Boards

Major-gifts fundraising isn't about "the pitch." It's not about a presentation. It is about having a meaningful conversation with prospective donors to see if they share your values, mission and vision — aspirations to make a difference.

Your board may be performing well enough, but once you've seen a group that is truly united, you realize how much more can be achieved.

This is the time when we all step back and make our resolutions. Here are some great New Year’s Resolutions for your board members!

As a nonprofit leader, volunteers and especially board members need to be looking to you as the expert, as the leader. If you need additional expertise for various reasons, bring in consultants, advisors, board members and staff. For nonprofit success  — and fundraising success specifically  — be strategic and lead!

Don't abandon your board members when it comes to their fundraising responsibilities. Help them get there. Show them what to do. Give them training. And have some fun with it all!

The proper role of a board is to expect and demand from staff workable, realistic plans for revenue generation. Both board and staff have a role in implementing these plans.

In a word … yes.

Although the outcomes of any given fundraising effort cannot be known with absolute certainty, assessing the probability of success isn't entirely guesswork, either.

Personal thank-you calls are a way to put board members to work, even if they're nervous about asking for money. No soliciting required; these are for stewardship only.

Stopping a downward spiral is doable — but not without investing time and effort, and enduring some short-term pain.