Category Archives: Boards & Leadership

5 More Things Your Board Doesn’t Get about Fundraising and Nonprofits

I unlocked Pandora’s box with my last post, 5 Things Your Board and CEO Don’t Get About Fundraising and Donors. Especially when it comes to board members, many of you say their behavior has you scratching your heads much of the time. So, here are 5 more things that too many boards simply don’t seem to understand:

1. It costs money to make money. This one is odd, since many of these folks seem to understand the concept of ‘investment’ when it comes to their day jobs. 

5 Things your Board and CEO Don’t Get about Fundraising and Donors

Donors feel good when they give. There’s plenty of research  showing  philanthropic giving is good for people. It makes folks happier, healthier and even more successful. So there is no need to apologize when asking for support where the need is authentic. In fact, asking others to participate in philanthropy is a great gift. Just don’t forget to thank them personally and promptly when they do, so they also experience the joy of having made the right decision.

Donors respond to sizzle, not steak.

4 Ways to Set Board Members Up for Happily Ever After: How Fundraising is Storytelling

In the past series of posts I’ve talked about the reasons many board members loathe fundraising.  It boils down to: (1) fear (see here, here and here; (2) lack of clarity about their role (see here, hereand here, and (3) insufficient framing, training, coaching and cheer leading by staff.  As much as we staff …

Games Board Members Must Play: How Your Nonprofit Leaders Can Help or Harm You

The absolutely most important game a board member must play is ‘follow the leader.’ In my last post series on “The 3 Ways We Go Wrong Asking Nonprofit Boards to Help Raise Funds” I spe of the unique job board members have as role models. A growing body of research shows that human beings are,…

5 Little Understood Factors About a Board Member’s Role – Part 3 of “The 3 Ways We Go Wrong Asking Nonprofit Boards to Help Raise Funds"

In Jewish tradition the “Gabbai Tzedekah,” the money collector, held a very special and esteemed role as the collector and disburser of funds to help the poor. The root of “tzedekah” means justice; it was simply the right thing to do to help. The Gabbai risked him/herself, in some ways, for the sake of the…

The Shocking Thing Board Members Do and Why It’s Your Fault – Part 2 of “The 3 Ways We Go Wrong Asking Nonprofit Boards to Help Raise Funds"

Is this a board member you know? Board members often take unrestrained delight in not cottoning to fundraising.  They smile and wink and pat one another on the back about it.  “Oh, fundraising, that’s not for me!”  “No, it’s yucky; I’ll do anything but fund raise.” “Yeah, fundraising is for folks who like to sell.”…

The 3 Ways We Go Wrong Asking Nonprofit Boards to Help Raise Funds – Part 1

Last week I tuned in to the Nashville t.v. series premiere.  Almost the first words to come out of someone’s mouth (a dad to his daughter):  “Honey, it’s bad manners to talk about money.”  I recently explored the money taboo as it relates to fundraising. Today’s post digs a bit deeper. Subsequent posts will dig…

How to Be a Successful, Fearless Fundraiser in Just 3 Simple Steps

The inimitable Hugh MacLeod shows us the key to success Of all the tips I give board members about how to become successful fundraisers, by far the most important is this: Make your own passionate commitment first.  Making this commitment entails just three simple things.  And I let folks know that these things just happen…

How to End Your Board’s Fear of Fundraising Once and For All in 2 Easy Steps

Why are trustees so nervous about fundraising? I’ve found there are two key reasons.  Understand these reasons, and we can put an end to the fears in two easy steps. ONE: Overcome Fear of Rejection.  We think we’re asking for ourselves; begging. We’ve been raised that it’s impolite to talk about money.  Even worse, no…

Boards and Fundraising: Both Reasonable and Unreasonable.

I’m often asked by frazzled executive directors and well-meaning board members whether it’s reasonable or unreasonable to expect everyboard member to be involved in fundraising.  My answer is yes. How can we have it both ways?  We have to define our terms. A nonprofit board has a special fiduciary role and responsibility to assure fulfillment…