What You Can Count on From Your Board – And What You Can’t
Whenever I bring up the subject of boards, so many fundraisers roll their eyes. Why are our boards such a huge pain point and what can we do about it?
I say we have to face reality about some sensitive topics: people, motivation, volunteers and commitment rather than chasing after some myth of the ideal board.
Let’s be realistic and see what we really can expect from our board – particularly in the area of fundraising.
Let’s remember that most board members are afraid of fundraising because they are embarrassed and fear rejection. And they generally are not sure what your expectations are of them.
Get your expectations in the right order and you’ll have a happy relationship – and a productive one – with your board.
Here’s what you can count on – and what you can’t – with your board members.
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WHAT YOU CAN COUNT ON
1. Most board members really do want to help. They just don’t know how. It’s really up to you to make it easy for them. You’ll need to motivate, guide and support them.
If you do make this investment of your time and energy, then you’ll have a gold mine of great board members on your hands.
2. Most board members are open to and even enjoy education. They don’t like “training” but they do like “education.” June Bradham, author of “What Nonprofit Boards Want” says that the word “training” makes them feel like seals.
Most board members are eager to do a good job and want to know what their job is. The clearer your job expectations are for board members, the more you’ll get out of your board.
3. Most board members are capable of being terrific friendmakers if they know the right thing to say and they are pumped up. But you need to teach them what friendmaking is all about or they may go in the wrong direction.
4. Most board members are happy to help thank donors. In fact, they love it! And you can increase donors’ future gifts if your board members make thank you calls quickly to donors.
5. Most board members can be terrific “sneezers” spreading the viral message around your community. Just make sure they can practice what do say in a comfortable, natural fashion.
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HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN’T COUNT ON
1. You can’t expect them to be good at soliciting. That’s a special skill and personality type. Frankly I don’t even want all my board members out there soliciting because some of them would not be very good at it.
Treasure the board members who are good at soliciting and find other productive jobs for those who are better at other things.
2. You can’t expect them to show up at every event. You need to tell them what your priorities are – what’s essential and what’s optional. Then, when they have a clear idea of what you need from them, they can give it to you.
3. You can’t expect them to know exactly what to say. You might think they know the mission, vision and case for support, but they need practice, practice, practice putting it into their own words.
4. You can’t expect them to maintain their passion on their own. It’s your job to keep them pumped up and excited about the cause. If you do, you’ll have an enthusiastic, fired-up team helping you spread the word and make connections!
5. You can’t expect them to keep coming to boring meetings. Busy people will flee if they feel their time is not well used. If you liven up your meetings, then you’ll also liven up your board!
So set your own expectations correctly, provide the leadership and support your board needs, and you’ll be rewarded with a high-performing team!
GREAT article, thanks for sharing and assuring us it can be done! Enjoy your posts and articles. Mahalo and aloha!
I always love reading your articles. I like that you write things in a way that makes perfect sense. Thanks for helping do my job!
Hi Gail, Do you have any additional trips planned to southern CA in the next few months?
Kent
Hi Jan,
Thought this was an interesting article on board expectations. Thought I would share!
Kelly
Hi Kent! I may be coming to southern CA October 23 but that trip is tentative. I’d love to come help fire up your board or speak at a conference out there. Just let me know!
Thanks so much Denice, and Danita! So glad I can help you!
Gail, this is SO spot on! Too many nonprofits expect way too much of their Boards and then get frustrated when things don’t work out. Board members start out being so excited about serving on a Board, then quickly get frustrated and bored with stale meetings.
I especially like your point about keeping Boards fired up. It really is our job as nonprofit staff to keep our Board members excited about the work our organization is doing. I think if we do that, the rest gets easier.
Sandy Rees, CFRE
Enjoyed this posting. You are on target with the what not to expect listing. Thanks! Charlaine Hood, LAPSW
Gail, this is a fantastic checklist for every nonprofit staffer to review before every board meeting (and before every project starts). Optimistic realism!
Thank you.
Best,
Nancy
Thanks for your great article! I am looking forward to reading more, more, more.
In order to secure boards that can be ‘counted on’, I would be interested in learning what you consider to be best practices for forming and guiding board selection committees.
As usual, Gail, your insight is incredible and the way you word that insight, even more so! I love learning from you – keep up your fabulous work!
Betsy Baker, MPA
Gail, Great post! I call the sessions I conduct with boards: Action Sessions. While there is some “education” and theory about fundraising, soliciting and their role, the outcome at the end is a plan about they will hold themselves accountable for during the coming months. It’s a great way to get buy in to have THEM create the outcomes and measures for themselves.
Your list is great. I’d add: We can’t count on them to know what the expectations are for their role with our organizations unless we are very clear before they join the board.
This is a great post and the points made here are ones that all non-profit staff should remind themselves of about one a month. Staff need to be in the center of the excitement about the mission.
Gail, this is a fabulous post filled with exactly right info. Non-profits need to hang this on the wall and review it frequently. I also would suggest it being incorporated into board orientation. Great info!
I love that you took on both sides of this topic. You acknowledged some really great points regarding what you can and cannot expect board members to do. It can be easy to forget that board members are not volunteer nonprofit professionals with the same training and abilities. And forget that they have demands on their time the extend beyond their volunteer role in your organization.
Gail,
As a board member myself, I can tell you that your blog post is right on. If it is important to do, it should be important to train (educate) how to do it well.
Also, what was the reason and potential contribution the board member was brought in to for? The organization needs to look at the skills that are needed from the board and match those needs to people who are brought in as members. Otherwise, you either have just a warm body to fill space or the difficult task of force-fitting a member into a role he or she is not prepared for.