Board Members Can Engage in Fundraising, Too!

Some board members are hesitant to engage in fundraising.

I see it in “legacy boards.” Board membership is held in families and handed from one generation to the next.

In many faith based non-profits, board members are included because they are faith leaders. This is great and important—but some believe they have no role in helping build funds to support the organization’s mission.

Some state-supported institutions award board membership solely for political purposes.

Finally, some human-service and policy nonprofits bring on board members who are leaders of similar human-service organizations or policy experts.

While board members in these scenarios may feel they don’t play an active role in fundraising, they are an asset to your team and essential in obtaining and stewarding gifts.

Below are two specific and practical solutions to help engage your board members in raising funds for your nonprofit.

Regularly and consistently teach the fundamental principles of good fundraising

There are many ways to achieve this. Below are three of my favorite tenets.

Great fundraising is relationship-based.

Ask board members to help you build relationships.

Relationship building is a human process.

A board must commit to engaging people long-term.

Nonprofits that want to maximize their fundraising emphasize major giving.

Everything that is done in fundraising—from events to direct mail to stewardship—helps support the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donors.

Present a menu of opportunities for board members to be engaged in fundraising

Too often, board members think the only way to be involved is by asking their wealthy best friends for gifts. I am grateful for this, but there are many other ways board members can be involved in fundraising. This includes identifying future donors, opening doors, hosting events with future and current donors, and publicly or privately endorsing your nonprofit’s work. I advise my nonprofit clients to develop annual “personal involvement plans” for board members to help engage them in fundraising. This plan enables board members to help in fundraising where they can.

Even when employing these suggestions, some board members simply may not be willing to help in fundraising. To further confound the situation, some board members provide meaningful help in other areas. Even here, you have options. Can the board member be involved in another critical way, but not as a board member? Would implementing term limits help?

Bottom Line

Leadership. Training. Patience. Principles. Education. These five keys enable successful fundraisers, managers, and leaders to encourage board members to help in fundraising.