Asking isn’t enough…
This month, we’re setting the pace to MARCH forward on fundraising alongside your board!
Last week, I pointed out how very many ways there are for board members to contribute to the fundraising and resource development efforts for your organization. I also pointed out that board members don’t come to us as fundraising experts…and I promised we’d talk about that this week.
Too often, I see nonprofits get frustrated that their board members won’t fundraise. But when I question the nonprofit leader further, I eventually get to a confession: “Kelly, I don’t really understand how to fundraise, so I just ask my board to do it and hope they can figure it out.”
Oh, okay, I see the problem now.
Fortunately, there’s an easy solution! Fundraising is a skill. It has to be taught. Yes, there are people and personality types that are kind of pre-disposed to be good at it, but nobody is born a fundraiser.
So here’s the good news: Since fundraising is a skill, fundraising can be taught! No pre-disposition required.
If you want your board to be good at fundraising, you have to give them the support they need to learn how to do it well.
Here’s how you can do it based on your organization’s resources and your board’s “go get ‘em” spirit:
Pay for one-on-one training from an expert. Nonprofits are SOOOO loathe to spend money on professional development. But here’s something you might not have thought of: spending money makes you better at something that helps you accomplish your goals faster and more efficiently! Spending money on fundraising training and expertise helps you raise money better and more efficiently. If you (or your board) is bumbling around throwing spaghetti at walls, you’ll save a lot of time, energy, and probably money by getting the support you need to get the right answers. If you want training for you (that includes LOTS of resources on board fundraising), step right this way and apply for my Sustain & Thrive program. But I also offer bespoke board member fundraising training (email me and I can tell you more).
Pay for a pre-recorded training from an expert. I’m not the only fundraiser who is great at engaging board members in fundraising. If Sustain & Thrive or my bespoke training isn’t in your budget, consider this training from my friends over at CauseVox.
Design your own training. Okay, maybe you are an excellent fundraiser, but your board won’t fundraise. Consider that it’s that they don’t understand how the process works. Put together a presentation or training for your board so that they can understand the process. Please though, don’t use this option as a way to not spend money. If you’re not a fundraising expert, hire someone who is…you’ll get significantly better results.
Here’s Your Assignment:
Think about where your board is coming from. If they are super go-getters who just want knowledge to succeed, buy the pre-recorded training and set them loose on it. If your board (and you) need a lot more hand-holding, reach out to me (or anyone) that can help you put together a better process based on deep expertise.
Which of these options will work best for your board? Decide and then ACTIVATE.
Did you choose 1? Email me right now to request a training (I’m usually booked for 2-3 months, so the sooner you get on my list, the faster you’ll be off and running.)
Option 2? Click here, buy it now. (I don’t get any $ for referring you!)
Option 3? Spend the rest of your hour outlining your presentation.
You’re already a giant leap ahead in your fundraising. Congrats!
