Board Development

Board Development is of paramount importance in organizations, as it ensures that board members possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and capabilities to fulfill their roles and responsibilities effectively. Their collective expertise and guidance contribute significantly to the success and sustainability of nonprofit entities.

Find below our articles about Board Development best practices.

Fire Up Your Nonprofit Board Retreat: Turn it into a Porch Party!

, ,
In all our years of leading board retreats, my team and I find that some board retreats are fabulous and build energy. And others are duds and a waste of time. It all depends on careful planning and your true objectives. What do you really…

Build the Board You Need to Succeed

,
Board recruitment can be a challenge for many nonprofits. Here's a post from one of our consultants: Adam Hartzell, who's sharing his insights as a former executive director and leadership development expert:    Board members…

Rule #1 for Board Members: Fundraising is Based on Relationships With Donors

, ,
Some board members think fundraising is "hitting someone up." But fundraising is so very much more than that! Fundraising, in the very largest sense, is all about making the world a better place. People who don't understand fundraising devalue…

5 Fundraising Mistakes We Make With Our Boards

, , ,
Are you making fundraising mistakes with board members? Is fundraising something your board members avoid? Hope not! But this IS a perennial challenge for fundraisers and CEOs, too. But board members often are scared to death of fundraising. I…

How to Get Your Board Members To Help Identify Major Gift Prospects

, , ,
Sometimes when board members are asked to help identify major gift prospects, it can be uncomfortable. Here's why: Board members often don't want to share names of people they know because they're afraid they will be asked to "hit up" their…
superwoman board member

Board Members: Some Ideas About Fundraising That Might Surprise You!

, , ,
If you are a nonprofit board member, does this sound familiar? Your organization needs more financial resources. And you are not sure which path to take: Should you: Help launch another fundraising event? Invite your friends people over…

How to Create a Fundraising Action Plan for Your Board

, , , ,
Board members are naturally nervous about fundraising. But there are ways to calm them down and make fundraising fun for them. No kidding! Here's how: set them up to do fundraising jobs that DON'T involve soliciting. Tell them…

Your Board Members Can Become “Door Openers.” Here’s How!

, , , ,
As a nonprofit leader, what would you most love your board members to do? Many nonprofit ED's share that  - of all possible things - they wish their board members would simply open doors. That's all. Just open doors and make introductions. But…

Unleash Your Board Members’ Energy for Fundraising

, ,
Do you want to unleash your board members' energy for fundraising? Fundraising is often a huge pain point with many nonprofit board members. And it's a pain point for many fundraising staff members too.  Staffers all want to know "how…

How to Screw Up Your Fundraising – Easy Steps to Financial Ruin

, , ,
Could the greatest challenges to fundraising success be coming from INSIDE your organization? The nonprofit world has been abuzz recently about a disturbing report detailing many internal challenges facing many nonprofit fundraising programs. The…

Don’t Be a Fundraising Dinosaur: 5 Big Ideas to Adopt Right Now

, ,
Here are more provocative nuggets from the recent AFP International Conference in Vancouver. I just couldn't resist sharing these "status-quo" challenges! Here's my challenge: Take this list to your next board meeting. Ask your board members:…

Manifesto for a Fundraising Board

, ,
Is your board ready to assume real leadership for your organization's future? If your board is ready to move from "managing" to "leading," here's a Manifesto for them to embrace. Wikipedia defines "manifesto" as "a public declaration…

How to Unleash Your Board Members’ Energy for Fundraising

, , ,
I had the pleasure of talking to the very smart and wonderful Michael Chatman yesterday on his popular live radio “Giving Show.” We were talking about my favorite subject – how to get board members fired up and active in fundraising. I…

4 Questions To Rev Up Your Board’s Energy and Enthusiasm

, ,
Do you want to get the most out of your warm-hearted, wonderful volunteers? Do you wish you could generate more enthusiasm among your board members? In my work with boards around the country, I've found some magic questions that can awaken…

5 Fundraising Mistakes We Make With Our Boards

, , ,
Do your nonprofit board members avoid fundraising? If your board members back off when they should be pitching in, this may be why! Don't make these mistakes that hurt, rather than help, our cause. Mistake #1: Thinking that fundraising is…

14 Easy Ways Board Members Can Raise Money

, , ,
Board members can be enthusiastic fundraisers if you make it easy for them. Here are 14 examples of very specific natural, comfortable formats for asking. It's so helpful to board members when we can show them easy ways to make the ask. Offer…