many nonprofit leaders and event planners find themselves in a familiar mid-year rut. You’ve been sprinting since January—managing fundraising campaigns, organizing spring events, showing up for your team, and chasing down a million moving parts. August, while quiet on the surface, often carries the weight of everything that still needs to happen before the end of the year.

It’s the perfect time to pause.

This month, instead of pushing through the burnout, we encourage you to lean into the slower pace and use August as a strategic reset. Below are four practical strategies to help you recharge personally and professionally—so you can finish the year stronger, not just busier.

1. Self-Care Starts with Boundaries (Especially in Leadership)

In mission-driven work, it’s easy to blur the line between personal passion and professional burnout. But sustainable impact only happens when leaders model balance.

Try this:

• Block one full day each week with no meetings (and honor it!).
• Set communication boundaries: “no replies after 6 PM” can be life-changing.
• Use August to schedule a short vacation or mental health day—even if it’s just a Friday off.
• Revisit your calendar and ask: What can go? What needs to stay?

A well-rested leader creates space for creativity, empathy, and better decision-making—qualities your team and mission rely on.

2. Delegate Smarter for Fall Event Planning

Fall is often packed with galas, fundraising events, and holiday campaigns. The temptation? Doing it all yourself. The reality? You’ll burn out before October.

Use August to:

• Review your event task list and highlight what only you can do. Everything else? Delegate.
• Consider bringing in interns, volunteers, or freelance event support.
• Empower team members to lead specific event elements—give ownership, not just tasks.
• Use collaborative tools like Asana, Trello, or Notion to keep planning transparent and organized.

Delegation isn’t about letting go of control—it’s about building trust and multiplying impact.

3. Automate and Streamline Outreach

Marketing, donor outreach, RSVP tracking—it’s a lot. August is the ideal time to audit your communications and identify where technology can give you time back.

Easy wins:

• Schedule your fall newsletters or campaign emails now using platforms like Mailchimp or Constant Contact.
• Use templates for grant follow-ups or donor thank-you emails.
• Set up automation for event confirmations, reminders, or feedback forms.
• Repurpose evergreen content on social media—don’t reinvent the wheel every week.

The more you streamline now, the more present you can be during the busiest months ahead.

4. Use August to Retreat, Reflect, and Refocus

Whether it’s a formal team retreat or an informal strategy session, August is the perfect window to check in with your people. Before the fall chaos kicks in, give your team a chance to breathe—and dream.

Retreat ideas that don’t require big budgets:

• Host a half-day vision session with your staff or board
• Ask each team member to bring one idea that would make fall more impactful—and more fun
• Take your team off-site for a picnic or walk-and-talk meeting
• Reflect on what’s working, what’s not, and what’s needed for a strong Q4

Sometimes stepping back is the best way to move forward.

Final Thoughts

Burnout isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a signal. And August is your invitation to slow down, reset your rhythm, and rebuild a foundation that can carry you through the most demanding months of the year.

Whether you’re planning events, managing a nonprofit, or juggling both—this summer, give yourself permission to breathe. Your mission will be stronger because of it. Xoxo.