Boards and Volunteers

It’s a typical scenario. Your freshman board members start with enthusiasm, but once the initial excitement of being part of your organization fades, they begin to lack follow-through or initiative...

The fund development committee of your board of directors should be an integral part of your nonprofit’s governance and fundraising strategy. Fundraising success is dependent on volunteer connectors; a fund development committee provides a mechanism to organize and lead this function for your board...

Here are some key dos and don'ts of board giving. Following that, you’ll have a chance to quiz yourself by attempting to solve a real-world board giving dilemma, where the organization wrestled with how to ask their nonprofit board members for gifts...

The "warm-body" approach to selecting fund development committee members always fails the diversity and strength test. Far too often, organizations will simply accept those individuals expressing interest without first determining who and what they need to best serve the purpose and expectations of their given committee membership...

Consider an nonprofit advisory board or boards if you do not have them. Be sure that you have clear roles and systems in place to support the members. And provide a stellar experience...

The best nonprofit points-of-contact with volunteers generally, or volunteer fundraisers specifically, reinforce the idea in that person that they are good. If successful, we help our targets self-identify as being good to the point that they work for free for our nonprofits, donate to our nonprofits and fundraise for our nonprofits.

When you reduce philanthropy to a transaction, you've placed yourself in the pool with everyone. Your cause becomes identical to everyone else's. Giving as a quid pro quo definitely has its limits—in any community.

I hear from fundraisers and nonprofit executives alike bemoaning how they wish their board members were engaged and eager to fundraise. I'm sure you've heard it, as well. Bill is eager—or was, that is.

At the inaugural NonProfit PRO Leadership Conference May 5 in Washington, D.C., Paul Bellantone, president and CEO of Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), will tackle How to Handle a Complex Nonprofit Business Environment.

In communicating with your donors, whether it be a website or mailing — electronic or physical — focus on the relationships. Risk a little. Risk looking foolish. Make your investors smile. They'll love you for it. When you ask them to step up their support, they'll sense the human connection and respond.