I recently fielded a couple questions on my blog from Tonya. She wanted to know: How many board members should you have on your nonprofit board? How many different nonprofit boards should you have? For example, an Executive Board and a Fundraising Board. These are both great questions -- and ones I’ve been asked many times … [Read more...]
Effective Board Training in 2 Surprisingly Simple Steps
Today’s question comes from Kendyl. She explains that her new incoming board chair has "AGREED" to allow her to have a portion of every monthly board meeting to train their board members. Her question: How much time should I allow to do training every month and where do I begin? I am concerned they might only give me 15 … [Read more...]
Reflecting on Life, Major Gifts and Nonprofit Boards
This week I celebrated a milestone birthday. Yes, it was the big 40! So naturally, I've spent some time reflecting on my life and business. "Have I helped people to the best of my ability?" "What can I do better over the coming months and years?" "What are my long term goals?" Looking Back In my January, I declared 2015 as the … [Read more...]
Charitable Giving is on the Rise – Is Your Board Ready?
The long years of “Great Recession” fundraising stress are over! At least, that's the news from Indiana University's report, The Philanthropy Outlook: 2015 & 2016. The report, produced by the Lilly Fundraising School in partnership with Marts & Lundy, offers a glimpse of what we can expect to see in 2015 and 2016 (I've taken this … [Read more...]
How do I Explain a Reserve to My Donors?
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...]
