When I made the decision to transition from my fundraising job to philanthropy, I had a clear purpose in mind. Recognizing the immense power held by funders and their potential to reshape the sector to be more equitable, I was eager to be part of that transformation.

However, my journey within philanthropy took an unexpected turn when I found myself wearing golden handcuffs and ultimately being fired.

The concept of “wearing golden handcuffs” refers to individuals who feel trapped in their jobs due to attractive salaries and benefits, even if they may feel unfulfilled, denied professional growth opportunities, or restricted in their actions and expressions. Financial incentives and fringe benefits create a sense of dependency that can hinder employees’ ability to challenge the status quo, often leading to emotional conflict for the individual or fostering a culture of complacency within the organization.

In my pursuit of contributing to more equitable grantmaking practices, it became apparent that my initial honeymoon period, which boasted an abundance mindset and work-life balance, was really the cuffing of philanthropy’s golden handcuffs. I wrestled with the allure of having a high-paying job with shiny benefits with the desire to translate CCF principles into philanthropy.

In hindsight, I now realize that my golden handcuffs would tighten each time I attempted to challenge the status quo until they finally unhinged during my unanticipated termination.

Read the full article about philanthropy’s golden handcuffs by Andrea Arenas at Community-Centric Fundraising.