Motivating Board Members

Motivating nonprofit board members is crucial for the success and sustainability of nonprofit organizations. These individuals play a vital role in fundraising, governance, and overseeing the organization’s mission. By harnessing their passion and commitment, nonprofit boards can amplify their impact in the community.

Find below our articles about Motivating Board Members best practices.

Nonprofit Crisis Plan: Board Decision Making Guide

Board Members: How to Navigate Decision-Making in Uncertain Times with Confidence

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Navigate nonprofit crises with smart decision-making. Learn key strategies for boards to build resilience and ensure long-term sustainability. Read more!
AFP ICON Conference

AFP ICON Conference 2024: Tips from the Pros

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Join Gail Perry live from AFP ICON 2024 conference in Toronto as she unveils insights & tips from some of her favorite fundraising professionals.
How to Engage Board Members in Major Gift Fundraising

How to Engage Board Members in Major Gift Fundraising

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There are so many ways we can engage board members in major gift fundraising. The challenge is, exactly, deciding the best roles for them to play. Where, within your fundraising program, can they lend their weight and help the most?…

What’s the Math? 3 Questions Your Board Members Really Need to Know

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Here's how to bring fundraising alive - help your board members understand where the money goes and what impact fundraising makes.

New Year’s Resolutions for Board Members

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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 to Fire-Up Your Board’s Energy in 10 Minutes

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By Gail Perry Updated August 2025 Strong boards don’t just happen — they’re cultivated.One of the fastest ways to strengthen your nonprofit’s leadership is to focus on board and trustee engagement. A truly effective board is…

How to Engage Board Members in Major Gift Fundraising

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There are so many ways we can engage board members in major gift fundraising. The challenge is, exactly, deciding the best ways to try to engage them. Where, within your fundraising program, can they lend their weight and help the most?   Board…

Rule #10 for Board Members: Make Your Own Proud Personal Gift

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Do board members have an obligation to make personal contributions to their organization? If so, what’s the appropriate amount that board members should give? These two questions can be the topic of rich discussion and even controversy…

Rule #7 for Board Members: Fundraising Profit Builds Up Over Time – Not Overnight!

Where exactly does long term fundraising success comes from? Many board members want to know, so that they can guide their organizations to funding success. Here's the answer:  What we are all after in the nonprofit sector is a lovely…

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

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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…
superwoman board member

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

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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

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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!

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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

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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…

Manifesto for a Fundraising Board

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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…

5 Fundraising Mistakes We Make With Our Boards

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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…