Engage Your Board in Fundraising

I'm taking a trip down memory lane to revisit one of our classic blogs: "Engage Your Board in Fundraising."

Since its last appearance in 2022 , I added a few extra bells and whistles to make it even more impactful and relevant to today's nonprofit landscape. This updated blog now dives deeper into innovative strategies and practical tips for empowering your board members to become passionate advocates and effective fundraisers for your cause.

Recently, another nonprofit leader bravely shared with me a common challenge: hollow promises from the majority of their board members when it comes to fundraising commitments. Sadly, this isn't an uncommon tale in the nonprofit world.

While we acknowledge the voluntary nature of board roles, we also stress the importance of upholding commitments and fiduciary responsibilities to the organization. And, I'm not the only one speaking about this. Here's an article Bloomerang published, written by my friend Claire Axelrad. And another one from my friend Amy Eisenstein .

So, I proposed an innovative approach that not only addresses this challenge but also empowers board members to actively engage in fundraising efforts.

Step 1: Create a Menu of Fundraising Activities ??

Offer a diverse range of fundraising activities, big or small, and let each board member choose their preferred role. This approach allows them to select activities aligning with their comfort level and interests, fostering genuine buy-in.

Here are some options I propose:

1. Hosting private events or receptions for donors or prospects.
2. Making thank-you calls to donors.
3. Joining staff on fundraising calls and donor visits.
4. Writing personal requests to peers requesting contributions.
5. Reviewing proposals to funders.

Step 2: Develop a Board Engagement Matrix ??

Track board members' engagement using a matrix akin to a report card. This visual tool monitors their chosen activities and follow-through, similar to tracking progress on a report card.

Step 3: Review and Accountability at Board Meetings ??

Discuss progress and challenges at each board meeting, allowing board members to evaluate their performance based on the engagement matrix. This peer-accountability fosters a sense of responsibility and encourages active participation.

We invite you to implement this approach and share your experiences. How does your board respond? What activities do they gravitate towards?

Let's empower our boards to become effective fundraisers and advocates for our causes together!

Make sure you go back and read the original blog from 2022 here .

TheRayvanGroup.com / NonprofitNerdSchool.com