| One of the ten basic responsibilities of nonprofit | | | | need is more money - money to run programs, |
| Boards is to ensure adequate resources for the | | | | money to hire staff, money to deliver their mission. |
| organization. In other words, Board members are | | | | And they were ready and willing to take on the |
| expected to participate in fundraising. But what do | | | | challenge of raising money. |
| you do when you find yourself with a Board who | | | | Once Board members are fired up, be very clear with |
| shies away from anything that remotely resembles | | | | them about what you want them to do. They aren't |
| fundraising? | | | | mind readers. Tell them about specific tasks that |
| First, understand that most Board members are | | | | need to be accomplished so that they know exactly |
| inexperienced in fundraising and don't know what to | | | | what needs to be done. |
| do. Some can be downright scared and unwilling to | | | | Make it as easy for them as you can. Give them |
| participate. A little training and support can go a long | | | | simple tasks to start with so they can get a quick |
| way toward engaging Boards in raising money. | | | | "win." This will encourage their participation. Give them |
| The first step is to re-connect Board members to | | | | the tools or training they need to be successful. |
| your mission and help them fire up their passion. Bring | | | | Make sure they have a fact sheet about your |
| a client or volunteer to a Board meeting to give a | | | | organization and that they know a story or two that |
| first-hand account of the mission in action. Or show a | | | | they can tell. Bring in a trainer to teach them how to |
| short video (no more than 5 minutes) of service | | | | talk about your organization and how to ask for a |
| delivery. This can inspire a Board to take their role | | | | gift. |
| seriously. | | | | Ask them to volunteer on your front line so that |
| Recently, I saw this strategy in action. I was working | | | | they can experience first-hand the work your |
| with a small organization with a Board of just nine | | | | organization does. This will give them their own |
| members. They had become very complacent and | | | | personal story to share when they are talking with |
| would not participate in any fundraising. After a | | | | donors and prospects. Help them find where they fit |
| heart-to-heart talk, they admitted that they just | | | | in. For those who don't want to do direct Asks, ask |
| weren't totally committed to the organization. They | | | | them to make Thank You calls to donors. Or ask |
| said they felt disconnected. So, at the next Board | | | | them to host dinner parties in their home to share |
| meeting, we brought in a key volunteer to tell about | | | | with their friends about the good work your |
| his experiences in delivering the organization's service. | | | | organization is doing. |
| He spoke for about 30 minutes and afterward, | | | | And don't forget to celebrate successes with them! |
| people were visibly moved. We were then able to | | | | Positive reinforcement will help shore up their new |
| have a serious conversation about what needed to | | | | skills and build the confidence they need to |
| happen to move the organization forward. It didn't | | | | participate in fundraising again! |
| take long for them to realize that what they really | | | | |