5 Tips for Getting Your Board to Fundraise More Effectively

If your organization is like most, your board members aren’t at the top of their fundraising game. In fact, some of your board members may turn pale when you mention the subject, whether you’re talking about asking for small gifts or major donations. Many board members are uncomfortable with fundraising and aren’t sure what their roles in fundraising should be.

In this post, we will give you five things you can (and should) do to get your board to become an effective fundraising machine.

1. Talk with board members about fundraising from the get-go!

Don’t tip-toe around fundraising when you recruit new board members. Let them know up front that all board members help with fundraising. Every board member makes serious personal gifts to the organization and every board member plays one or more roles in the fundraising process, whether that means participating in an upcoming feasibility study for a capital campaign or assisting with annual fundraising.  

If a potential board member balks at that, then they likely won’t be a good board member for you. So don’t bury those responsibilities until after someone is invited to serve on the board. Lead by discussing board roles in fundraising, and then start talking about it right away in their orientation. It’ll help attract and retain the kind of people you want on your board.

2. Devote a portion of every board meeting to fundraising.

Fundraising is an important part of your board’s function. Be sure to allot a portion of every board meeting to it. At a minimum, the head of the development program should be at board meetings and report on the fundraising process and progress. But at some board meetings, you might discuss board roles and opportunities for board members to become more involved.  

When you are soliciting board members for their annual contributions, dedicate time at a board meeting to talk about board member giving and to report specifically on the progress of the board giving campaign.

3. Help board members select the fundraising roles that suit them best.

While every board member should give and help with fundraising, not every board member has to solicit gifts. Board members can get involved in identifying and cultivating prospects and thanking and stewarding donors who have already given.  

Make sure that board members know the ways they might help with fundraising and are assigned to the roles that best suit them. There should be roles for every board member.

4. Offer to train board members to ask for gifts.

Some board members will be willing—even happy—to ask for gifts. Make sure that those people get the training they need to become excellent solicitors. You might conduct periodic solicitation training for interested board members, covering topics such as building trust with donors, knowing the differences between cultivation and stewardship, and how to make an effective ask.

If you aren’t confident in training your board, bring in a fundraising consultant to conduct the training. Even for experienced solicitors, refresher training is usually appreciated. 

5. Celebrate board fundraising activity and success.

If your organization has set a goal for board giving, track the progress toward that goal. Be sure to set a timetable and deadline for board giving and then report progress regularly to the entire board, especially for major campaigns. You might do that by sending a simple, encouraging email stating how many board gifts are in, the progress toward the goal, and the amount still to be raised. And at the board meeting after the board-giving goal has been met, find a way to celebrate that success.

You should also report on and celebrate the work of board members who are actively soliciting gifts. Track their progress and call out their success at board meetings. You can celebrate the number of gifts being asked for, the number of donors who have increased their giving, and the total dollars raised.

Celebrating fundraising activities and successes will encourage board members to participate and help make fundraising a central part of what your board members do to support your organization.

High-functioning boards participate actively in the fundraising process. In fact, fundraising is embedded in the culture of what they do. This begins with active discussion of board member fundraising roles in the first conversations with someone about joining the board. Then, once someone becomes a board member, they learn that fundraising is part of every board meeting and that they can select the ways they’d like to help with the fundraising program. Every board member is asked and expected to give generously and board giving is celebrated. 

Make fundraising an active part of your board’s work. When you do, you will attract board members who are passionate about your cause and excited about giving and soliciting gifts.