Can you guess the number one complaint I hear from Executive Directors and Development Directors? Their top complaint is that their board members do not help with fundraising.
How about you? Do you have board members who just won’t fundraise?
If yes, the question is, why…?
- Have you included fundraising as part of their board member job description?
- Have you provided them with adequate training?
- Have you given them the proper tools to fundraise effectively?
One time I was facilitating a board retreat. Before lunch, we handed out three appeal letters to each board member (pre-addressed to contacts of their choice) and asked them to add a handwritten, personal note about why they cared about the organization. Someone sent back $10,000, much to the board member’s surprise. This board member had never helped with fundraising before.
Yes, it really can be that simple — case in point, keep reading.
Why Board Members Don’t Like to Fundraise
It is important to understand that when most people say they don’t want to fundraise, what they’re referring to is the actual asking. They either believe that they will be asking strangers for money or begging their friends for donations. Neither belief is correct, so we need to dispel the myths and provide better education and training about fundraising.
The fact is, some people are never going to be comfortable with the concept of fundraising — no matter how well you’ve trained them. Others need to be introduced gradually to the process.
How to Get Your Board Members to Fundraise Without Asking
Below is a list of eight ways your board members can get involved with fundraising without ever asking for money.
1. Thank Donors
Thanking donors is probably the number one way to involve board members in fundraising without having them feeling like they are fundraising. They can:
- make thank you calls;
- sign thank you letters;
- send thank you emails;
- thank people in person or virtually
Check out 21 ways to thank major donors for more ideas.
2. Open Doors
Opening doors means your board members can introduce friends, colleagues and family members to the organization they care deeply about. It often involves scheduling and/or coordinating meetings between the Executive Director and an acquaintance who might be interested in the organization’s mission.
3. Sign Letters
Board members can sign (and add personal notes) to thank you letters, appeal letters, newsletters, and any other direct mail coming from the organization.
4. Forward Emails
Whether it is an appeal, newsletter, or event information, it’s super easy for board members to forward emails to their own email lists. As an added bonus, emails are more likely to be opened and read if they come from someone you know, rather than directly from the organization.
5.Bring Guests
It’s important that board members bring guests to your fundraising and non-fundraising events. Whether or not the board member pays for their guests is up to them. By bringing new guests to each event, your board members help introduce your organization to a wide circle of potential supporters.
6. Lead Tours
Giving tours of your organization is a great activity for a board member. It gets them more involved and forces them to have a better understanding of each aspect of your program. Encourage them to bring their friends and colleagues for the tour.
7. Host Receptions
Board members should be asked to host receptions in their home every few years. Receptions serve as key events for donor cultivation, and no money is solicited or collected. They can invite their friends only or invite other board members’ friends as well.
8. Research and Write Grants
While this is usually done by staff, if your organization is small and understaffed, a board member can help with researching and writing grants.
All of the above activities are part of the fundraising process. While not directly asking for money, they help identify, cultivate, and steward donors, which are all critical to success in fundraising.
Start Small and Keep it Manageable
If your board members are not currently involved with fundraising, pick two or three things from this list to start with. Don’t try everything at once. Feel free to share this post with your board members and ask each to pick one or two ways that he or she would like to get involved.
What other ways have you tried to get your board members involved with fundraising? Tell me about them in the comments.
