How to Create a Fundraising Action Plan for Your Board
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising, Donor Cultivation, Major Gift Fundraising, Motivating Board MembersBoard 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!
Board Development, Capital Campaign, Friendmaking, Major Gift Fundraising, Motivating Board MembersWhat would you MOST love your board members to do? Many nonprofit ED's tell me that - of all possible things - they wish their board members would simply open doors. That's all. Just open doors. But what happens when you ask board members…
Unleash Your Board Members’ Energy for Fundraising
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising, Motivating Board Members 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 Do You Get Board Members to Understand Their Role in Fundraising?
Board Members & Fundraising, Motivating Board MembersHere's the pain point! Board members and fundraising. It's a perennial question that everybody asks. But you know what I think? I think board members exist in another universe than staff. It's sorta like parallel universes: board members…
5 Tips for a Happier & More Effective Board
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising, Motivating Board Members1. Lighten up. Don't make the experience of your board members something that is dreary and dragging. Help them enjoy their experience. A happier & more effective board is more committed and productive. You may know my number one fundraising…
Manifesto for a Fundraising Board
Board Development, Motivating Board Members, Nonprofit LeadershipIs 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
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising, Inspiration, Motivating Board MembersI 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. You…
4 Questions To Rev Up Your Board’s Energy and Enthusiasm
Board Development, Board Members & Fundraising, Motivating Board MembersDo 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
Asking for Donations, Board Development, Motivating Board Members, Nonprofit LeadershipDo 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…
Checklist for a Top-Level Board Governance Committee
Board Development, Motivating Board Members, Nonprofit Leadership Who is looking out for the care and feeding of your board? You really, really need a Governance Committee to do this important work. In fact, we can't think of anything MORE important. Because if you want to have a high-performing board,…
Five Tips for Overcoming Fundraising Fears
Annual Giving, Inspiration, Motivating Board MembersOk, we've all been there...Fundraising fears. You know what you need to be doing. . . but you just -- you just -- you just -- manage to find something else to focus on that's lots more interesting and certainly less dreadful. There's that…