GET YOUR BOARD "ON BOARD"

If your board is unenthusiastic, unwilling or unaccounted for when it comes to raising money for your organization, you’ve got a tough row to hoe.

More and more nonprofits are reshaping board of director practices and policies regarding resource development. Here are four ways to get your board and senior management to embrace fundraising with the awareness that all volunteers and staff share the responsibility:

1. Enlist a committee.

Ensure you have the “right” people serving on your development committee. Find volunteers dedicated to resource development who have experience in one or more areas of fundraising, whether as a volunteer or professional. Certain leaders on a board are capable of having a huge impact on ‘buy in,’ so be sure to enlist them to make recommendations to the board. A development committee should manage vision and purpose, make quality decisions and define priorities, lead by example. If you don’t have such a committee, recruit strategic volunteers for this crucial function.

2. Share what works.

When you find information by fundraising professionals and other organizations describing their success in fundraising, be sure to share copies with the board and staff. Distribute it at meetings where members might read the hard copy, may bring it up for group discussion or talk with you about it. This gives board members an opportunity to identify what works and to assess what your organization should be doing. Highlighting what other organizations’ fundraising efforts have earned, can, over time, affect performance and board decision-making.

3. Hire an authority.

No matter how hard a senior development officer may try to change the culture of a non-fundraising board, they often need an outside voice to turn on the “responsibility” switch. A nonprofit consultant can do a convincing presentation on why fundraising is crucial to an organization’s ability to raise money and grow. Plus, you can gain a knowledgeable colleague.

4. Laud participants.

Nothing influences other people’s participation than a little praise of their colleagues. You can see the light bulbs go off when another Board member is acknowledged for fundraising. This goes a long way toward producing the next generation of board member. Praise: You can’t do enough of it!

If you need help to inspire, engage and involve your board in fundraising, call me: 847/881-8033.