According to an article in the Jan. 14th issue of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, nonprofit experts often complain that they can’t get members of their boards to effectively raise money.
But the problem is usually more about the nonprofit organization’s leadership than it is about the motivations of its volunteer board members, writes the anonymous author of The Nonprofiteer. “You’re not really authorized to critique the fund-raising incompetence of your doctor and lawyer board members until you can remove an appendix or argue a Supreme Court case without their assistance,” the author writes. “It’s their volunteer gig, but it’s your job, so the responsibility rests with you.
”To get board members to raise more money, the author says development officials and executives need to show them how it’s done — and set reasonable goals. The author urges nonprofit leaders to ask board members to: Look at a list of current donors and identify those they know. After they do that, ask them to come along when you solicit in person.
Come to the next board meeting with the names of at least two people to be added to the list of the potential donors. Help plan a benefit event. What has your organization done to get its board members more involved in its fund-raising efforts? Do most board volunteers have what it takes to solicit donors?
Posted in Board of Directors, Fundraising
