Help -- My volunteer work is now more stressful than my job!

I don't know how I got myself into this situation. I do volunteer work for a small organization that will remain nameless. I didn't want to get too involved, because I have a stressful job and a lot of other things in my life that take time. Nevertheless, the Director liked my work so she kept giving me more and more to do. I'm bad at saying "no," and I really believe in what the organization does, so ended up taking on more and more. But, it's hard, and a lot of work. And the Director is a bit of a control freak and likes everything done "her way." So now my volunteer role has a lot of work, a lot of responsibility, but very little autonomy -- a recipe for STRESS! And, of course, since it's volunteer work, I get paid squat.

But I really really believe in what the organization does, and I really want to help. Also, the Director is now a good friend of mine, even though she's a bit of a control freak, and it would really hurt her, and maybe the organization, if I dropped out. What do I do? Help!

:-(

You really aren't paid enough to take that kind of shit.

but I would imagine tere are similar dynamics in other non-profits.


just a thought:
Take a quiet moment to decide how much time you really have for this charity on a weekly basis. Then reduce that by about 25%.

Go to friend/supervisor and confess to what she seems likely to know -- you're not good at saying 'no' Then tell her you have been debating walking away completely but really think the better course would be to set a reasonable limit on your commitment there. Use the number of hours you decided on above (which plan on her and you expanding them).

Its ok to tell her that you need to cut back your work level. Since you're a volunteer (and it sounds as though you're a very valuable one at that) she'll still be happy. Its so hard to find good volunteers and I'm sure she prefer you do less than to lose you altogether.

She's a good friend of mine, and a good person, but when she needs to get something done she's just like my boss at work, only without as much experience managing people and therefore a little more difficult to deal with. Your suggestion sounds like a good one.