| For many small nonprofits, one of the greatest | | | | engaging your Board members in fundraising:o If |
| challenges is getting their Board to participate in | | | | there's an event coming up, ask your Board |
| fundraising. Lots of people hold silent and sometimes | | | | members to invite their friends to the event. Selling |
| deep-set fears around asking others for money. | | | | tickets isn't what you want. You want them to focus |
| What can you do? | | | | on bringing others and educating them about your |
| First of all, understand that there are some people | | | | organization.o Write a letter that your Board |
| who will never be comfortable asking for money and | | | | members can sign and send to their friends. This |
| there's nothing you can do about it. | | | | activity allows your Board members to take another |
| For others, you have to help them find their comfort | | | | step into the world of fundraising. They're actually |
| zone. When I lead fundraising trainings for Boards, I | | | | signing their name to an appeal this time.o Ask your |
| like to help people understand that fundraising is a | | | | Board members to host a house party for their |
| process and that asking someone for a gift is only | | | | friends. You as the staff need to create and give a |
| one part of the process. There are lots of other | | | | short program to their guests to educate them |
| ways they can participate, like thanking a donor or | | | | about your organization. |
| simply telling the stories of their organization. | | | | The point is to make it easy for your Board. They'll |
| To help Board members feel more comfortable | | | | likely find that they like participating in advancing the |
| asking their friends, give them some structure and | | | | cause and they'll be more likely to participate next |
| make it easy. Here are some specific ideas for | | | | time. |