Getting The Board Involved

Lemme open with one my nonprofit beliefs: Board members do NOT have to give a donation!

I am against the whole “they have to give X amount” or a “give and get.” Policies like that mean that your organization automatically excludes people from joining and contributing to the Board.

Example 1: Your mission is helping the homeless. At least one homeless person should be on your Board because they’re the ones who know what they need. (As the disability community says: Nothing about us without us.) But if you say that every Board member has to donate a minimum of X, you’re excluding people who don’t have a lot of money.

Example 2: Your mission is to find a cure for a disease. There’s a world renowned researcher who could sit on your Board but they are not wealthy. Having this person on your Board instantly brings your organization credibility and prestige. You’ll prevent them from sitting on the Board because they can’t cut you an annual check for $10,000?!

This is why I believe the Board should be made up of people with nonprofit experience, people with knowledge and expertise related to your mission area, people dedicated to your cause. And yes, if some people of wealth are on the Board that’s fine.

But bank account statements should not be the reason someone is or is not on the Board.

Should the Board help with fundraising? ABSOLUTELY! The Board’s job is to be responsible for the financial health of the organization now and in the future. Obviously, fundraising plays a big part in that.

The problem becomes when the Board doesn’t want to get involved with fundraising. When that happens, the first question I ask is why?

• Do they think fundraising is icky?
• Do they hate when others try to “hit them up”?
• Do they not feel knowledgeable enough about your mission and programs?
• Do they hate talking about money?
• Do they worry about being turned down?

All of the above are within reason. The job of the CEO and fundraising staff is to meet the Board’s pain points and solve them so that the organization grows and thrives.

Other ways to be involved

There are ways to encourage your Board members to get involved with fundraising. But for many the biggest pain point is they are not fundraisers and they don’t know how to ask.

First, you need to get them to value what fundraising is and why they should help out. That can include a 3-step approach to teaching them how to ask.

Of course that involves actual fundraising and you may encounter resistance. They still don’t want to do it.

This is when you step up and offer Board members the chance to be part of the fundraising efforts without having to raise money. You offer them opportunities to get involved, help out and help the organization grow.

Some ideas:

1. Pick up the phone: Board members can help with gratitude. They can call donors, thank them for their gift and let them know the impact of their donation. This helps with retention- great gratitude leads to higher retention and higher lifetime giving.
2. Host a gathering in their home: This is NOT for raising money. The goal is to introduce a new audience to your work, mission and most important, values. Or this could be a stewardship event for current donors. Either way, there’s no money ask.
3. Represent: Local Chamber of Commerce event? Roundtable with the city council? Board members can represent the organization. Helps get the name of the organization out there.
4. Open house: Invite people to visit your center of operations and have Board members there to provide a guided tour. This means prepping Board members so they can answer questions and share relevant info.
5. Open doors: Board members may know people who would be interested in your organization’s work. Ask Board members to make an introduction and then you (CEO, fundraiser) will take it from there and begin to engage the person.
6. Presentation: Request that Board members speak at local events. Discuss why they give their time and effort for your organization. Share your mission, impact in the community and who is being helped.

Your Board members are some of the best ambassadors you have. They don’t want to fundraise? No problem. Ask them to get involved in other ways. (Here are some more ideas for helping without having to make a fundraising ask.)

If the organization really matters to them, Board members will get involved. Some will help with fundraising while others can be offered other opportunities to help but without the asking for funds.

Of course, if they refuse to help at all, it might be time to find other people to join the Board. That’s not as easy as it sounds. Which is why I’ll finish with this:

Before Board members join, they should be interviewed and fundraising should be discussed. Any contract they sign should outline their responsibilities. Don’t surprise them after they join the Board.