
What is the Role of a Nonprofit Board in Fundraising?
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising, Fundraising Strategy Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could create a true culture of philanthropy at your organization? Of course, if you can gain full support for the development program, your overall revenue will go up! Let’s explore how…

What Can Go Wrong with the Board’s Fund Development Committee?
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising, Fundraising Strategy What's the best role for the board Fund Development Committee? In the nonprofit world, most organizations set up a Fund Development Committee that helps to focus the board’s fundraising efforts. Who does what? In very small…

(Major Gifts #6) What’s the Return on Investment from a Major Gift Program?
Board Development, Fundraising Strategy, Major Gifts Wish you could have been there. We were up in a New York City office tower, gathered in a big conference room, surrounded by smart, thoughtful board members. It was an exciting moment because we were showing the board how they could dramatically…

The Right Way to Follow Up Your Social Events and Tours
Board Development, Donor Cultivation, EventsAnd one of the things people always ask is how to follow up friendmaking events that your board members will host. Plan your follow up ahead of time, or DON'T DO THE EVENT! We believe in two types of followup: First, the personal phone call…

New Year’s Resolutions for Board Members
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising We offer this list of suggested New Year's Resolutions for Board Members to encourage them to consider their important role and reflect on how they can be more effective as board members. Here are 10 New Year's resolutions for board members…

What’s the Math? 3 Questions Your Board Members Really Need to Know
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising, Motivating Board Members, Nonprofit LeadershipHere's how to bring fundraising alive - help your board members understand where the money goes and what impact fundraising makes.

From Bored to Blazing: 7 Steps to Get Your Board Reconnected, Reengaged and Enthusiastic
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising, Motivating Board MembersTake a look for 7 steps to create new energy, excitement and commitment with your nonprofit board. Boards love these ideas!

7 Rules for Successfully Soliciting Board Members
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising Are you ready for something that happens every year-end - soliciting board members for their annual gifts? We get many questions about how to set this delicate process up for success, so here are our recommendations. We originally published…

Board Chairs: How to Fire Up Your Board with a Call to Action
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising Here's a call to action for all board chairs! You have a big job. Especially these days. Many organizations are facing major decisions - about funding, staffing, service delivery - and everything else. As we said two weeks ago, a small…

Board Members: How to Approach Decision-Making in Times of Crisis
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising, Motivating Board MembersIf you’re a board member serving an institution or organization, you are probably dealing with many challenging decisions in this time of crisis. This is a difficult time for everyone and board decision-making is not easy. Your organization…

Nonprofit Board Members: Leadership Tips for Uncertain Times
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising As a nonprofit board member, you have much to deal with right now, as you might in any time of crisis. It’s a tough position to be in, because board membership carries a lot of responsibility. The board is the legal authority entrusted…

Give Board Members Something to Say-Help Them Become Personal Advocates for Your Cause
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising If you are a board member for a nonprofit, we imagine that you're excited and passionate about your favorite organization. We're willing to bet that you joined the board because you really, really believed in the cause. It meant a lot to…

New Year’s Resolutions for Board Members
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising, Motivating Board Members It's the New Year - and it's a great time to make smart resolutions for the future! This post is updated from posts I wrote in 2018, 2017 and 2015. It's a perennial favorite with my readers - so we've updated it again for 2020! Here…

How Your Nonprofit Board Governance Committee Is Like My Garden
Board Development Could your nonprofit board governance committee be like my garden? My garden is a work in progress. And so is your board. Just like my garden, your board needs an overseer – to care and feed for the board itself. Every garden – and every…

Myths and Realities about Nonprofit Board Members and Fundraising
Board Development, Motivating Board Members There seem to be a lot of myths when it comes to nonprofit board members and fundraising. Staff often expect that board members are supposed to raise money. But board members are not so sure of this – as you probably have experienced. It…

Fire Up Your Nonprofit Board Retreat: Turn it into a Porch Party!
Board Development, Nonprofit Leadership 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…