A few months back I was facilitating a board retreat for a historical society in Denver and talking about the importance of fundraising, when a board member named John stopped me and asked me this: How can you expect us to feel motivated to raise funds when we have such a big endowment? I’m not convinced we actually need the money. Great … [Read more...]
Keep Board Members 100% Accountable with an Expectation Form
Are you ever disappointed by the lack of action taken by your board members? Here you are, at yet another board meeting where a significant majority of your board members haven't done what they said they would do. Not only that, but they don't seem to remember what they agreed to in the first place! One key to avoiding this … [Read more...]
3 Steps for Development Directors to Fully Engage Board Members
It doesn't matter whether you're a new development director or one who's been around the block a few times: board engagement can definitely be a challenge. In fact, helping development offices keep their boards engaged and effective is a huge part of my work as a consultant. So if you're feeling frustrated with your board, don't beat up … [Read more...]
The Nonprofit Life Cycle: Raising Your Board to the Next Level
Nonprofit organizations are living things, just like the people who serve them. And just like any other living thing, nonprofits -- including nonprofit boards -- have their own unique life cycles. Understanding the life cycles of nonprofit organizations and their boards, from infancy to maturity, is one of the keys to success with … [Read more...]
Opening Doors: A Great Way to Engage Your Nonprofit Board Members
While almost anyone can learn how to raise money, there will always be at least some of your board members who will resist asking for one reason or another. So how can you involve your “non-asking” board members in your fundraising? One of the best ways is to ask them to open doors to your organization. In other words, ask them to … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Retain Your Best Nonprofit Board Members
Previously, we covered how to attract great board members. But after you “get” them to join your board, how do you keep them? In a few words, you want to make sure they become engaged and remain involved, so they develop into strong, loyal supporters of your organization. Five Strategies to Keep Your Strongest Board Members As you … [Read more...]
How to Recruit Stellar Board Members to Your Important Cause
Solid nonprofit boards filled with engaged, committed superstars, who are also effective in all of their roles -- including fundraising -- don't “just happen.” In actuality, finding (and keeping) the right people is the process of answering one simple question: “What's in it for me?” After all, I don't need to tell you how busy your … [Read more...]
Roles and Responsibilities of Constructive Nonprofit Board Members
Have you ever felt frustrated with your nonprofit's board members? If so, join the club. As I said in the first post in the Year of the Fundraising Board series, board issues are one of the most common challenges my nonprofit clients face. Before we dive in to the nitty-gritty of crafting a fundraising board, then, it makes sense to take … [Read more...]
2015: The Year of the Fundraising Board
The role that your board plays (or should play) in fundraising is one of the topics I find myself talking about the most these days. And not just because boards are so important, but also because problems with board members are the number one complaint I hear from nonprofit staff members. With that in mind, and because recruiting and … [Read more...]
Amy’s Top 10 Countdown to Year End
As the year winds down, I like to reflect on what I’ve accomplished this year, what I'm still committed to working on next year, and what ideas or projects need to be abandoned and not carried into the new year. (Yes, it’s okay to cut some things loose than need to be let go.) You may think of this process as creating resolutions, but most … [Read more...]
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